International break, weekend and back to training

Sorry for no posting last few days! Due to break in LaLiga and CL and games with national teams there were not many intersting things to share everyday so I decided to post them all in one piece.

Firday:
FC Barcelona concluded their training schedule for the week on Friday morning as nine players took to the pitch at the Ciutat Esportiva. José Manuel Pinto was joined by Éric Abidal, Seydou Keita and five youth teamers (goalkeeper Jordi Masip, central defender Marc Muniesa, who is suspended for the game against Tenerife this weekend, full-back Carles Planas, midfielder Víctor Vázquez and forward Benja)







Del Bosque’s World Cup winning Spanish team beat Lithuania 3-1 on Friday night, with five Barça players in the starting line up . Llorente (2) and Silva were on target for Spain, with Sernas getting Lithuania’s goal.

Argentina took on Japan in an International (0-1) friendly in Saitama earlier today. FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Gaby Milito all took part in the game.

On Friday also so called "Operation New Grass at Camp Nou" ended with success, it was finished in 24H. Impressive:)


Friday was the 100th day since Sandro Rosell became president of Barça. (read more)


Saturday:
The Barça players have been given a weekend off as Pep Guardiola revealed that Friday's session would be the last and that with no first-team game they could relax and recuperate.

On Saturday evening, the Spanish Under-21 side narrowly beat Croatia 2-1 in the first leg of the play-offs for a spot in the U-21 European Championship (Denmark 2011). The game, played in Burgos, featured Blaugrana players Bojan, Jeffren and midfielder Thiago Alcantara, whose wonderful assist led to Spain’s first goal. Some details of the match are below.



Xavi spoke with BarcaTV and on official website of the club you can read great interviev with our great midfielder (click to read)

Club President Sandro Rosell has been attending the XXXIII Trobada Mundial de Penyes in Donostia this weekend, along with representatives from more than 200 Supporters Clubs.




Throughout the month of September, members, Supporters Club members and fans have been voting between the two options presented at the World Congress held during the Gamper Day for a new mascot. Of the 1.673 votes cast, 868 went for the “Avi del Barça” surrounded by his grandchildren. Gemma Larrègola, the designer of the Toons, announced the result and explained: “so many of you have voted and we are very happy with that. This mascot represents the family and the spirit we are enjoying in this Trobada”.



Sunday:

Ramallets-Valdés a meeting of two legends - wonderful article on official website and great photos of two legengs (click to read more)




And finally a GAME:)
Barça B extended their great home start to the season, chalking up their fourth win at the Mini Estadi with a 3-1 win over Tenerife, thanks to strikes from Jonathan Soriano, Nolito and Carmona.






Monday:
The squad were back in training this evening with the Argentineans Messi, Mascherano and Milito back from international duty, joining Pinto, Abidal, Maxwell and Keita from the first team squad to prepare for Saturday’s clash with Valencia.
The first to make it back safe and sound were the Argentineans Leo Messi, Javier Mascherano and Gaby Milito who were involved in their country’s 1-0 defeat to Japan last weekend.
B team youngsters Masip, Benja, Edu Oriol, Muniesa and Planas made up the group, with Xavi and Pedro continuing to work on getting over their respective injury problems. Pedro limited himself to some gentle jogging around the training pitch.






Other news:

Víctor Valdés, Carles Puyol, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets, Andrés Iniesta and David Villa are in Glasgow for Tuesday’s European Championship qualifier.

Lionel Messi signs for Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana


Some nice quotes:
Mascherano: "What do Messi and I have in common, apart from both being introvert? Hmmmm... We don't like the press." [don balon]


Xavi Hernandez:“It seems like all the responsibility is on Bojan’s shoulders and we all have to help him. He’s scored goals all his life and I’m sure he’ll continue to do so.” speaking in an interview for Barça TV.

Antoni Ramallets “records are there to be beaten and I’ll be very happy if a guy like Victor takes it off me". for BarcaTV

Busi:"I play in a position that demands hard work and generosity and little glamour, but I like it. It’s my job and I like it. I would rather intercept and steal 10 balls than shoot. That’s what I’m here for, to make everyone else’s jobs easier." - El Pais

Busi:"I would be awfully stupid, though, to think I know it all. My father (a keeper who won the European Cup with Barca at Wembley in 1992) used to say, 'Work, work again then work even more if you want to win'."- El Pais

Busi: "In attacking teams like Barça or Spain you need a player like me who will do the dirty work so others can shine"- El Pais

Yaya Toure: "Mascherano is an excellent player. He just needs time. It’s not easy to adapt to Barcelona’s different way of playing." [catalunya radio]

Yaya Toure: "I’m sure I’ll return to Barcelona. Not as a tourist, but to play. I feel Catalan." [catalunya radio]


Ok I think it's enough for today:)