Puyol met with media on Thursday and said "In the treble season we did not start very well either," he explained. "I have confidence in the team. We have no doubts and we are ready. I hope that we can rediscover our confidence and change the dynamics. It is always good to record a win." (more here)
And there was training too! Twenty players were present at the session, with Villa and Xavi making progress in their recoveries, Pedro still working on the sidelines, and Thiago once again joining the first team to train.
At the end of training, some representatives of the Special Olympics to be held in Figueres in late October were able to watch the first team training and were also able to greet their idols, take pictures with them and even pick up some tips on playing with the ball. An experience they will never forget.
Photos:
Friday:
Xavi Hernández, David Villa and Pedro all returned to full training on Friday as the squad continued their preparations for the weekend visit of Valencia. Guardiola had 19 first-team players at his disposal for the training session and they were joined by young Thiago Alcántara. Barça take on league leaders Valencia in Camp Nou at 20:00 on Saturday. Before the encounter with Valencia the Barça squad will train at 11:30 in Camp Nou in a behind-closed-doors session.
Photos from training:
And as before every game, Pep met with press:
Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Valencia ahead of their visit to Camp Nou on Saturday, but warned the league leaders that David Villa will have no qualms about scoring against the club that he left in the summer.(more details here)
Did you notice that FCb official site changed a bit? Before
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.
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”.
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]
First of all, news about Pedro: After further tests this morning, club doctors announced that Pedro Rodríguez will be out for up to three weeks with the injury he picked up against Mallorca. The tests showed a torn calf muscle and first impressions are that Pedro could be out for up to three weeks, during which time Barça will play Valencia, Copenhagen and Zaragoza, with Pedro already ruled out of the two Spain games over the next two weeks.
Let's start with quick summary of what happened yesterday, I think players and coach will explain it better:
Manuel Agudo ‘Nolito’: “I’m happy to have made my debut, though it was bitter sweet because we were held to a draw. Mallorca didn’t do much at all and it was a pity that we only drew” .
Javier Mascherano: "We have to close games down earlier and not have to suffer so much” “I personally am feeling better with every game, more comfortable. I’m prepared to take more risks with my passing and I’m feeling more natural with the team defending too”.
Andrés Iniesta: “I don’t think we have a problem, it’s just that when you make so many chances and can’t put them away, there’s obviously something up”. “We tried everything we could, but we didn’t find the best way through. We don’t need to get obsessed or go crazy”. “The state of the pitch is not an excuse, but if it was better it would help us”.
Gerard Piqué: “Right now we just have to concentrate on winning the three points against Valencia”. “We had plenty of chances and we need to be sharper to avoid suffering so much” “This is just a slip up”.
Víctor Valdés: “If we could have taken any of the many chances we created, the game would have been different”. “The pitch is soft and it breaks easily, but that can’t be an excuse for today’s result”.
Andres on his facebook: "We created many opportunities for so little reward. We have to keep working and be confident."
Stats: ► Messi’s 21st minute goal was the first goal the team have scored in the second quarter hour of a La Liga game so far this season.
► As well as Nolito’s debut, Jeffren made his first appearance of the season.
► This was the first game of the season that Barça have finished without picking up a single card.
► Alves and Bojan are the only two players who have featured in all 10 games the teams have played so far this season.
► The Mallorca game was the second of the season in which Maxwell has not figured, having also missed out in the match against Panathinaikos, which was also the last game in which Abidal had started.
► The game was also Thiago’s first at the Nou Camp this season, having played in both the games at the Vicente Calderon and San Mames.
► This was the first time this season that the team recorded two results on the run which were the same, following the 1-1 draw in Kazan on Wednesday.
The Nou Camp paid homage to the team that won Five Cups before the game against Mallorca tonight with special honours paid to Eduardo Manchón, who died this week.
Monday:
The squad were back in training this morning after Sunday evening’s disappointment against Mallorca, without the injured Xavi and Pedro and Jeffren and Bojan who are with the Spanish Under-21 squad. The players involved in last night’s game had a gentle work out, whilst the rest of the squad welcomed five Barça B players - Masip, Ilie, Carles Planas, Edu Oriol and Martí Riverola to the session.
With a large part of the squad away on international duty, Guardiola has decided to hold just two more training sessions this week – on Tuesday at 11.00 and also on Friday . The remains of the squad will thus enjoy a deserved break on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as at the weekend and next Monday, with a training session scheduled for Tuesday October 12th.
After training Eric Abidal met with media: Éric Abidal admitted that the squad is “angry” with the draw against Mallorca and the Frenchman reckoned “we had plenty of chances to kill the game off. We are a bit out of luck”, compared to other seasons.(more here)
Three players from FCB received today their MARCA awards for the 2009/10 season. Víctor Valdés won the Zamora trophy, the Pichichi was awarded to Leo Messi and the Zarra trophy went to David Villa. The players didn’t participate in the gala that took place in Madrid, so they received the awards at the Ciutat Esportiva in Barcelona.
As you probably noticed Camp Nou pitch is in poor condition..
On totalbarca.com you an read intresting piece about it(click to read)
But wait, there is hope! Look what happened today... They're replacing grass, it should be ready at weekend.
And one bonus news, it's right from Andres Iniesta! He will give 3 shirts tomorrow! "Some time ago I gave away a shirt to thank the support you always give me. There are so many of you that I can not do it all. So to have the same opportunities, tomorrow at 22h I will publish a question. Among the first ten who answer I will choose 3 and give away shirts. Good luck and see you tomorrow!"
and one more news (well it's rather about me than Barca): I became member of totalbarca.com team, and I don't have to explain how happy I'm, as it's one of my favourite website about FCB.
What a game! So much to share and so little time, but I will try to post everything tonight.
Saturday was sunny in Barcelona, and rainy in Bilbao. Our team managed to win game in hard weather conditions. But let's start from beginning.
Some not-useful-but-still-intersting facts: Andoni Zubizarreta, sporting director of FC Barcelona, always travel with the first team. This time, however, taking advantage of the fact that game was played in his homeland, he traveled on Friday (a day before the official expedition). When the team arrived at the hotel of concentration, Zubi was waiting there.
On the picture above you can see Palacio de Ibaigane - it's headquater of Athletic Club, on match day representatives of both clubs met there and have a traditional lunch. Curious fact: Athletic club bought this palace in 1986 for money from transfer of Zubizzareta to FCB.
Despite the rain and the state of the lawn at San Mames, it was a true luxury game. We have possibility to watch 10 World champions on the pitch, 8 from Barcelona and in Athletic team were Javi Martinez and Llorente.
Fernando Llorente and Gerard Pique have a good relationship. Llorente has a very good opinion about Pique and he expressed it in a recent interview in Marca. Q:Whose one-on-one marking is more aggressive, that of Piqué/Puyol, or of your girlfriend? A: Piqué and Puyol. They’re two of the best central defenders in the world and their marking is aggressive even in the training sessions. That of my girlfriend is a child’s game. (English translation by conlaroja)
Did you watched game? For me it was great pleasure to watch it, of course there were not-so-good moments too (like red card for Villa) but generally speeking it was great game, in hard weather condition, with hostile stadium, and still our players played in "style we believe" with many passes, great actions, lot of occasions to score.
And yes, we won! All 3 goals were scored by our midfielders.
Some photos:
Game wasn't easy, so the victory has special meaning for team.
Some highlights:
Tackle on Iniesta
Just to remind you, our team doesn't have good memories with Amorebieta
But it wasn't only red card that evening, David also recieved one:
well maybe he was frustrated after so many missed occasions, but in my oppinion the main reason for his behaviour was what happened few seconds before: defender from Atletic Bilbao (I don't remeber his name) was pushing Villa, so he almost fell but referee didn't react, I don't looking for excuses for David, he reacted in stupid way, and such way of dealing with problems on and off the pitch is unacceptable. Pep after game said "I want to be sure that never happens again.” which is right answer, whatever happened on the pitch our players should be respectful for opponents and show that there is no place for ANY violence on the pitch. If we want to keep mes-que-un-club-style we have to pay great attention to ethical behaviour and fair play.
Other facts: Adriano was substituted by Maxwell at half time. It turns out that the full back has torn fibres in his right thigh.
Xavi and Villa were the players that took the doping control, and passed it.
Players comments:
"We knew before the start that this was our chance (Madrid had drawn). We need to wait for these chances and today was one” “Athletic v Barça games have always been intense. They’re special games and I remember that the games we have played with them have always been nice”
Keita said “it is very important for the team that the midfield players can also score”. “It is important to win here because it’s never easy. These are tough grounds and the players have to be strong … and we were missing Leo!” Keita was also asked about the fans’ reaction to the red card shown issued to Amorebieta for a foul on Iniesta. “Andrés is a great person and a great player. But it’s only normal for the crowd to boo him if they don’t think it was a foul”
Funny part: reporter asked if Seydou remeber his last goal, and he answered he has no idea:P
Alves: “It was a difficult game with a lot of pressure from the crowd. But we have the personality and courage”.
Guardiola after game: He has said he’d rather the team finished games off earlier rather than things staying uncertain until the end. The FCB boss was unhappy that his players squandered so many chances tonight. “We have to show more desire, more ambition in front of goal and we need to score. Whenever we get chances in the area, we have to take them”. Nevertheless, he was generally pleased with the performance at such a difficult ground as San Mamés.
And as for the whistling aimed at Iniesta by the Athletic faithful, “It doesn’t matter. The fans have the right to do that kind of thing, to cheer and boo, they have paid their entrance. There’s nothing to be said. Spanish football knows all about the way Andrés behaves”. (my personal oppinion- I was surprised too, because everywhere he was cheered because of his winning goal in WC, but in Bilbao it was different, he scored for Spanish national team, Bilbao is in Basque Country, we have to remeber about it too. But from my point of view main reason for this reaction was that situation with red card)
Ok, so maybe it's enough about Saturday! ;) I HAVE to find some photos of Pep from game, someone wrote he was "waterproof" but I didn't find any good photos yes, so stay tuned;)
After the win on Saturday, the players were given a rest on Sunday and won’t train again until Monday at 9:30 as they prepare for the Champions League fixture against Rubin Kazan.
Adriano has been ruled out of FC Barcelona’s Champions League game against Rubin Kazan in midweek after suffering an injury against Athletic Club.
Leo Messi has continued to work on his recuperation on Sunday morning in the Ciutat Esportiva while Éric Abidal and Jeffren also trained.
and my fave part: photos from training:)
Other news
Regal Barça have once again shown why they are the best team in Europe. Barça won the Spanish Super Cup and Juan Carlos Navarro was made MVP of the competition.
The PB Ramon Llorens has celebrated its 50th Birthday with a party attended by the president Sandro Rosell and vice president Jordi Cardoner.
FC Barcelona B 1-0 Numancia. Nolito scored, photos below p.s. do you recognize supporters on last photo:P?
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