Carles Puyol is featured in the October issue of Marie Claire Espana.
Andres was in September issue of GQ España as one of "Los Héroes de España" (together with David Villa and Cesc Fabregas)
Remeber photo from Barca B-Numancia game (26th of September)? (That one with Pep and Tito as supporters). Today I came across photo from this game again, but this time with one more supporter, well little, cute supporter to tell you the truth! It's Pep's son Marius.
Lionel Messi, the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, gave the starting signal for the new election of the FIFA/FIFPro World XI on Friday. The Barcelona attacker was the first player to fill in his ballot paper at the Juan Gamper training complex. Many thousands of fellow players will follow his example in the coming weeks. After casting his vote, Messi said that it was the fact that the players themselves choose the World XI which made his selection extra special. "Being chosen by my fellow players means a great deal to me," he said. Also Busquets and Villa voted too, as a members of the group of more than 50,000 professional footballers who can vote. It is estimated that in previous years, about 23,000 players voted.
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”.
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)
The players have been given the day off on Thursday and will return to training on Friday at 11 am to prepare Sunday’s away game against Atletico Madrid. So no photos from training today:(
But some other news: I wrote it before that yesterday Pique had day-off and didn't participate in trainings, instead he promoted his book in Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona. Ofcourse event was atttended by fans, many teenage girls as always, Pique also answered questions from fans, many were very common like "how do you feel as Catalan sex symbol?" (his answer was: I don't know what to say) or "who is the best player in the world? (he answered: Messi, of course). But there was also one special question that remained without answer, it was "will you marry me?", I enclose video from this event which include this question (1:13), and player's reaction, enjoy!
And very very nice interview with Javier Mascherano (click to read full version) Highlights: -You’ve been in Barcelona for some weeks now. How are you feeling? -I’m fine. I am pleased that me and my family have been treated so well – in the city, in the street and at the club. I am feeling happy and looking forward to enjoying this great experience.
-How are you adapting to your team-mates and the style of play? -I can only thank them. They have treated us as if we’ve been here for ages and although the style of play is obviously different, it’s so much easier with so many good players around you. I am settling in nicely, but I think it’s so much simpler with such high class people and footballers as there are here at Barça.
-Unlike on Saturday, against Panathinaikos we saw Barça playing the ways the fans are used to. -I know. I like football and I have watched a lot of Barça in recent years and know what they are normally like. I have to say Tuesday was amazing, and against a big team with good players
Well game wasn't good today, but there were also some good things today.
Firts of all, it's Diada Nacional, 11th of September is National Day of Catalonia. It's commemorates the 1714 Siege of Barcelona defeat during the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1980, the restored Generalitat de Catalunya (autonomous Government of Catalonia), as its first public act proclaimed 11 September, La Diada, the Catalan National holiday. Organizations and political parties traditionally lay floral offerings at the monuments of Rafael Casanova and General Moragues for their fight against the Bourbon army. Also FCB, as one of the most important Catalan institution took part in celebrations.
Before the game, Camp Nou celebrated this special day with giant(252 m2) Catalan flag- Senyera and Els Segadors anthem:
Another reason to celebrate: On Saturday, September 11, FC Barcelona and French International defender Eric Abidal turns 31. All the best Eric!
In Saturday morning, Carles Puyol received medical clearance and was among the 19 players that Josep Guardiola can choose for this evening’s game with Hercules.
Now something about game: Starting line-up:Valdés, Adriano, Piqué, Abidal, Maxwell, Mascherano(debut in FCB), Keita, Iniesta, Bojan, Villa, Messi. On the subs' bench for Barça: Pinto, Alves, Xavi, Pedro, Milito, Busquets and Jonathan dos Santos. and some higlights: -It was first game that our team played at Camp Nou in LaLiga. There was 79.363 spectators!
-Leo Messi was wearing new gold coloured boots
-min 10 ;great chance for Barça, good run from Villa down the left but Bojan could not finish off the cross from close range
-min 20: first yellow card of the game for Barça debutant Javier Mascherano
-min 26; Hércules striker Valdez puts his side ahead with a scrappy goal, turning in a rebound from a Víctor Valdés save
-min 33; good chance for David Villa; the Asturian shoots over from the edge of the box
-min 35; cross from Adriano and Piqué heads just wide of the near post
-min 42; Yellow cards for Trezeguet and Adriano after a slight scuffle near the touchline
- min 43; Villa put the ball in the net but it is ruled out for offside
-Pep Guardiola makes two changes at half time; Mascherano and Bojan off and Pedro and Xavi on for Barça
- in 59; Hércules make it 2-0 in the Camp Nou, Valdez once again with a good finish to leave Barça stunned
- min 63: chance for Messi, good save by Calatayud
- min 70; Valdés makes an excellent save from Kiko to keep Barça in the game
- min 71; chance for Villa on the left, brings a good save from Calatayud
- min 74; Messi brings another good save from Calatayud
- min 82; Pedro works his way through but once again Calatayud is there
- min 84; Piqué and Calatayud clash heads and the Barça player leaves the field with blood pouring from a cut
- min 87: Piqué returns with a bandaged head
- min 89; Valdés saves Barça with a double save from Tote and then Trezeguet
- min 90; Messi has the ball in the net but it is disallowed for a previous foul
And that's it, it wasn't good game for us, but I hope next one will be better.
Today was quite unusual day in FCB, Pep Guardiola missed training! (don't worry I will explain it), Puyol come back to Barcelona, and there were other things too, so here we go:
Let's start with not-so-intresting news, The Camp Nou is one of the main attractions in the joint Spain-Portugal bid to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals. A team of FIFA inspectors visited the stadium this Wednesday to check out the facilities.
Now some very important, but not good news, I wrote ealier about injuries, but now we know what happen, both players, Jeffren and Puyol are back in BCN.
The young winger has torn a muscle in his left leg and will be out of action for approximately two weeks.Jeffren picked up the injury while training with the Spain under-21 squad.
Tests carried out at the Camp Nou on Wednesday morning confirmed that Puyol has injured his soleus muscle just below the left calf. He’ll require treatment and is doubtful for the next few matches.
I hope that our boys will be ok soon!
There was morning training of course, but this time without Guardiola. Wednesday morning’s training session was led by assistant coach Tito Vilanova, who worked with a group of thirteen players – six from the first team and seven from Barça B. Only six players were available from the senior squad - Pinto, Adriano, Maxwell, Abidal, Keita and Dani Alves – and seven from the reserves - Bartra, Fontàs , Romeu, Dos Santos, Nolito, Masip and Rochina. For the second day running, Brazilian international Dani Alves reported voluntarily for training, despite having two days off before joining up with the Brazil squad on Thursday (what a hardworking guy!). If you want to read more about it-click here.
And there are photos too:
One of the best news of the day are numbers! Yes, shirt numbers were announced today. So it's confirmed that Bojan will takeover the number’9’ while Jeffren will have his number ‘11’ shirt. In addition, there will be no number 4 or number 24 shirts. Last season they belonged to Marquez and Touré respectively. Meanwhile, the number '21' worn by Chygrynskiy has gone to Adriano while number '14' (Henry) will go to Mascherano. David Villa has taken the vacant number ‘7’. (read more here-click) Full list here: 1 Valdes 2 Dani Alves 3 Piqué 5 Puyol 6 Xavi 7 Villa 8 A. Iniesta 9 Bojan 10 Messi 11 Jeffren 13 Pinto 14 Mascherano 15 Keita 16 Sergio 17 Pedro 18 Milito And don't forget about our talented youth! Jugadors del B 26 Fontàs 27 Nolito 28 Sergi Roberto 29 Víctor Vázquez 30 Thiago 31 Miño 32 M. Bartra 33 Sergi Gómez 34 Jonathan dos Santos 35 Muniesa 36 M. Riverola 37 O. Romeu 38 Oier 39 Rochina
What about our new player, Mascherano? He spoke with BarcaTV and you can read his first interview here (click)
My favourie part is "I'm coming here to learn and to be a better player. This move has to enable me to say in two or three years that I’m a better player than when I arrived”." And part about Busquets "in spite of his age, he’s already got a lot of experience. He’s a world champion. He’s been a very important player for Barça over the last year and a half and I try and watch and learn from the best. Busquets is doing a good job so I’ll try and watch him and support myself on him. This isn’t a fight between Busquets and Mascherano. In no way whatsoever. It’s a long season, there are a lot of matches and we have to be ready when it’s our turn”.
And it's hard to dislike guy who smiles in this way
The Sporting Director of Professional Football, Andoni Zubizarreta and the First Vice-President responsible for the Sports Area, Josep Maria Bartomeu, addressed a press conference at the Camp Nou on Wednesday on a wide range of footballing issues. If you like to know more click here to read full summary.
I also found out that Valdés plays in gloves and boots without sponsor's logo. His contract with Nike ended in July, and right now Victor plays in black boots and gloves without any logo.
Right now Valdés and other Spanish players (exept Puyol) participate in trainings with national team. I know that this blog is about Barca, but such photos always make me happy so I want to share with you
And finally, taaaa daaam! Answer to question of the day: where's Pep? Guardiola is currently attending the 12th UEFA Elite Club Coaches Forum in Nyon, Switzerland. There are some photos: Quite boring? So here is one of funny moments during Pep's meeting with press, enjoy!
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