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Wazzup with FC BARCELONA?!! (News)

Barça-L’Hospitalet, Thursday, December 22nd at 22:00 hrs

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Josep Guardiola’s team will close out 2011 with the round of 32 return leg of the King’s Cup at the Camp Nou


FC Barcelona knows the day and time of its final match this calendar year. Baça will play on December 22nd at 22:00 hrs, in the return leg of the Cup tie against L’Hospitalet . Barça aims to make good on their0-1 result from the away match against their Catalan rivals.


It’s worth bearing in mind that Barça will be fresh off a trip from Japan for the Club World Cup competition, and that the first team will likely still be adjusting to local time.

FCB
 
Dani Alves: “Guardiola is the heart of this teamâ€




Dani Alves says that the squad’s principal goal is to convince Josep Guardiola to stay on as Barça’s manager. “We all know that without him we wouldn’t be the great team that we areâ€

The defender qualifies the titles won by Barça as“spectacular†and he adds that it's difficult “to adequately express the many joys†of being part of the team



Collaboration with Global Humanitaria


Dani Alves, who attended the presentation of Global Humanitaria ’s Solidarity Wristband , is collaboratingwith the NGO to improve health and child education in the municipality of Juazeiro, Brazil, where the player wasborn. “It’s a small town in Brazil, in much need, with humble people that have a heart bigger than the world,â€said Barça’s number 2.

At the event, the spot I also help , filmed by the footballer to encourage collaboration between the citizens and the initiative, made its premiere.

Dani Alves , at the event sponsored by Global Humanitaria to introduce the NGO’s wristband, praised Josep Guardiola and the key role the manager plays inthe team’s success: “ He is the heart of this team, of the Club . We all know that without Guardiola we wouldn’t be the great team that we are now, without him we wouldn’t have won so many titles.†For this reason, according to the player, one of the squad’s goals is to “keep him here a long time.â€


Since Guardiola took charge of the Barça bench, the team has won 13 titles out of 16 played. “The balance is spectacular,†said Alves, “we will never have so many quality players in the same team, with so much eagerness to make people happy, and with the ambition to keep on winning titles.†Along these lines, the footballer called on his team to “continue with the same hunger to make people enjoy the game.†For the Brazilian, “it’s an honour to be part of a Club like this,†and that it's difficult “to adequately express the many joys†of being part of the team.


Alves attributes to Guardiola the merit of “returning football†to the fans. “Football turned into a sport where people didn’t enjoy themselves, it was all about the result, and that isn’t very attractive, it wasn’t exciting. Pep has recuperated that. We compete to win, but he has reconciled that with good play and making people enjoy the game,†he added.


Alves also talked about Mourinho ’s comments on Barça’s Club World Cup victory in Japan . “He’s a person that plays his role, he devalues what other peoplewin. The only thing that has value is what he wins. That’shis personality, and we respect it. Mine is different, however. To play these ‘small games,’ as he says, you have to win the Champions League . We have done that and that’s why we are happy. Envy is a bad thing.†He added, “we live in the moment, and we are the reigning world champions. The numbers are what they are, regardless of who that bothers.â€


Alves continued: “We aren’t bothered by Madrid because we don’t feel like we are inferior to them, and if you don’t feel inferior to those that criticize you, it doesn’t bother you ... but I am bothered by their continual effort to discredit our accomplishments. There’s always a ‘but,’ or a ‘why.’ That’s the only thing I do not understand. But I understand that it’s an unwinnable war, we only try to compete well and make it difficult for others.â€


Lastly, when asked about how he felt about a hypothetical move by Neymar to the team, Alves said, “he’s more tan invited in this house ... if it were up to me I would have brought him already. He’s a player that would bring different qualities to the team, and I believethis is the best club for him to play his style of football.â€

FCB,

VANESSA FORNS
 
The second Club World Cup is in the Museum


www.fcbarcelona.cat

The trophy won by Barça against Santos is now in FC Barcelona's Museum


Since Tuesday afternoon, the Club World Cup trophy has been resting at the FC Barcelona Museum . The trophy, which was present at the president’s luncheon with Club employees, is now amongst the other trophies won in 2011 ( Champions League , Liga , European and Spanish Super Cups ).

Barça won the Club World Cup this Sunday in Yokohama against Santos (0-4). This is the second Club World Cup trophy, after winning it in 2009, in FC Barcelona’s Museum.

FCB
 
Víctor Valdés: "We want to win more"


www.fcbarcelona.cat

“I receive this award with pride, but behind it is a lot of work done by the team,†said Valdés as he picked up his individual achievement award


It was an Azulgrana party a the Palau of the Catalonia Congress , which hosted the Festa de l'Esport Català gala (Catalan Sporing Awards) organized by the UFEC (Athletic Cataln Federations Organization) and the newspaper SPORT . Víctor Valdés and Navarro were FC Barcelona ’s award winners.

The keeper, with permission from the Club didn’t train this afternoon , believes the team will be competing at the top level for a long time and that the players are stilleager to win: “We have shown that we want to win a lot of titles. When we lift a trophy, we do it as if it was our first. We want to win more .†The keeper, who won the Best Catalan Athlete of the Year award, praised Guardiola : “ Day in and day out, he’s a maestro. Each training session is like going to class at University . He never allows you to relax. He taught me how to enjoy the game and to play team football.â€


Valdés praises the team

Winner of four Zamora awards (keeper that concedes the least amount of goals in the League), and the keeperwith the most games in the history of the Club, wins the award after the two team captains, Xavi Hernández and Carles Puyol claimed it in previous years. Valdés believes he was awarded the accolade because “of his brilliant trajectory defending the Azulgrana goal, also because of the team’s success on the pitch ... this means a lot to me. I receive this award with pride, but behind it is a lot of work done by the team.â€

The keeper also wanted to praise the team’s successful Club World Cup bid in Japan: “It’s a title that’s really important to us. We all must respect this title a bit more, because it’s difficult to win it.â€


The best male team

Valdés wasn’t the only Barça player to receive an award, the whole FC Barcelona team was awarded the Best Male Team of 2011 as well. President Sandro Rosell , accompanied by Víctor Valdés, received the award for the team. Vice Presidents Carles Vilarrubí and Josep Maria Bartomeu, and directors Silvio Elías, Manel Arroyo, Jordi Mestre, Jordi Moix, Toni Freixa and Manel Estiarte were also present at the gala.



Creus receives the award for Navarro

The captain of Barça Regal , Juan Carlos Navarro , won the Most Universal Catalan Athlete award. His merits with the Club, champion of the ACB , Cup and Spanish Super Cup , and his success with the Spanish national team, where he was awarded MVP of the Eurobasket tournament, were pivotal to his selection by the jury. Joan Creus , basketball technical secretary, received the award for the player: “He’s injured and on top of that he has gastroenteritis and a fever of 39º,†said Creus.

The player sustained his injury against Caja Laboral this Sunday and he will be out of action for three to fourweeks.

FCB
 
First training session in Barcelona after theClub World Cup and the match against Real Madrid


www.fcbarcelona.cat


After the game against Madrid and the two in Japan, the team returned to training this Tuesday a the Ciutat Esportiva. Eight Barça B players and Alves, despite being on holiday, tookpart in the training session led by Pep Guardiola


It has been many days since the Ciutat Esportiva hosted the FC Barcelona players. This Tuesday, after the win at the Bernabéu ( 1-3 ) and the Club World Cup , Josep Guardiola directed a training session at Sant Joan Despí . Eight Barça B players participated in the session: Oier , Montoya , Dos Santos , Cuenca , Sergi Roberto , Muniesa , Tello and Rafinha .


With Alves, but without Abidal and Valdés

Dani Alves , one of the players that is on holiday until the 29th, was also present at the training session. The Brazilian voluntarily trained with his teammates. Éric Abidal , who was given time off until next week Thursday, didn’t train. Víctor Valdés , with permission from the Club to attend the 15th edition of the Festa de l'Esport Català , was also absent.

The first team will train again on Wednesday, at 19.00 hrs, in a session that will be held at the Ciutat Esportiva.

FCB
 
FC Barcelona WorldTap, Barça’s game of skill for the iPhone



www.fcbarcelona.cat

The players must keep the football in the air as long as possible by tapping the ball and not letting it touch the ground

The users can participate in monthly tournaments and compete with other players from around the world, prizes include a signed jersey, a personalized jersey and an official Barça ball


The application costs €1.59, and it is available in Catalan, Spanish, English, Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese

FC Barcelona WorldTap , the new iPhone applicationlaunched by FC Barcelona , is a game where the user must not allow the football to touch the ground and keep it in the air as long as possible by ‘taping’ the ball.


The new game, which is available on iTunes, allows users to participate in monthly tournaments and to compete against players from all around the world . Tournament winners stand to take home an autographed team jersey , a personalized team jersey or an official FC Barcelona ball . Furthermore, all players will be ranked online in realtime .


This App takes the user to a digital recreation of the Camp Nou , the stadium fills up as the player progressesthrough the game, the weather also changes to reflect the city’s real climate.


The game, priced at €1.59 , is available in Catalan , Spanish , English , Arabic , Portuguese , Chinese and Japanese . The development team responsible for FC Barcelona WorldTap is committed to preforming acts of solidarity in the community depending on how many ‘taps’ the players make in the monthly tournaments. The more you play, the more you help!

FC Barcelone WorldTap was developed by Seven 4 Seven , SL and InqBarna Kenkyuu Yo , SL , these Barcelona based technology firms specialize in smartphone application development.


FC Barcelona WorldTap, which joins FCB Watch and Fantasy Manager 2012 , is the Club’s newest mobile application. These initiatives are part of FC Barcelona’s digital strategy to open up new revenue streams and to foment the dynamic Catalan entrepreneurship movement in this economic sector. Nearly 33% of FC Barcelona members own a smartphone.

More information at www.worldtap.net

FCB
 
The World Champions visit Villa

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Carles Puyol, Gerard Piqué, Cesc Fabregas, and Andreu Fontàs, visited David Villa in hospital and brought him a very special gift:

The World Club Championship Trophy, won in JapanPuyol, Cesc, Piqué i Fontàs al costat de David Villa / FOTO:MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB

On Wednesday morning there was yet another example of the camaraderie amongst Barça's first team players. Captain Carles Puyol , Gerard Piqué, Cesc Fabregas , and Andreu Fontàs went to the hospital to visit DavidVilla, and didn't do so with their hands empty. The players took with them the trophy they came home with, as winners of the recent W orld Club Championship , held in Japan. It was just one more detail to help Villa, who was injured in the semifinal match against Al-Sadd, feel part of the triumph. Thus, Villa had got to hold the only trophy that was left for him to win.We should recall that in the last couple of days a lot of David Villa's teammates, and coaching staff, have been to the hospital to encourage him and wish him a speedy recovery.


FCB
 
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Guardiola, on his contract renewal: “People need to be calm, I know what I'm doingâ€


The Barça manager told the Camp Nou faithful to not worry about his future at FC Barcelona

Before Hospitalet’s visit to the Camp Nou, Guardiola warned his team about the dangers ofthe match


“Villa is very encouraged, livelyâ€

Pep Guardiola visited with David Villa and said the strikeris “very encouraged, lively.†The manager believes that this “will make Villa stronger and prolong his career. He’ll realize how lucky he is and he’ll take everything in with much more desire.†The manager also confirmed that if there aren’t any setbacks, Isaac Cuenca will stay with the team: “Because we lost of Villa I’m sure he’ll be with us until the end of the season.â€


Even though Pep Guardiola didn’t reveal anything specific about his contract renewal with the Club, he did mention during today’s press conference that “people need to be calm, I know what I’m doing. I know when I have to do it and how it needs to be done.†He admitted that constant questioning on the subject didn’t bother him. The manager said that once he makes his decision he will inform the President Rosell, but he clarified that winning titles “has nothing to do with my decision.â€


Caution over the Hospitalet

The manager also spoke about tomorrow’s Cup tie against Hospitalet. He understands that it might be difficult to focus on the King’s Cup match after winning the Club World Cup but cautions, “we’re playing to not be eliminated from one of the remaining competitions.†Guardiola went on to urge his players to be “attentive†seeing that “it’s a very dangerous match.â€


The manager also congratulated the Club for its efforts to fill the Camp Nou up on Thursady through its Day of Member Solidarity. Furthermore, for Guardiola, coming to the Camp Nou is a good excuse to “see our football.â€


Mourinho’s comments

Guardiola took the opertunity to play down Mourinho's comments: “Madrid’s manager wanted to congratulate us, and we thank him. Everything he says is given too much importance, there are no problems.†He added, âœhe has every liberty to opine. He said the Champions League is more important and he’s right.â€

FCB,

Anna Segura
 
Barça prepares the return leg of the King's Cup match against L'Hospitalet with seven Barça B players


www.fcbarcelona.cat

Penultimate training session before the match against Hospitalet, Guardiola worked with 19 footballers; 12 from the first team and 7 from Barça B

Valdés returned to training after he received the Best Athlete of 2011 award at the Festa de l'Esport Català gala

Alves, who trained with his teammates, will begin his vacation this Thursday and will not feature against Hospitalet in the King’s Cup tie


Unveiling of the documentary ‘Soufian, the child that wanted to fly’

This afternoon, at the press room of the Cuitat Espotiva,TV3 unveiled its ‘Soufian, the child that wanted to fly,’ documentary. The documentary tells the story of a child that overcame the Laurin-Sandrow syndrome after it claimed both of his legs. Lionel Messi participated in the project.

The first team continues to prepare for the last game of the year: the return leg of the King’s Cup against Hospitalet . The game will be played this Thursday at 22.00 hrs at the Camp Nou . This afternoon, Pep Guardiola led 19 players in the penultimate training session before the match. 12 of the players that took part in the training session were first-teamers, counting Dani Alves . It's worth nothing that all of the South American players, plus Abidal and Keita , are on holiday, the Brazilian trained with his teammates voluntarily. Regardless, Dani Alves will not play in tomorrow's game, therefore, Guardiola will have 11 firstteam players at his disposal on Thursday. Víctor Valdés also trained this afternoon after not attending yesterday’s session because the keeper participated in the Festa de l'Esport Català .


Reinforcements for the B side

The same seven Barça B footballers that participated in Tuesday’s training session trained with the first team today as well - Cuenca , Montoya , Sergi Roberto , Tello , Dos Santos and Rafinha - the only absentee was Oier .

The team will train one last time, tomorrow at 12.30 hrs, before the match against Hospitalet. The closed-door session will take at the Camp Nou

FCB
 
End of another successful year

Barça will end a triumphant 2011 with the return leg of the last32 of the Spanish Cup, against Hospitalet, with Barça leading 1-0 after the first leg

Guardiola has called up several Barça B Team players

Barça will end another year to remember, this Thursday (22.00, TV3, La Sexta, and R@dio Barça). A 2011 in whichthey have won the League, the Champions League, the Spanish Super Cup, the European Super Cup and, recently, the World Club Cup. Their last match of 2011 is at the Camp Nou against Hospitalet, in the return leg of the last 32 of the Spanish Cup. The Club has taken the opportunity to organise the Members Solidarity Day, where members who wish to, can surrender their seats to social interest groups. The first team will come into the game in a great frame of mind after being proclaimed World Club Champions, and the prior win at the Bernabeu. Now, against Hospitalet, they must make use of the first leg 1-0 win, to qualify for the last 16. Lots of new faces It's totally certain that the 11 who will take the pitch for Barça will be very different from the team that defeated Santos in Japan. 8 players have already started their Christmas holidays: Messi, Alves, Alexis, Mascherano, Adriano, Maxwell, Keita, and Abidal, and, of course, Villa and Afellay, with their long term injuries, will also be missing. That's why we've seen an ample representation of Barça B players at the last couple of training sessions, players like Oier, Montoya, Dos Santos, Cuenca, Sergi Roberto, Muniesa, Tello, and Rafinha. They all have another great opportunity to demonstrate their potential. See more contents First Team Members' Charity Day Football King's cup L'Hospitalet

FCB,


Jordi Clos
 
Iniesta out for 15 days with a muscle tear

www.fcbarcelona.cat

The midfielder tore the biceps femor is in his left leg and will be sidelined for 15 days

Iniesta after his injury in the game against l'Hospitalet / PHOTO: ÃLEX CAPARRÓS - FCB

Andrés Iniesta will out of action for 15 days after sustaining a muscle injury during the game against Hospitalet . Barça’s number 8 has a slight tear in the middle third of the biceps femoris in his left thigh according to FC Barcelona ’s Medical Services .The midfielder was injured after a collision with the keeper Craviotto on the 27th minute of the match. Guardiola was forced to bring in Sergi Roberto to replace Iniesta. Iniesta will be absent for the last-16 away game of the King’s Cup and the Liga match, scheduled for January 7th or 8th, against Espanyol .

FCB
 
Rosell: “I'm going to try to achieve Club unityâ€

www.fcbarcelona.cat

One of the president’s pending projects is to achieve cohesion within the Club

While the Club is enjoying a triumphant period, Rosell asks everyone associated with the Club “to row in the same directionâ€


Evaluation of the Qatar Foundation agreement

At the end of 2010, Barça announced that it had come to an agreement with the Qatar Foundation to sponsor the first team’s jersey. Sandro Rosell talked about the agreement and highlighted the fact that it was approvedby the Members General Assembly. “90% of the members said yes. Our members said that they wanted the Qatar Foundation on our jersey.†Besides the money that the Club receives from the sponsorship, “it’s a proposition that helps us develop the Club’s future.†Thepresident also mentioned that Barça’s jersey is “the mostsold jersey in the world.â€


This is one of FC Barcelona’s most glorious periods in theClub’s 112 year history. Winning the Best team in the World crown this Sunday was the icing on the cake in a year where Barça’s professional teams (football, basketball, handball, roller hokey and futsal) lifted a total of 16 trophies. It was a record year for FC Barcelona. Sandro Rosell is satisfied and proud of the hard work the athletes put in to accomplish such a feat. However, the president is also proud of the Club's social and economic improvements, “we are straightening out the difficult situation that we found the Club in when wegot here ... this past fiscal year we reduced the deficit by 66 million euros,†something that, according to the president, “will help us move the project forward in the future.â€


Barcelona unity

Among the Board’s many challenges there is on that is fundamental for President Rosell. The president’s main goal is to achieve unity within the Club. Rosell is aware that the division in the Azulgrana world is a longstanding issue that is nothing new and the reason that it exists is because of “historic reasons.†But the president said that he’s “stubborn†and he “will try to find unity.†The president and his board of directors are open to extending their hand to “the small pockets [of people associated with the Club] that are not excited to be part of the best football team in the history of the sport.†Rosell made note that “people of great significance within these groups†were invited to partakewith the Club during finals and other momentous occasions. Even though they did not come “we will continue to try,†because Rosell is sure that “we will do everything within our power for them to come, everyone is welcome here.†Rosell understands that Barça is going through a glorious moment and he believes everyone associated with the Club “must row in the same direction.â€



‘Espai Barça’

A year and a half after taking charge of the Club, Sandro Rosell believes that the promises he made during the presidential campaign are well on their way to fulfillment, if not completed already. But he said that the ‘Espai Barça,’ the project to remodel the Camp Nou, Palau and the surrounding facilities, “has not been completed because we weren’t certain about the Club’s economic situation when we took charge.†The project, however, still factors into the board’s agenda, because “it’s necessary for the Club’s future.†Therefore the Club, according to the president, must work “to find the additional funds to accomplish the goal.â€


Another pending project for the board of the directors is the official cheering stand, a project approved by the Members General Assembly. Rosell explained that “it’s necessary so that we can cheer our players and managerson, but it’s a project we will launch only after we have absolute security.â€


Presumption of innocence in the Urdangarin case

Sandro Rosell was also asked if the Club had made a decision in regards to Iñak Urdangarin, patron of the FC Barcelona Foundation. “We believe in presuming innocence until proven otherwise. If he’s found guilty, the board will convene to take the appropriate measures.â€

FCB
 
FC Barcelona - L'Hospitalet: Nine goal thriller (9-0)


Pedro, Iniesta, Thiago (2), Xavi, Tello (2) and Cuenca (2), racked up nine goals – five before the break- as Barça charged into the last 16 of the Spanish Cup in the last game of 2011 at the Camp Nou tonight


FC Barcelona secured their place in the next round of theSpanish Cup with a tremendous 9-0 rout of Hospitalet, with Pedro opening the scoring on 10 minutes and Iniesta, Thiago (2), Xavi, Tello (2) and Cuenca getting the rest. The victory, added to the 0-1 win at Hospitalet was only overshadowed by an injury to Iniesta, who will now be out for the next 15 days.


Guardiola's team go into the next round, alongside Valencia, Mallorca, Espanyol, Seville, Madrid, Malaga, Llevant, Osasuna, Real Sociedad, Racing, Athletic Club, Albacete, Alcorcón, Mirandés and Cordoba.


Stunning start

Guardiola fielded 10 home grown players, only Pinto hadnot come up through the academy system, and the teamshowed how serious they were about the game from theoff, going 3-0 up within the first 22 minutes: the first was a Pedro penalty, the next an Iniesta effort after Xavihad brilliantly put Cesc through and the third a lovely goal from Thiago after he won back a ball in midfield and shimmied through the visitors'' defence.


Five in the first half

By half time it was five, but also by then Iniesta had had to call for a substitution after he'd knocked into the Hospitalet keeper and tests later revealed he'd be out forup to 15 days. He was replaced by Sergi Roberto, who came close to making it four almost immediately, but in the end it was Xavi who did just that, rounding off a lovely reverse pass from Cesc. And that was that for the Catalan midfielder who soon after his goal was replaced by Tello, who then went on to make it five, charging through from the midfield just a couple of minutes after coming on.


Cuenca claims the sixth

The 56.480 fans who had turned up at the Camp Nou were no doubt wondering just how many goals their team were going to end up putting past Hospitalet and soon after the break, Cuenca made it a half dozen, finishing off some great work from Tello out on the left. Curiously enough the Barça attack was made up of three conventional wingers now -Tello, Pedro and Cuenca.


Thiago, Tello and Cuenca make it nine

However, the team weren't prepared to settle for six! Thiago was brought down by Viale and again handed penalty taking duties to Pedro , whilst Tello scored his second soon after to make it 8-0. Could Barça now beat their 8-0 win over Osasuna? Well yes, of course - Cuenca got his second latching on to yet another great ball formCesc and the players wrapped up a great night and an even greater 2011 with a stunning nine goal haul – here's to a Happy New Year!

FCB,


Roger Bogunyà
 
Messi will be back at training on January 2nd

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Pep Guardiola has given Leo Messi permission toextend his Christmas holidays for a few days


Dani Alves is the other player who will join the squad a couple of days late, on the 31st of December

Messi will be able to enjoy a few more days holiday after Pep Guardiola gave him permission to return to Barça onMonday, January 2nd. So, Barca's number 10 will not return on December 29th, the day the squad is due to resume training after the Christmas break. Last Monday, when Barça came home after the World Club Championships, Messi and the rest of the South American players, plus Abidal and Keita, began their Christmas break.


Alves will not be at training on December 29th either, as he also has permission to extend his holidays. The Brazilian will return to work on December 31st. It's worth remembering that Alves, although he could have started his holidays on Monday, trained with the rest of his teammates, on Wednesday, in preparation for the Spanish Cup match against Hospitalet.


FCB
 
Guardiola gives the team a week off of work, training resumes on the 29th of December


www.fcbarcelona.cat

The first team will enjoy a week off of work andreturn to training on Thursday, December 29th

Barça will go on vacation with the qualification for the last-16 round of the King’s Cup in the bag after beating Hospitalet tonight at the Camp Nou . The manager, Josep Guardiola , gave his players a week off so they can spend the holiday season with their families. Save a last minute change of plans, the team will return to training on Thursday, December 29th, at the Ciutat Esportiva . Without knowing who their next opponent will be in the King’s Cup, Guardiola will start to prepare for the match, which is scheduled for the first week of January.


All the first team players are due back in Barcelona on the 29th of December, including the players that started their vacation on Monday ( Mascherano , Messi , Alexis , Keita , Abidal , Adriano , Alves and Maxwell ).

FCB
 
Osasuna will be Barcelona's next rivals in the Cup

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Barcelona will play Osasuna in the last 16 of the Spanish Cup, with the first leg at the Camp Nou on January 4th


The winner of the tie will play the quarter-finals against the winner of the Madrid - Malaga tie


The draw for the Spanish Cup, held this Friday, has paired Barcelona with Osasuna in the last 16. The first leg willbe at the Camp Nou, on January 4th, and the return leg aweek later, in Osasuna.


The Barcelona representative at the draw said that: "Osasuna are very strong rivals. They're having a great season, andat home they're really hard to beat".


Indeed, Osasuna are one of the revelations of the season.They've ended the year 2011 in fifth place, and are unbeaten at home.


Madrid - Malaga on the horizon

The winners of the tie between Barcelona and Osasuna will face the winners of the Madrid - Malaga tie, in the quarter-finals. This round will be held between 18th of January (1st leg) and 25th of January (return leg).


Miranda's - Racing

Albacete - Athletic Club Bilbao
Alcorcon - Levante
Cordoba - Espanyol
Real Sociedad - Mallorca
Valencia - Sevilla
FC Barcelona - Osasuna
Real Madrid - Malaga

FCB
 
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FC Barcelona - L'Hospitalet: Nine goal thriller (9-0)


Pedro, Iniesta, Thiago (2), Xavi, Tello (2) and Cuenca (2), racked up nine goals ¨C five before the break- as Barca charged into the last 16 of the Spanish Cup in the last game of 2011 at the Camp Nou tonight


FC Barcelona secured their place in the next round of the Spanish Cup with a tremendous 9-0 rout of Hospitalet, with Pedro opening the scoring on 10 minutes and Iniesta, Thiago (2), Xavi, Tello (2) and Cuenca getting the rest. The victory, added to the 0-1 win at Hospitalet was only overshadowed by an injury to Iniesta, who will now be out for the next 15 days.


Guardiola's team go into the next round, alongside Valencia, Mallorca, Espanyol, Seville, Madrid, Malaga, Llevant, Osasuna, Real Sociedad, Racing, Athletic Club, Albacete, Alcorcon, Mirand's and Cordoba.



Stunning start

Guardiola fielded 10 home grown players, only Pinto hadnot come up through the academy system, and the teamshowed how serious they were about the game from theoff, going 3-0 up within the first 22 minutes: the first was a Pedro penalty, the next an Iniesta effort after Xavihad brilliantly put Cesc through and the third a lovely goal from Thiago after he won back a ball in midfield and shimmied through the visitors'' defence.


Five in the first half

By half time it was five, but also by then Iniesta had had to call for a substitution after he'd knocked into the Hospitalet keeper and tests later revealed he'd be out forup to 15 days. He was replaced by Sergi Roberto, who came close to making it four almost immediately, but in the end it was Xavi who did just that, rounding off a lovely reverse pass from Cesc. And that was that for the Catalan midfielder who soon after his goal was replaced by Tello, who then went on to make it five, charging through from the midfield just a couple of minutes after coming on.


Cuenca claims the sixth

The 56.480 fans who had turned up at the Camp Nou were no doubt wondering just how many goals their team were going to end up putting past Hospitalet and soon after the break, Cuenca made it a half dozen, finishing off some great work from Tello out on the left. Curiously enough the BarÂça's attack was made up of three conventional wingers now -Tello, Pedro and Cuenca.


Thiago, Tello and Cuenca make it nine

However, the team weren't prepared to settle for six! Thiago was brought down by Viale and again handed penalty taking duties to Pedro , whilst Tello scored his second soon after to make it 8-0. Could Barca now beat their 8-0 win over Osasuna? Well yes, of course - Cuenca got his second latching on to yet another great ball formCesc and the players wrapped up a great night and an even greater 2011 with a stunning nine goal haul ¨C here's to a Happy New Year!

FCB,


Roger Boguny
 
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Josep Guardiola: “The way they behave is admirableâ€



The Barcelona manager highlighted the general attitude displayed by the players despite the long journey from Japan and playing in the Club World Cup, “they came here and worked hard against Hospitaletâ€


Bartomeu: “I hope for a 2012 that's as successfulas 2011â€


Athletic Vice President of FC Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu, celebrated the team’s good finish to the year,that ended with the qualification for the round of 16 of the King’s Cup and with the Club World Cup victory last Sunday. “It has been a fantastic year. We must celebrate it and hope for a 2012 that's as successful as 2011.†On the overwhelming victory against Hospitalet, Bartomeu said that the team “played very well. It was evident that they were eager. They came back from the World Cup and they played spectacularly.†He was also visibly pleased that the people “enjoyed the match,†especially on a day like today, with the celebration of the Diada del Socio Solidario (Day of Member Solidarity). Lastly, the vice president didn’t have a preference on Barça’s next rival in the Cup.


“If we’ve won prestige it's because of demonstrations like today’s.†Pep Guardiola , who was concerned abouthow his team would handle tonight’s match against Hospitalet after the Club World Cup in Japan, was visibly satisfied by the general attitude displayed by his players. He not only highlighted the talent of the squad but the “capacity to play the round of 32 in the King’s Cup after being named the best club in the world.†For this reason he said that “the way they behave is admirable.†Guardiola believes that this is the reason that “we are doing things right.â€


Maximum concentration

Guardiola explained that he prepared this game “like anyother game. We studied images [of Hospitalet] that we’dusually skip, the players can’t perceive that we don’t do our job and then demand that they do theirs.â€

The Barça manager said that matches like tonight’s at the Camp Nou usually “have fewer people. I know that the Club invited social groups. I think it’s a beautiful idea. It’s great that they came and cheered us on. The stadium wasn’t full but we heard the 50,000 people, I’m very thankful.â€


“Isaac has been impeccable all yearâ€

The manager had special words of praise for Isaac Cuenca . “He’s been impeccable all year. We hope that with humility,the behaviour of being seen and talking little, that he will be ready and as a player, be at the required level.â€

FCB,

Anna Segura
 
Pedro: “I feel better every dayâ€


The Spanish striker confirmed on the pitch that his heel injury is history

For Pedro, scoring so early was key

Thanks to him Barça opened and closed its scoring tally, on Barça TV ’s El Marcador , Pedro explained that he felt like he was returning to former form, before his ankle injury: “I feel better every day, I’m getting more rhythm and confidence. I hope to start next year at 100%.†He also admitted that it’s very difficult to win a starting spot in this Barça team: “There’s a lot of competition, there are players that are doing really well. It’s great for the group.â€

He allows Thiago to take the second penalty


On Barça’s thrashing of L’Hospitalet , Pedro said: “We started off intensely, we knew it would be difficult because of how the away game went. The fact that we scored early made it easier, from that point on we were more comfortable.†Without preferences on Barça's nextrival in the next round, he said that he let Thiago take the second penalty because he got the first one: “Thiago asked me if he could take it and I let him, like Xavi and Cesc let me take the first one.â€


Here are the players’ comments after the match:


Andrés Iniesta (Facebook)


“We’re in the next round, looking forward to tomorrow’s draw. The injury I got today will disappear soon! Merry Christmas! Thank you so much for your concern!â€


Víctor Valdés (Facebook)

“I’m off on Christmas vacation! Happy holidays everyone, I’ll post some photos! A big hug! Enjoy being with your families!â€


Sergi Roberto

“After winning the Club World Cup they came out as if it was another final and they demonstrated that they are the best.â€


“I really enjoyed playing with the team, the game and the victory.â€


“We’ve shown that we never let our guard down, but we always respect our opponent.â€


Cristian Tello

“I was really eager, it was my debut at the Camp Nou andI’m really happy because we won and because of my personal performance.â€


“I can’t believe it, I’m very excited and content. However,I know my place in the reserve side.â€


“We didn’t expect so many people to show up. It was a prize for us.â€


Cesc Fàbregas

“I have a knock on my knee. It hurts a bit, and I’ll be OK.â€

“We hope that the good play and titles continue in 2012.â€

“I didn’t score, but I had three or four assists and I’m happy with that.â€


Andreu Fontàs

“I’m really happy withow we closed out the year, I’ll continue to work just as hard next year.â€

“The way to have more playing time is to work and take advantage of opportunities.â€

FCB,

Jordi Clos
 
Cesc: "It’s Pep who makes the machine work"


www.fcbarcelona.cat

The midfielder praised the role of the manager who "gets the best out of the players", something which has allowed him, in his first few months to learn "so much"

Fabregas spoke about the impending Cup game against Osasuna, "we must be prepared.......they’re a tough rivalâ€


Before starting his Christmas holidays Cesc Fabregas spoke about the current Barça, at a promotional event. The Barça number 4 spoke about Barça Manager Pep Guardiola and about the renewal of Pep's contract. "Only he knows (if he'll renew his contract), but he seems very motivated to me" said Cesc, who explained that Guardiola "doesn't let anyone take it easy. It has always been my dream to play for Barça, and since childhood I was always proud to say that I played for this Club. One of the reasons why anyone would want to play for Barça is because of Pep".


In this regard he highlighted that, despite the quality of the squad, the key to the success of the team is Guardiola. "He makes the machine work". He was in no doubt that "the more years he stays, where me and the team can play for him, it'll be really important for the Club and the Barça environment".

The Cup draw


This morning Barça found out that Osasuna will be their rival in the last 16 of the Cup. Cesc warned that the 8-0 win over Osasuna in the League is not a fair reflection of their performances this season. "They are a tough rival. The return leg will be in Pamplona, ​​one of the most difficult away games of the year, and they'll give everything in the Cup, a competition where teams really want to reach the Final, and there are always surprises.......we must be prepared" bearing in mind that the first leg will be played on January 4th at the Camp Nou, and it's the first game after the Christmas holidays.


In the quarter-finals Barça could meet Real Madrid. Cesc'scomments about Madrid were "the later we come up against them, the better."


"I would be thrilled to win the Champions League"


These days are times of making wishes and the main wish of Cesc Fabregas is to win the Champions League. After losing the 2006 final against Barça, when he playedfor Arsenal, Cesc said: "It's always been my great desire to win it. It's a thorn in my side. I would be thrilled to win the Champions League".


FCB
 
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