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Wazzup with FC BARCELONA?!! (News)

Barça v Viktoria: Did you know...

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Here is a selection of trivia concerning Barça’s third Champions League group match of the season against Czech outfit Viktoria Plzeň.

► This is the eleventh time FCB has played a Czech team. Until now, they have won six, drawn three and lost once. They have never faced Viktoria Plzeň.

► Current Barça manager Josep Guardiola was one of the goalscorers the last time a Czech club, Sparta Prague, played at the Camp Nou. Barça won 5-0 in the 1999/00 season.

► Barcelona are unbeaten in home European fixtures for eleven matches. The last team to win at the stadium was Rubin Kazan (1-2) in the 2009/10 season.

► Despite losing at AC Milan (2-0) in their last match, Viktoria have been doing well away from home in this competition. In the qualifying roundsthey won 0-4 at Pyunik, 0-1 at Rosenborg and 1-3 at Copenhagen.

► David Villa made his European debut against a Czech club, Sigma Olomouc, in the UEFA Cup of 2004/05.

► Nobody scored as many goals (7) or won as many corners (22) as FC Barcelona on the first twodays of Champions League action. As for shots on goal, Barça are tied with Madrid and Chelsea (19 each).

► Dani Alves is one yellow card away from a suspension.

► Viktoria Plzeň is one of the sides that has received the most yellow cards so far, a total of six.

► The referee tonight will be Macedonian Aleksandar Stavrev, in his first game in the Champions league, although he has whistled 41 games at UEFA level. He has never taken charge of a match involving either of these teams

FCB,

www.fcbarcelona.cat
 
Guardiola: “These two games can qualify usâ€


The Barça coach is treating the forthcoming encounters with FC Viktoria with maximum priority, for they could see the team through to the last sixteen. Guardiola has no intention of underestimating the Czech outfit.


Pep Guardiola attended to the press in the Ricard Maxenchs pressroom just a few minutes after listening to what Leo Messi had to say. On Wednesday’s Champions League fixture, he said he understands that people know very little about FC Viktoria, the Czech side appearing in the competition for the first time, but that if anybody is underestimating them it’s simply because they don’t know them. The FCB coach knows how difficult these matches can be “and so we always have to take them very seriously … we should notlose our respect.†This is his fourth season on the bench, and he knows that “we have always foundit more difficult against small teams than against more famous onesâ€.


Two in a row against FC Viktoria

The Camp Nou is seeing Champions League football for the first time since the visit of AC Milan. Barça will be meeting the same Czech team in their fourth match, but away from home. The Catalans currently share the lead on four points with the Italians and Guardiola has stated that “the main objective is to win our next two matches. That would ensure qualification … the first game at the Camp Nou will be useful for getting to know them well, meaning we won’t befaced by any shocks in the return matchâ€.


Messi’s evolution

Pep Guardiola also spoke about Leo Messi, saying that it is the player himself who is responsible for his amazing progress. “Everybody has their own way of learning. He has found his and is passing the test … what we have to do is make sure that the best players get to see the most of the ball. Whatever else he does is exclusively his own workâ€.


Quality at the new Masia

On Thursday at 8.00 in the evening, the new Masia is going to be inaugurated at the Ciutat Esportiva. Guardiola, who grew up at the old building, has said that “the new facility makes up for what it is lacking in history with an improvement in quality. The club has created a antastic Masiaâ€.


FCB,
Anna Segura
 
More football than goals (2-0)

Barça overcame Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League by just 2-0. Barça were the much better team for the whole match and created lots of chances, but had to work really hard to break down the visitors. Iniesta (10') and Villa (81') scored.

Barça’s first win at the Camp Nou in this season’s Champions League was tougher than expected, maybe due to ignorance about the Czech team, Victoria Plzen. The reigning European Champions looked very good. They went ahead early on and could have killed off the match before halftime, if they’d had a bit more success, and more luck, in front of goal. They dominated the whole game, but weren’t able to breathe easy until minute 81, when Villa made the score 2-0.

Superlative Iniesta

Guardiola’s team started very well, and had 2 chances within the first 2 minutes. Barça were breaking down the opposing defensive web with lightning 1-2’s. A combination between Iniesta and Messi led to the first goal by Iniesta, with a great change of foot, and a cool left foot shot intothe bottom corner (min 10). Aside from the goal, Iniesta's performance in the first half was simply outstanding.

Although conceding an early goal, Viktoria Plzen closed down the Barça attack with certain success, but Barça won the ball back quickly. There was no Puyol, but Guardiola played with four defenders (Alves, Mascherano, Abidal and Adriano) to neutralise the Czech wingers.

Lots of football without much success

The game became a Barça monologue. However, reaching the half hour mark, Viktoria gained a little in confidence and opened up slightly. Barça were off target with their shooting, although they had several chances to extend their lead, like a low effort from Villa (min 25) or a counter-attack that saw the Czech keeper save from Messi(min 27). Pedro and Messi had a couple of chances each before the break, and Messi hit the post from a free-kick. The 1-0 scoreline at half time was poor baggage to show for the football Barça had played.

Omnipresent Messi

Barça came out after the break ready to finish thejob quickly. The Czech defence was under constant pressure. In minute 59, Messi lifted the 74,000 fans out of their seats with a fantastic solorun, culminating in his second shot onto the post. The goal was resisting Messi, and not for want of trying, as he intervened in almost all the attacking moves.

Villa closes out the game

As the game went on the uncertainty of the resultwas becoming more uncomfortable for Barça than for Viktoria, who still had reason to dream ofthe miracle. Czech hopes faded as soon as Villa scored to make it 2-0, after a counter-attack that he himself had started (min 81). The last few minutes allowed Guardiola to send on Isaac Cuenca, for his debut in an official match.

Barça claimed the win that keeps them at the top of the group, alongside Milan, with seven points.

Goals
1-0 Iniesta (min 10)
2-0 Villa (min 81)

FCB,
Jordi Clos
 
Classik said:
They say one 'man's food man's ...'
What makes you think Americans don't follow Spainish style of soccer/football?

Tedious? Not really! Spain decorates soccer/football, beautifies it, adds glory to it...

President Obama is in love with Barca
Click to expand...
Just getting back to you, Classik. That was a great post!! You crack me up! :lol

I don't want to make light of your love for the game. That's awesome. But I can tell you America has never, will never, accept soccer on the whole. Someone might argue that we are to impatient and want it all NOW, and they might be right. Whatever. It is what it is. I can't watch a game with no (or few) opportunities for scoring. There's got to be some drama.

But there rest of the world seems to agree with you. Just don't get yourself seriously hurt by traveling to watch Barca play at Whembley. Those crazy hooligans are dangerous!
 
Mike said:
Just getting back to you, Classik. That was a great post!! You crack me up! :lol

I don't want to make light of your love for the game. That's awesome. But I can tell you America has never, will never, accept soccer on the whole. Someone might argue that we are to impatient and want it all NOW, and they might be right. Whatever. It is what it is. I can't watch a game with no (or few) opportunities for scoring. There's got to be some drama.

But there rest of the world seems to agree with you. Just don't get yourself seriously hurt by traveling to watch Barca play at Whembley. Those crazy hooligans are dangerous!
Click to expand...

Interesting! President Obama is a fan! :D
The beauty of soccer is not only in the 'scoring' - it is in the 'whole' 'show'.
Heartattack? Barcelona freely gives!
I am considering buying forms for your progeny.

http://www.thecoachdiary.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Barcelona-kids-playing.jpg

They Would play in Barça kindergarten and eventually make it to Team A

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/futbol/temporada_11-12/plantilla/plantilla.html
Be Barçaful, feel Barçaful!

Wise People follow Spain but wiser People end up in Barça. :thumbsup


Barça, MORE THAN A CLUB
 
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Cesc cleared to play on Saturday

The second to last session before taking on Sevilla featured good news about Cesc. The midfielder has missed three games through injury, but will be OK for Saturday. Alexis and Piqué exercised in isolation.


Cesc Fàbregas is fit again. On Friday he was given the medical all-clear after being sidelined with a hamstring injury since a training session on October 1. He has missed three games for FC Barcelona ( Sporting, Racing and Viktoria ) as well two internationals for Spain.

More midfield options

Cesc back, Guardiola is now only missing three players in Piqué, Alexis and Afellay . Cesc was on great form before getting injured, with 5 goals in 9 games and was offering certain midfield options that were unavailable to the manager before.

19 players

Other than Cesc Fàbregas , there were another 19 players present at the Ciutat Esportiva 18, including Isaac Cuenca of Barça B, who made his European debut last Wednesday. The injured Alexis and Piqué both continued recovering from their respective injuries.

FCB,
www.fcbarcelona.cat
 
Clash of unbeaten giants

BarÂca host Sevilla at the Camp Nou at 22.00 (R@dio BarÂca's) this evening in a game that brings together two sides that have yet to lose this season and that have the best defensive records in La Liga. Also tonight, Cesc is back.

The visitors at the Camp Nou tonight are Sevilla, one of the big teams in La Liga, according to FCB coach Pep Guardiola . The game brings together the teams currently lying in first and fourth place in the league table.


Barcelona have been on stunning home form in the championship so far, where they have scored 21 goals in four games and not conceded any.

Cesc returns

BarÂ0Â1ca can welcome back Cesc Fabregas this evening after he was declared fully recovered from his hamstring injury on Friday. The only players still sidelined are Pique, Alexis and Afellay. Reserve player Isaac Cuenca, who made his Champions League debut on Wednesday, has been involved in training sessions with the first team this week and may be back in the team to face Sevilla in what will be the third game for theCatalans at the Camp Nou in just seven days.

Two tight defences

BarÂ0Â1ca and Sevilla, along with Levante, are the only teams that have yet to lose a game in the league. The Catalan and Andalusian sides also have incredible records in defence.Victor Valdes has just kept five consecutive clean sheets in league and Champions League matches,while Javi Varas picked the ball out of the net lastweek for the first time in 443 minutes. Along withMunua of Levante (3 goals) these are the goalkeepers with the finest records in the championship.

Three major absentees

Marcelino GarciaToral is arriving at the Camp Nouwithout three very important players, namely the suspended Spahic and the injured Perotti and Negredo. Sevilla have drawn all three of their road games so far this season.

FCB,
Jordi Clos
 
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Ok! For todays match,

FCB-SEVILLA (Line-up / Alineació / Alineación ):

Valdés,
Alves,
Mascherano ,
Abidal,
Adriano,
Keita,
Xavi,
Thiago,
Messi,
Villa and
Iniesta

Game starts in less than 22mins
 
Guardiola unbeaten against Sevilla

Ever since the Catalan has been manager of FCB, the side has never lost to the Andalusians. They have won every game against Sevilla apart from the draw at the Sánchez Pizjuán last season.

It’s almost always a happy ending when Guardiola faces Sevilla, for after six encounters, Barcelona have won five and drawn one.

Same time, same place

Saturday’s game is almost at the same time of theseason as the meeting last term, once again at 22.000, only last year’s game was one week later.On October 30, 2010, Barça put five past Sevilla with goals from Messi (2), Villa (2) and Dani Alves.
Big wins

That is not the only time there has been a goal-fest against the southerners. In 08/09, Barça won 3-0 at the Pizjuán and 4-0 at the Camp Nou . The following season they once again won 4-0 at home, and despite leading 3-0 once again in the Andalusian capital, the return match ended 3-2 ina game that as good as decided the league title. And last season Guardiola got his most resounding win yet, a 5-0 drubbing of one of the biggest clubs in the competition.

Only tie

They met earlier in 2011, towards the end of the last season, the only time Guardiola’s Barça has ever dropped points against Sevilla in the league.Bojan put the visitors ahead, but Navas replied in the second half. Despite the draw, Barça held onto their place at the top of the table and went on to claim the title.


Sevilla unbeaten this season

Marcelino’s side is one of the form teams in Spain.They have won all four games at home and have drawn all their away fixtures, making them, along with Barça and Levante, one of the just three teams that have yet to experience defeat. They are currently in fourth place.

FCB,
Edgar Fornós
 
Football without reward (0-0)


Barça drew with Sevilla in a game that they did everything they could to win, but came up againstan inspired Javi Varas. The visiting goalkeeper saved a penalty from Messi in injury time. The visit of Sevilla to the Camp Nou was a great test for the current league champions. After the first half hour Barça were clearly superior, coinciding with a change of formation, but they didn’t reap the reward of a goal. The main culprit was the visiting goalkeeper, who even saved a penalty from Messi in a controversial end to the game.


From 3-4-3 to 4-3-3

Right from the start the 2 goalkeepers, both in great form, were to become the main protagonists. First the Seville keeper, Javi Varas, stopped a rasping shot from Iniesta (min 9) with his feet. Then Victor Valdes saved Barça with two crucial saves from Navas (min 11) and Armenteros (min 19). Barça started with a 3-4-3 formation, which became 4-3-3 on the half hour. Until then they had been on the attack, but were unable find space in the middle of the park against a well organized opponent.


Space down the wings

With their new formation, Barça started to play down the flanks: Messi drifted to the right, and Iniesta to the left, with Alves and Adriano pushing forward as well. The change caused problems for Sevilla, who had been very comfortable before that point. In the 40th minute, Varas saved from Villa after a fine collective move down the left, and just before thebreak, he then thwarted Messi. There had been very few chances in the first half, but some really clear ones.


Barça siege

The Catalan team increased their domination of the game after the break: Barça pushed forward, and Sevilla trusted their luck to the odd timid counter-attack, but especially to their keeper, who pulled off another good save from a low Iniesta strike (min 54). Soon afterwards, Messi, Villa, and Adriano, all fired just wide, and Guardiola made an attacking change, bringing on Pedro for Keita (min 62). Without throwing caution to the wind, Barça attacked again and again, led brilliantly by Xavi, and the fans really got behind the team.


Cruel punishment

The last minutes of the match saw Barçá completely on top, taking risks against a totally defensive Sevilla who just couldn’t get hold of theball. In injury time, Iniesta forced Barça’s first penalty of the season. Tension overflowed before Messi could take the penalty, with the away team protesting the decision, some pushing and shoving, and Kanoute getting sent off for his reprehensible conduct. Varas pushed away Messi’s penalty, but the whole Barça team received a fantastic ovation from their fans at the end.

FCB,
Jordi Clos
 
Xavi Hernández voted player of the season 2010-11 by Barça Fans


The Catalan midfielder has been voted Player of the Year 2010-11 with more than half a million votes in a poll organised by the on-line Barça supporters community.


Xavi thanked the Barça Fans for their votes , declaring: “I am very happy and excited to have been chosen as the best player from amongst so the many great footballers who are my team mates. Thank you to everybodyâ€.


More than half a million votes


Xavi Hernández received more than 500,000 votes and finished just ahead of Messi and Iniesta. The voting has served both to give the Fans the chance to vote for their favourite and also to get to know Xavi a little better after the community organised a series of questions the Fans could put to the midfielder.


Global phenomena

Barça Fans is the official on-line community for FCBarcelona supporters and has more than 600.000 members (as of August 1st) who are able to enjoyspecial offers and deals connected with the Club. The Barça Fans community is just one part of the global support Barça enjoy, alongside the 20 million fans on Facebook and the 3 million accounts on Twitter – at @fcbarcelona_cat, @fcbarcelona_es and @fcbarcelona).


Barça Fans has grown enormously, not just in the Spanish State, but also in the USA, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, India, Poland and Morocco.

FCB,

www.fcbarcelona.cat
 
Atomic Bomb - explosion!!!!

Disaster!

Whatever you wish Barca you get back in return (and of course your case is always worse to you)


Barca played against Sevilla yesterday. It was an awful draw. It was 0:0.
Throughout the match Manu fans mocked at Barca saying: how art the mighty fallen!

I was close to tears. Messi missed a penalty kick that could have saved us at Camp Nou. I saw enemies rejoice.


Then Manchester United played Manchester City at ManU home. What happened?

Manchester City destroyed Manchester United at Old Trafford by 6 goals to 1.


ManU :crying :crying4 :dunno :shrug :confused 1:6 :D :biglol ManCity
 
Alves: “Nothing comes easyâ€

Vanessa Forns


Dani Alves reckons that Saturday night’s result: “is a clear demonstration that everything is hard and nothing comes easyâ€, whilst insisting Barça: “are a great team, win lose or drawâ€.

Marco Simoncelli death

The death of Marco Simoncelli in today’s Malaysian Moto GP Grand Prix has come as a big blow to the whole sporting world and Alves commented: “it’s very sad indeed. When you compete to the limit, that kind of thing can always happen. It’s a terrible thing. It reminds you that you have to value life, because something like this can happen at any time. You have to live every day as if it were the lastâ€.


Although they had plenty enough chances against Seville, Guardiola’s team were held to a goalless draw against Seville and although Alves admitted the result left the players: “with a bittersweet tasteâ€, he insisted: “everything that gives us something is positive. That’s football and you have to get over itâ€.


In the same tone, the Brazilian explained that results like Saturday’s don’t create any doubts in the squad: “everything is hard and complicated, but there is no way that this will make us doubt in ourselves. We are a great team – win, lose or draw. We have shown that over the years and one result won’t change thatâ€.


Seville’s defensive skills


Dani Alves believes that Seville: “are one of the best teams in terms of defence that we’ve seen here. They did a fantastic job, keeping their lines close, closing down any space we might use for our short passing game. Even so, we made plenty of chances. That’s football. Seville are one of the big teams in this league and they are bound to bein there at the end of the season. This won’t be a two horse race because all the other teams fight hard and it’s always going to be tough to win games, but we will finish top in the end, even though it will be very complicatedâ€.


No racist insults by Cesc

Alves also insisted that Cesc Fabregas certainly didn’t use any racist language to provoke Kanoute’s red card on Saturday: “they are moments when you are all fired up and you aren’tgoing to go around saying please and thank you, but there was no racist insult and certainly not from Cesc who is a great guy and would never do thatâ€.


The ex-Seville man also made it clear that: “I’m fed up with all this business about players saying I only reacted because you provoked me – if I reacted to every provocation I’d be going for an early bath every gameâ€.


The draw also meant that Real Madrid are for the moment at least, on top of the table, but Alves reckons: “that’s just a side show at this point. They are the leaders and of course theywill be happy about that, we are behind them, but there is a long way to go yet and many things will happen I’m sureâ€.


Finally, Alves referred to Messi, who missed that late penalty: “you only miss them if you takethem. Messi’s qualities are about much more than a missed penalty. It’s just a one off and there’s no need to go over it any moreâ€.

FCBarcelona
 
Guardiola: “Granada will be a good testâ€


The boss is well aware that his players “have put in a lot of effort in a short time†and that Tuesday’s game will be “a good test for usâ€, whilst alerting his squad to the threat that Granada pose.



“Puyol will be available against Mallorca†Pep Guardiola wasn’t too worried about the continued absence of his captain Carles Puyol and explained that the injury he’s got “is not very much at all. He should be in training on Wednesday and available for the Mallorca game. It’s only normal that he’s had these slight difficulties after such a long layoffâ€.


Three days after the Seville game, Barça face another league match - against Granada on Tuesday night. The Andalucía team have not played Barça in the league for 35 years and are this season struggling in the bottom three, but Guardiola insisted at his press conference at the Ciutat Esportiva this lunchtime that Granada are “brave, willing to take risks and very dynamic – a number of their bad results haven’t been deserved at allâ€.


Different game than against Seville


“We think we will be in for a different game than we had against Sevilleâ€, according to Guardiola, “it’ll be a good test for us. We have put in a lot of effort in a short time and we’ll have to see how we respondâ€, However, the boss has no complaints about his players’ attitude: “if all the draws and defeats we have get the same response from them, there will be no problem†and also insisted that there is still a long way to go in the league: “there are still 90 points to play forâ€.


All cleared up between Cesc and Kanouté

Cesc Fàbregas and Frederic Kanouté announced on Twitter this weekend that they had spoken on the phone and resolved the incident that led to the Seville player’s red card on Saturday night and Guardiola closed the door on the incident, insisting “it’s been cleared upâ€.


Messi and Villa

Guardiola mentioned a number of players during the press conference today, including Leo Messi and David Villa. About the Argentinean’s reaction to the missed penalty on Saturday, he claimed: “the fans reacted fantastically. He’s fine and getting his strength back . There’s really no time to enjoy all the good things, or get down about the bad ones –it’s all part of the gameâ€.

“Thanks to Villa, we are able to play such good football –he’s had to adapt to the team and the coaches here and he’s had the humility to do that. Others wouldn’t have done it after all the things he had achievedâ€.


Llevant leadership

The boss also insisted that Llevant’s position at the top of the table: “isn’t just a coincidence†and he complemented them on their great start to theseason: “tey‘ve done things really well –that’s why they are top. They did well last season and their defence is a key part of their success, it’s spectacularâ€


FCB,
Anna Segura
 
Xavi gem gives Barça the points (0-1)

Barça neat Granada by a single goal and for 24 hours at least, are back on top of La Liga. Xavi got the goal with a fantastic free kick while Pedro was taken off injured and Jaime and Benítez were sent off for Granada. Following the disappointment of Saturday’s draw, the team were back to winning ways at Granada tonight, as they put in a practical performance at the Los Carmenes Stadium. In the first half, with Isaac Cuenca making his debut out on the left wing, Barça played some fast and attractive football which culminated in Xavi’s superbly taken free kick.


Granada suffered two red cards after the break –one at the start and one at the end of the half and Barça duly ran out winners –though perhaps without their usual verve and sparkle – to take over the top spot in the league ahead of Wednesday’s games.

Dominant from the off

Just as Seville had done on Saturday, Granada closed up shop from the start and handed over the initiative to Barça, hoping to catch the champions on the break, whilst Barça put together plenty of passing movements in front of the Granada box, looking for spaces in their defensive wall. Messi and Cuenca both had shots wide in the early encounters.


Magnificent Xavi


Despite Barça’s domination, Granada were holding out and reached the half hour mark with their goal intact, but soon after Xavi was fouled on the edge of the box and he got up to put away a brilliant free kick past the helpless Granada keeper. Magnificent!


Jaime sent off

Things got tougher for the hosts when Jaime was shown a second yellow for dangerous play. Barça were also to lose a player at the same time, as Pedro twisted his ankle in a nasty way and was replaced by David Villa. With the extra man, Barçapushed for the second and it looked as if Messi had got it, only to see his effort spectacularly cleared off the line by Mainz .


However, after that chance the pace of the game dropped notably as both teams seemed happy with the 0-1 result and once Granada were reduced to nine men after Benitez was also shown a second yellow, there was never going to be a way back for the hosts and Xavi’s goal proved enough for Barça to come back home withthe three points.

The goal
0-1, Xavi (min 33)

FCB,
Roger Bogunyà
 
Pedro, two to three weeks out


www.fcbarcelona.cat

Tests this morning have confirmed that Pedro has strained the tendons in his left ankle. It is estimated that he will be out for between 2 and 3weeks.


Pedro Rodriguez turned up this morning at the Ciudad Deportiva Joan Gamper, where he underwent more tests to ascertain the extent of the injury sustained in the game against Granada in the stadium Nuevo Los Carmenes. Once the tests had been completed, Medical Services confirmed that the player has strained the tendons in his left ankle.


He will be out for between 2 and 3 weeks, which will force him to miss the League games against Mallorca (October 29th) and Athletic (6th of November - date to be confirmed), the ChampionsLeague game against FC Viktoria (1st of November) and the Spanish Cup match against Hospitalet, scheduled for November 9th.

FCB
 
Xavi, star of the triumph

www.fcbarcelona.cat

The Barça midfielder scored the decisive goal in the win over Granada, his fourth in the League, onthe day that he overtook Migueli’s record number of matches for the Club. It’s just one of the stats from a game dominated by Barça.


►Since match-day 35 of the 2009/10 League season, Xavi Hernandez had not scored from a free-kick, his last one being against Villareal, on May 1st, 2010.
►Xavi becomes the Barça player who has played in most league games (392), overtaking Migueli.
►In addition, Xavi has his best goal-scoring start to a season with four goals in nine games.
►With the 1-0 win Barça have scored in 25 consecutive away games, an all-time record.
►Victor Valdes continues to extend his unbeaten record. He’s strung together 7 games, and a total of 697 minutes, without conceding a goal.
►Isaac Cuenca, after making his debut in the Champions League against Viktoria a week ago, also had his first start in the League.
►Barça’s overall possession was 73%.
►Xavi was the player who participated most in the match, with 117 successful passes from 129 attempts.
►Barça had 17 shots at goal, against Granada’s 2.►Of the 23 fouls signalled in the whole game, 11 were punished with yellow cards.

Football News
FCB
 
Cesc: "If we begin to doubt Messi, I don’t know how they see the rest of us"


Cesc Fabregas came out in defense of Leo Messi and believes that he’ll soon get back to scoring goals as usual: "He’s very humble, always gives everything for the team, and loves the Club. There’s nothing more to say".

Messi hasn’t scored for 3 games. Viktoria Pilsen, Sevilla, and Granada have escaped without conceding a Messi goal, which has led to the first arguments about his form. For Cesc, there’s no debate: "I haven’t heard any arguments. He’s my age. If you see the progress he’s made, I don’t think I’ll ever see it again. He’s won everything, except the World Cup. He scores goals every game, makes them, always plays ... he’s a fabulous player, physically and mentally. If there are doubts about Messi, I don’t know how they see the rest of us. I’ve never played with a player like him, either at youth level or professionally. He’s humble, never hides, always gives everything for the team, and loves the Club. There’s nothing more to say" he added.


Bet on another Golden Ball for Messi

On the same lines, when asked about the Golden Ball trophy, he said: "50 of us have been nominated for this award. Nobody will rememberthe 5th to the 50th. I’d put my hand in the fire that Messi will win it. It has a special meaning for him, but the next day he’ll want to score more goals and that's the most important" he said. Regarding his own presence on the list, and the absence of Pedro, Valdes, or Busquets, Cesc said that "it’s a pretty strange list. How can I be on it, when I didn’t play for practically the whole of lastseason?".


Self criticism after the match at Granada

Regarding the game at Granada (1-0 win), in which he started after his injury, he recognised that it wasn’t Barça’s best game. "The movement of the ball was too slow, we didn’t change the direction of play enough, we had too many players down the right, and we didn’t have as much ball possession as usual, but we did control the whole match" he stressed, whilst praising Barca’s current defensive form.

On his own performance, he acknowledged that he’s still recovering his best form, and feels more comfortable playing in attack than deeper in midfield. "I can play in both positions. As a midfielder I have to improve a lot of things. Tactically I have plenty of room for improvement"he said.

End of discussion about Kanoute

One of the topics of most interest in the press conference was the controversy that arose with Frederic Kanoute at the end of the match against Sevilla, which ended with Kanoute being sent off. "I've always been calm about it. I know what I said to him. Whoever leaked the story thatI used racist words has got what they wanted, because it’s been published worldwide. I spoke with Kanoute and we said what we had to say. I’m not a Saint, just like any football player, but I didn’t say anything racist, and nobody is denying that. We all know how football works" he said.

FCB
Roger Bogunyà
 
Thiago made his debut against Mallorca


Barça’s young midfielder made his first team debut against this weekend’s visitors to the CampNou, Mallorca, at San Moix in May 2009 and his career has been on an upward curve since then.

Thiago was one of the youth academy’s most promising talents –a player who shot up through the various youth team categories. As a Youth team player, he featured for Guardiola in the Barça B team and his creativity imagination and competitive attitude made him stand out. Eventually, two and a half years ago, he made his first team debut and since then the boss has nurtured his extraordinary talent to the point thathe is now one of the first team squad stars.


Fisrt match at San Moix

On May 17th 2009, with the league title already won and with the Rome final just 10 days away, Pep Guardiola called up Thiago for the trip to Mallorca as he gave some of the first team regulars a rest. Thiago came on for the last 15 minutes to make his debut and from then on he became an increasingly familiar part of the first team training sessions at the Ciutat Esportiva.


Debut goal against Racing

After his debut, Guardiola refused to rush things though and he played just one league game and one Spanish Cup match the following season, with a debut goal against Racing in February 2009. Last season he began to make more regularappearances for the team.


Full first team squad member

This season he became a full first team squad memberand has made a great start to the campaign, debuting against Villarreal and featuring in eight of the team’s nine league games, starting seven of them to confirm his promise and reveal himselfas another of the team’s success stories.

FCB,


Sandra Sarmiento
 
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