Back to trainings- Friday&Saturday

Barça were back in training on Firday morning as they prepared for Sunday night’s game against Mallorca at the Nou Camp. Xavi, with tendon problems, was the only player missing from the session.

Adriano trained apart from the rest of the players accompanied by a physio, as he continues to fight to get back from the thigh injury he picked up in San Mames which kept him out of the Kazan game.

Three Barça B players joined the 18 first team players in the session - Nolito, Martí Riverola and Thiago.










After training Pedro met with media, asked about Mou he said: it not affect our team, we don't care what Mourinho says. About Messi: He is the best, no discussion about that.


Saturday:
The squad went through their penultimate training session before Sunday’s game against Mallorca this morning and the good news for Guardiola was the presence of Adriano, who trained with the rest of the players after missing the midweek trip to Kazan. Adriano, who has been training apart from the rest of the squad all week following his thigh injury against Bilbao at the San Mames last week, was this morning back into the swing of things and trained normally with the other players.









After training Pep spoke with media:

Guardiola will also have to make do without Xavi for the Mallorca game, but he believes: “we have alternatives. Every player has their own qualities and we know how to make the most of them”. He also commented that international break should give Xavi time to get over his injury: “the professionals and the player are putting a lot of time into helping his tendinitis”.
Sunday will be the first time that Pep has some up against his ex-team mate Michael Laudrup as a manager and Guardiola was full of praise for the Dane: “he played so well, I’m sure he’s got to be a good manager too. He played his best football when he was here and when I played with him we always tried to give him the ball as we knew he’d just do something special”.


And some random notes from last few days:



In MD you can read great interview with Xavi (click to read original piece), there is also English translation (click)

My fav part:
Q:Maybe you even hang in the locker room some of the front pages that make you angry ...
Xavi:(Laughs)We hung pictures of magazine when one of us comes out dressed weird, but not newspapers.



Gary Lineker, who played for FC Barcelona for three seasons (1986 to 1989), appeared yesterday morning in the Ciutat Esportiva with a mission: make interview with Gerard Piqué for BBC.


I wrote before about battle Pep vs. Michael Laudrup (manager of Mallorca). But not only Guardiola has memories connected with tihs member of "Dream team". Andres Iniesta asked few years ago about idol from chilhood answered: Guardiola and Laudrup. So tomorrow we will experience something special. Two managers, in past team mates in Barcelona, and fan vs. team trained by idol. I can't wait!


Masch: "I'm not fool, I knew that coming to Barca means I would not always play," said player, who was satisfied with his first months as a Barça player. "I came to a champions' team " he recalled. "How it feels to see this team from the bench? One enjoys watching how good my team-mates play, why deny that." (full interview here-click)