Wazzup with FC BARCELONA?!! (News)

[Classik]

Reception in Milan with foreign supporters’ clubs

www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/28/2012 17:39

Josep M. Barnils, Club’s main representative

Foto de família



Around sixty supporters met this afternoon at the hotel AC Milano in the Lombardy capital. On the mark of the away Champions League match in Milan, Josep M. Barnils , director of the Social Comission and responsible for the foreign penyes, welcomed a delegation of those supporters’ clubs established abroad.

Barnils showed his gratitude for the effort of those attending, bearing in mind that they just arrived at Milan. A great effort that proves the feeling they have for the blaugrana colours, regardless of their origins, as well as the brilliantmoment the penyes movement is undergoing.

Antonio Freire , delegate of the Supporters Club Advisory Council for The World did not miss this event. Some light refreshments and a family photograph concluded a modest event, which asserts the Club’s will to attend the supporters’ clubs wherever.

V Anniversary of the Penya Lombarda

With this event, the Penya Lombarda FC Barcelona presented the poster of one of its V Anniverary central activities. A charity 7-a-side charity football tournament in favour of handicapped kids that will be held in April.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Puyol equals Migueli's record of 549 officialmatches for FC Barcelona



03/28/2012 22:38
The defender has played the second most gamesfor FC Barcelona, only Xavi has played more (617)

Puyol and Migueli, in 2003, during an interview with REVISTA BARÇA. PHOTO: arxiu FCB.
Puyol and Migueli, in 2003, during an interview with REVISTA BARÇA. PHOTO: arxiu FCB.
12 goals for Barça
Carles Puyol’s natural habitat on the pitch is playing defence, leading his teammates from the back. However, throughout his career at FC Barcelona he has scored 12 goals (8 in the Liga, 2in the King’s Cup and 2 in the Champions League). One of his most memorable goals was scored at the Bernabéu during the historic 6-2 rout. He celebrated by kissing his captain armband.
The captain Carles Puyol played his 549th game in the Barça strip tonight and he draws level with the legendary Barça players Miguel Barnardo Bianquetti as the player with the second most games for FC Barcelona. The Azulgrana defender made his debut on October 2nd 1999 when Van Gaal included him in the squad against Valladolid. 12 years and 5 months later, he’s equalled the defender ‘Trazan’ Migueli that played for Barça from 1973 through 1989.
Second only to Xavi
Puyol, who is one match away from beating Migueli, is second only to Xavi Hernández, who came to the first team a year before the captain and had played in 617 official Barça matches.
The competition that Puyol has played in the most for Barça is the Liga with 367, followed by the Champions League, 112. In the Cup, the defender has played in 47 matches, 9 in the UEFA Cup, 6 in the Spanish Super Cup, 2 in the European Super Cup and 6 in the Club World Cup.
18 titles in his trophy cabinet
Puyol lifted his first title in the 2004-05 season, it was the Liga won in Levante. Since then the captain has claimed 17 titles (4 Ligas, 3 Champions Leagues, 1 King’s Cup, 2 European Super Cups, 5 Spanish Super Cups and 2 Club World Cups). Surely Barça fans remembers each one fondly, but the on that most likely captivated the hearts of culé’s worldwide was when he told Éric Abidal, who underwent liver surgery, to lift the Champions League in Wembley.

FCB,

Anna Segura

 

[Classik]

AC Milan-FC Barcelona: Goals have to wait till the Camp Nou (0-0)



03/28/2012 23:07
Barça took a 0-0 draw from Milan at the San Siro tonight - leaving the return game at the Camp Nou to decide who gets through to the Champions League semi-final
Milan were hemmed into their own half, especially before the break and at the end of thegame

Alexis, caient davant Abbiati. FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB.
It’s all square after the first leg in Milan, with Barça undoubtedly the winners on points – having dominated, particularly in the first half and making the chances – with three good penalty shouts ignored. However, in football it’s goals that count and Barça weren’t quite able to get on the scoresheet tonight, leaving the Camp Nou to decide who gets through to the last four.
Early chance for hosts
Although it was Barça who dominated throughout the first half, Milan had the first chance, when Robinho failed to put away a goodchance after just 2 minutes after Milan had pressed the Barça defence to get possession. Messi’s genius soon began to come through though and after about ten minutes the team began to settle and threaten Abbiati - who committed what looked to be a clear penalty on Alexis on 15 minutes.
Barça lay siege to Milan goal
Barça now began to take control – despite the poor state of the pitch – whilst Milan were forced back and tried to hit the visitors on the break, with Valdes making a good stop from one such counter when Ibrahimovic got through. It was becoming an all action game though, played at a hectic pace which really didn’t suit Barça’s game plan.
But Barça were not to be held back and they soon imposed themselves, with Xavi coming close to repeating his goal in the 2-3 result in theGroup stage, only for Abbiati to push his effort wide. The Milan fans were whistling at the extended periods of possession Barça were enjoying, as Guardiola’s men began to lay siege to the Milan area, forcing the Italians to sit ever deeper.
Stalemate
Milan brought on El Shaarawy for Robinho soon after the break and that seemed to give them anextra boost, as they opened up a little, only to come up against an impeccable back four. The game entered a rather less exciting phase now and Guardiola brought on Tello on 64 minutes to inject a little more penetration.
Barça denied
With the youngster out on the left, the team certainly recovered some of their sharpness and only some good covering denied Messi on 77 minutes, with Puyol getting on the end of the resulting corner and also looking to be fouled. Milan’s defence was never going to be easy to break down though and they appeared to acceptthe draw as a good result as they withdrew evenfurther back. A double chance for Messi and Alves and what looked like another penalty committed on the Argentinean nearly ruined theItalians’ game plan, but in the end it’s all to play for next week at the Camp Nou.

FCB,

Jordi Clos

 

[Classik]

Guardiola: “Our fans cannot let us down on Tuesdayâ€



03/28/2012 23:34
The Barça manager urged Barça fans and members to attend the match at the Camp Nou on Tuesday and help the team qualify for the semifinals
Guardiola is clear that to be Champions League winners against that the team must “overcome thousands of things, and do an even better job [than last year]â€
The fact that Milan is satisfied with a goalless draw is the “highest form of praise†for Guardiola

“We know that it will be a terrible match. Milan have very talented players and they they defendwell"
"These players have done too much to be abandoned"
Josep Guardiola urged FC Barcelona fans and members to attend next week’s Champions League showdown with AC Milan: “Our fans cannot let us down on Tuesday. They need to come to the stadium and carry us to the semi-finals. These players have done too much to be abandoned. This Tuesday we have a final in our stadium with our people. We need the Camp Nou to be full. We have a chance to go through and between us all I believe it’s possible.â€
The Barça manager considers that Milan’s satisfaction with a goalless draw at the Giuseppe Meazza is “the biggest of compliments,†although he warned that the return match at the Camp Nou “will be terrible†and that “there’s no room to speculate.†Guardiola continued: “A tie is never finished off in the away leg. However, keeping the conditionof the pitch in mind, shooting 17 times is meritorious. Milan have seven European Cups, and we went toe to toe with them.â€
“It will be a terrible matchâ€
Referring to the last match between the two sides in the Group Stage, which ended in a two-all draw, Guardiola is clear that “in the world of football, whatever happened before doesn’t matter.†He added: “We know that it willbe a terrible match. Milan have very talented players and they they defend well. This is why our fans need to cheer us on more than ever. We only have one option, and that’s to win - between all of us we won’t fail.â€
On the condition of the pitch at the Giuseppe Meazza, Guardiola said that his players deserve a lot of credit “playing football or, at the very least, trying.†The manager said “something needs to be done. In the end we adapt to everything, we come and we play. But it’s clearlya problem for the show. It’s also true that to be champions you have to overcome every challenge. We’ve done it in the past and we’ll keep on doing it.â€
Guardiola, who refused to talk about the referee, said that “everything is difficult. We’ve won a lot of things, we’ve drawn and we’ve lost. In the latter two w’ve never talked about the referees. To be Champions of Europe again we must do an even better job.â€

FCB,

VANESSA FORNS

 

[Classik]

Xavi: “We were superior, we dominated but we didn't finish the match off"
03/28/2012 23:59
Three of the four Barça captains believe the game was “difficult†despite the many chances the Catalan team enjoyed
The tie will be decided at the Camp Nou, where Puyol believes that the fans “will be with the team from the first minuteâ€

Carles Puyol during the game against Milan /PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ
Next training session in Italy
This Thursday, at 12:00, FC Barcelona will train at Milan’s Centro Sportivo Facchett.
The goalless draw at the San Siro means that theChampions League quarter-final tie will be decided at the Camp Nou this Tuesday. “We had many chances to score. We tried with long possessions but we weren’t able to capitalise on the chances we created. It’s a shame,†said VíctorValdés . Carles Puyol added that Milan is a team with “dangerous players†and that the game “was very difficult.†According to Xavi , his team was “superior, we dominated the game but we didn't finish off the match.â€
“We shouldn’t look for excusesâ€
The referee decisions throughout the match were controversial for the players on the pitch. Puyol added that during a corner kick he was held back by his mark: “I broke free but I noticedthat someone was grabbing my shirt. I pointed itout to the referee and he told me that it wasn’t apenalty. However, we cannot look for excuses. We have to play well, refereeing is very difficult.†Along the same lines, Víctor Váldes considers that “the referee is the man the makesthe decisions†and that everything will become “more clear in the replays.â€
Puyol also said the San Siro pitch is another factor to consider: “The pitch appeared to be in good condition but it was slippery during training and during the game. These things happen.â€
“It will be one of the best matchesâ€
“It’s always important to score away from home but now it’s time to work hard and, especially, defend well. Like the boss says, if we have to play with nine defenders we will, but we have to win,†said Valdés. Puyol called upon the Camp Nou faithful to attend next Tuesday’s match: “It will be one of the best games. They are aware of what is at stake and I’m sure they’ll be with us from the first minute.â€
Here are some of the statements made by Barça players after the match:
Mascherano : “The pitch was a problem in the stadium and it affects other teams.
“It’s the result that we finished with, I believe that we deserved more. If we play next week’s match like today, I’m sure we’ll go through.â€
Messi : “It was a difficult match be we have to win.
“We played our game but it was difficult because of the pitch and because they are verystrong.
“It’s a dangerous situation. Either team could go through, we hope we can score so it will be us. We deserved to win.â€

FCB,

ITZIAR BRAVO

 

[Classik]

Meeting of the Regulations Committee
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/29/2012 10:28
Review of objectives achieved and start made on work for future projects

Supporters' Clubs World Congress 2011
Supporters' Clubs World Congress 2011
Preparing the 2012 Congress
This Saturday the Advisory Council is meeting in plenary session to approve the various issues dealt with this month by the various commissions and prepare the content of the upcoming Congress. This is a first step towards self-government for the penyes movement, which is gradually being introduced through changes and modifications being made each season.
Last Sunday the Regulations Committee met at the Club offices in the last meeting of a busy March schedule.
Important issues
The fruits of the committee’s work are clear to see after a considerable effort to adapt the rulesand regulations to current conditions. The new rules have been gradually approved this season according to the needs of the Penyes movement,with the implementation of the Penyes Segle XXI project.
Sub-committee on the writing and application ofthe new regulations
The new regulations establish new processes forforming a supporters club, with clear and established procedures. This means that the previous moratorium has been lifted and applications will now be accepted from potential new penyes.
The processes for reactivating a club which has closed have also been looked at and new criteria have been established for closing a club.
The most recent changes to the regulations haveset up the position of the Síndic de les Penyes, one of whose objectives are to establish a standard procedure for overseeing procedures.
It was also agreed to work on a new Service Manual, adapted to the new regulations and the new tools to be launched over the next few months, such as online administration. The implementation and content of the penyes map on the web is also an area which will be approved at the next plenary meeting of the Consell Consultiu de Penyes.
The regulations covering payments which the penyes receive will also be studied in the near future. An accurate study of members payments, which were received by clubs, will allow a number of requirements and processes to be implemented to facilitate administration.
Sub-committee of Territorial Organisation
Currently, work is also under way to create a new territorial organisation. There is a need to establish a defined structure with competent organs to make sure that self- government becomes a reality.
This will mean that every zone will change from having a single delegate to a complete organisation with a clear organisational structure which will allow for good management and coordination of the movementwithin its different geographical area.
Whatever is the outcome, the system will remaintrue to the existing democratic election system, in which each penya will have the right to a voteto decide who their representatives in contacts with the Club are to be.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Milan v Barça: fourth game of the season without scoring
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/29/2012 10:39
The Champions League quarter final first leg against AC Milan was only the fourth in which FC Barcelona haven’t scored this seasonLikeSend

Milan - FCB / FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
The following are other interesting stats in relation to Wednesday’s nights European clash
- The other games this season in which Barça have failed to score were those against Sevilla (0-0 at the Camp Nou), Getafe (1-0 defeat) and Vila-real (0-0 away from home)
- Barcelona’s last 0-0 draw in the Champions League was on November 4, 2009, at Rubin Kazan
- Barça and Milan also drew 0-0 in the second legof their Champions League semi final in the 2005/06 season at the Camp Nou
- At the San Siro, Barça had 18 shots and Milan just six
- Ambrosini made the most passes for AC Milan (42). Only two Barça players, Puyol (36) and Mascherano (40) made fewer
- Messi, with 6 shots, and Xavi with 4 were the most active players in front of goal
- Piqué, Puyol and Mascherano recovered the most balls, with 12 each
- Neither Puyol nor Nocerino were booked, so both will be able to play in the second leg at the Camp Nou

FCB

 

[Classik]

Barça present complaint about condition of Giuseppe Meazza pitch
WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT 03/29/2012 11:48
The Club passed the matter to the UEFA delegateat their meeting after the Champions League match

Alexis/ PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
FC Barcelona has presented an official complaintto UEFA about the condition of the pitch at the Giuseppe Meazza for the Champions League match against AC Milan . They passed the matter over to UEFA delegate Mikalai Varabyov (Bulgaria) at the post-match meeting. Varabyov has included the complaint in his report and UEFA will demand an explanation from the Italian club.
In his press conference after the game, which ended 0-0, Pep Guardiola also spoke about the playing surface. He said that “in the end we adapt to everything, we come and we play, but it’s clear that this was a problem for the spectacleâ€.

FCB

 

[Classik]

History on Barcelona’s side
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/29/2012 13:03
Whenever Barça have drawn the first leg of a Champions League tie under Pep Guardiola, they have eventually qualified for the next round
In four years on the first team bench, the FCB manager has qualified 25 out of 27 attempts in knockout matches

Puyol / FOTO: ARCHIVE FCB
Puyol / FOTO: ARCHIVE FCB
On Tuesday at the Camp Nou we will see whether Barça or Milan go on to play Chelsea or Benfica in the semi finals of the Champions League after the first leg ended 0-0. That’s a result that gives Guardiola plenty of reasons to feel optimistic about his side’s chances, for history is very much on his side. Since he became coach in 2008/09, he has successfully guided the team through 25 out of 27 two-legged encounters. The only ones he has ever lost were in the same season, 2009/10, first in the round ofsixteen of the Copa del Rey against Sevilla, and later in the Champions League semi final againstInter Milan.
Drawing the first leg
Guardiola’s Barça has drawn four Champions League first legs, and the players have always responded by eventually sealing qualification. The first case was in 2008/09 when a 1-1 draw away to Olympique Lyon was followed by a convincing 5-2 victory at the Camp Nou. Later in the same competition came one of the most memorable moments of the Guardiola era. Barçaand Chelsea met at Stamford Bridge to battle for a ticket to Rome after the game at the Camp Nouhad ended scoreless. An Andrés Iniesta strike in the very last instant was enough to secure a 1-1 draw and qualification for the final by virtue of the away goals rule.
The next season, Barça also drew two first legs but went on to qualify. In the first knockout round they crossed paths with Stuttgart and drew 1-1 away before cruising into the quarter finals with a 4-0 win at the Camp Nou. In the following round they met Arsenal and drew 2-2 at the Emirates before a magnificent Leo Messi scored all four goals in a 4-1 win at the Camp Nou that ensured passage into the semis.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Training session in Centro Sportivo Giacinto Fachetti
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/29/2012 13:48
The first team, who won’t return to Barcelona until Friday, have trained today at the Centro Sportivo Giacinto Facchetti, in a session in which the players that started the game at the San Siro have worked at a gentler pace

L'equip, exercitant-se a Milà / FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB
L'equip, exercitant-se a Milà / FOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ-FCB
The FC Barcelona first team are used to training at the Ciutat Esportiva on days after matches, butthis Thursday there’s been a break from routine and they have instead trained at the Centro Sportivo Giacinto Facchetti, one of Inter Milan’s training grounds. The club decided to take this measure because of the general strike affecting the whole of Spain on March 29, and will insteadbe returning to Barcelona on Friday.
Gentle session for starters
Under a warm Lombardy sun, most of the playerswent through the usual post-match recovery routine, while the players that didn’t start the game that ended 0-0 at the San Siro trained more normally.
Visitors and free afternoon
The facility is located in the city of Milan itself, and is usually used by the Inter youth teams, where some 20 youngsters live in a residence. Infact, the session was visited by Inter technical director Marco Branca and sports director Piero Ausilio, who spent some time chatting to Josep Guardiola and Andoni Zubizarreta.
The players will have lunch together at their hotel and will then have the afternoon off. They’ll have supper together in the hotel at 21.00.

FCB

 

[Classik]

A very attacking Athletic Bilbao come to the Camp Nou
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/30/2012 11:52
Athletic Club Bilbao maintain the roots they’ve always had, but Bielsa has added a courageous footballing style, including some points in common with the Barça philosophy
An attacking style, good ball movement, and pressure high up the pitch to recover possession, are some of the similarities between Guardiola’sBarca and Bielsa’s Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Club / PHOTO: www.athletic-club.net
Athletic Club / PHOTO: www.athletic-club.net
Barça will play at home this Saturday, at 22.00, against the most attack minded Athletic of recent years. The Lions are now not only race and character. The arrival of Marcelo Bielsa as manager has brought a new style of play. It’s a brave footballing proposal, with a clear attacking style, with good ball movement, and no room for speculation. It’s a style of play that has some points in common with Barça, and has made this Bilbao side into one of the most admired teams in Europe.
Bielsa has been able to convince his players, and now they all row in the same direction. They use suffocating pressure to quickly recover possession of the ball, and once they have it, they pamper it and play it, and are offensive-minded. Footballers like Muniain, De Marcos, andSusaeta , look for the ball continually, Llorente is the reference in attack and Iraizoz’s first option is not to play the ball long.
The Bilbao match this Thursday in Gelsenkirchen is the latest example of their style of play. Athletic fought back from 2-1 down and ended up winning 4-2 away at Schalke in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Europa League. Two goals from Llorente, one from De Marcos, and another from Muniain, opened the door to the semifinals for Bielsa’s team. On Saturday they’re at the Camp Nou and they are not there just for the ride.

FCB

 

[Classik]

The first team are back in Barcelona
WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT 03/30/2012 11:53
The team managed by Pep Guardiola landed in Barcelona at 11.45 and went straight to the Camp Nou, where they’ll train in preparation for Saturday's game against Athletic Club Bilbao

The team arrives in Barcelona / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
The FC Barcelona first team is back in Barcelona .The squad, who left their hotel at 9.10, flew from Milan at 10.30, and landed at El Prat airportat 11.45. Remember that, after Tuesday's game at the Giuseppe Meazza (0-0) , corresponding to the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions League , and due to the general strike on Thursday, the squad stayed in the Italian city yesterday, as a preventative measure.
For that reason the squad didn’t train at the JoanGamper training ground as is normal the day after a match, but instead, they trained at the Giacinto Facchetti Sports Centre , on one of Inter Milans training pitches. Now, back in Barcelona, it’s time to focus back on the League , and that's why, immediately after landing, the Barça squadwent straight to the Camp Nou, where training isscheduled to start at about 13.00. After training, Guardiola will appear at a press conference.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Friday, ticket application process for the King's Cup final opens
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/26/2012 19:21
The application process will close on April 4th at 19:00
The tickets, only available for Club members, start at €60
Barça have 20,000 tickets available, 13,600 are reserved for Club members and 3,400 are reserved for Supporters Clubs

FC Barcelona-Athletic Club, final de la Copa del Rei
This Friday at 10:00, March 30th, the Club will open up the ticket petition process for the the King’s Cup final in Madrid against Athletic Bilbao (May 25th at 22:00). The process, which is exclusive to Club members, will be open until 19:00 on April 4th.
Tickets
King Cup's Final
It’s worth remembering that this process requires Club members to fill out an online application form on the Club’s website ( www.fcbarcelona.com ) starting this Friday. As usual, each member is allowed to petition for one ticket, however up to four members can be included on one application form, in the event that said members want to travel together. Members under the age of 12 are excluded from this process.
Possible draw on the 10th
All of the petitions will be handled after the established cutoff date. In the event that there are more petitions than there are tickets available, the Club, with the assistance of a notary, will hold a public draw on April 10th at 10:00. On the 10th, 11th and 12th, the Club will inform members that won a ticket, how and when to collect the ticket and finalise the payment process.
You must have a bank card
Completing the application process indicates that a member has the intention of buying a ticket. Therefore, after completing the application, members will be asked to input their bank card data. In the event that a ticket is granted the member’s card will automatically becharged the sum of the ticket price (€60). The difference will be paid at the ticket window should the member wish to upgrade their ticket (limited availability).
Starting at €60
Prices for tickets for the King’s Cup final in Madrid against Athletic Club start at €60. In the event of applying for multiple tickets (one ticket per person, up to four persons on an application form), only one bank card’s data is required to reserve said tickets. If the charge defaults, the right to reserve a ticket is lost.
85% of the tickets for Club members
The Vicente Calderón has a capacity of 50,000, each club will have 20,000 to give out to their fans, while the rest are reserved for the Spanish Football Federation. As usual, 85% of the tickets available for the final (17,000) are allocated to members (13,600) and Supporters Clubs (3,4000) . The remaining 15% (3,000) are reserved for theClub for institutional and sponsorship purposes.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Barça’s penultimate training session before the visit of Athletic Club Bilbao on Saturday
WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT 03/30/2012 13:29
The first team trained at the Camp Nou immediately after returning from Milan. Adriano joined the session, and began to work with the group, as did Eric Abidal

Immediately on arrival from Milan , where, on Tuesday, they played the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions League , and where they stayed until this Friday as a preventative measure due to Thursday’s generalstrike, Pep Guardiola ’s team went straight to the Camp Nou . There the team trained in the first of 2 sessions planned before facing Athletic Bilbao on Saturday night, in the League.
Adriano back with the group
In addition to the 21 players who travelled for the game against AC Milan , Adriano trained , and began to work with the main group on Friday, together with Eric Abidal . Remember that, in Adriano’s case, the Brazilian suffered a muscle strain in his right thigh, in the game against Granada on the 20th of March.
On Saturday morning, as usual on match days at the Camp Nou , the players will end up polishing details for the match against Athletic Bilbao , which kicks off at 22.00, so they go into the game with maximum guarantees. They’ll do thatat a workout scheduled to start at 12.30. Then the group will have lunch together at the Camp Nou, and will have some free time until they have to be back at the stadium, at 20.15.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Villa: "I can see the light at the end of the tunnel"
WWW.FCBARCELONA.CAT 03/30/2012 15:20
The Barça striker stressed that he’s "really enthusiastic" with regard to the status of his recovery process from his broken leg

David Villa / PHOTO: ÀLEX CAPARRÓS - FCB
On December 19th David Villa successfully underwent surgery on the fracture of his left tibia, an injury sustained during the World Club Cup semifinal against Al-Sadd . The recovery period was said to be between four and five months. After just under three and a half monthsof intense work, the Barça striker affirmed that he’s "seeing the light at the end of the tunnel" .
Villa referred to his injury and his mood, in the talk he gave at an event in which the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) presented an agreement under which all football grounds, from the First Division to the Third , will have a defibrillator on their premises .
Very enthusiastic
"I'm really enthusiastic, burning up the later phases, thank God, with a lot of work every day since it happened. I'm really happy, lively, content, and eager. I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and keen to enjoy football again from within", said Villa , just before commenting that, since the first day after his injury, he’s worked hard to recover as soon as possible.

FCB

 

[Classik]

Guardiola: "Against Athletic it’ll be a demanding game but good to watch"


03/30/2012 15:21
Pep Guardiola foresees an intense match againstAthletic Bilbao, a team that he qualified as the"Sensation of Europe"
The manager recognises that all teams need days of recovery between matches, but he believes that Bielsa’s team will give their all on Saturday at the Camp Nou, despite having played on Thursday

Gambling on youth
Both FC Barcelona and Athletic Club are two teams that have gambled strongly on their youthsystems. The manager believes that the difference with other clubs who also have good youth systems "is that we pick them".
Josep Guardiola believes the his team will do well not to think that Athletic Bilbao are coming to the Camp Nou with the 'handicap' of having played 48 hours before, in their Europa League match. The manager, who watched Bilbao’s win against Schalke, said that the Basque outfit "is used to working at maximum effort. They are educated to believe that they can do more" . He also thinks that they won’t come out at the CampNou thinking more about the European game than this one. "They can win, lose, or draw, but they can dominate in games and always have chances to win them".
He recognises that for both Barça and Athletic it’s better to have more rest days between matches, but accepts that "the schedule is what it is……..it’s better to have three or four days rest but teams that want to reach Finals have to play lots of games, one after another, in this situation" he said.
Careful with Athletic
Guardiola was once again full of praise for Marcelo Bielsa , the Athletic Bilbao manager. "I think he’s the best and believe me it’s a pleasurefor me to go up against him" he said. Given that, he recognises Bielsa’s role in taking Bilbao to thetop and didn’t hesitate in saying that "they are the sensation of Europe. They’ve earned the right to have the admiration of everyone".
About the dangers of the next opponent, Guardiola has watched Bilbao’s last few games, as well as Barça’s game in Bilbao in the first part of the season. "They usually play with the same players. The matches I've seen are a pleasure forthe spectator. It’ll be a really tough game, very demanding for the players, but good to watch".
A good test
Athletic Bilbao, and Barça’s situation coming intothis match, with the Champions League qualifier in between, is a good stress test for Guardiola if they want to win more titles. "If we want to be champions of the League, the Cup, or Europe, we have to overcome these circumstances. Overcoming them is the only way, bearing in mind possible difficulties. We have to look forward and take another step" .
But first of all the players have to be mentally prepared for the game this Saturday, and not theMilan match. "If we’d been focused on another match and not the next one, we wouldn’t have won 13 out of 16 titles". So now it’s the Athletic Bilbao match, and from Sunday there'll be time to focus on the return leg of the Champions League.

FCB,

Anna Segura

 

[Classik]

Spotlight on Athletic Club Bilbao


03/30/2012 19:38
“The Lions†are one of the most successful teamsin Spain and their unique policy of playing only Basque players, together with the fact they are owned by their members, gives them a special place in the Basque social fabric

FC Barcelona vs Athletic Club Bilbao / PHOTO: FCB
History
Athletic Club are, together with Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, one of just
three teams who have never dropped out of the Spanish first division since it
was founded in 1928. During that time they havewon the league title eight times
and on five of those occasions they won a league and Cup double, indeed only
FC Barcelona have won more Spanish Cup titles. Athletic Club Bilbao was founded in
1898 by a collection of expat English shipyard and steel workers together with
young Basques who had travelled to Britain and 31 years later they became the
first team to win a La Liga title without a single defeat during the season. In all,
they won four titles in the pre-civil war era, although they also managed one in
the 40s and 50s (when the team featured the legendary Telmo Zarra up front) it
wasn’t until the early 80s that they managed another, taking the ‘81 and ‘82 titles
under Javier Clemente.
Basque Identity
Athletic Club are closely associated with the cause of Basque nationalism,
with their policy of only playing Basque, or Basque connected players. The
team’s second kit has the Basque flag colours and the first ever public display
of an Ikurrinea after the death of Franco was at a game against Real Sociedad in
December 1975, when the two captains ceremoniously placed a giant Basque
flag in the centre of the pitch.
Form Guide
This has been a great season for Athletic, with Marcelo Bielsa introducing a
level of skill and passing, which has sometimes been lacking from the Basques
traditional blood and thunder approach. They seem to have saved their best
form for the Europa Cup, with two great games against Manchester United and
this week’s win over Schalke , which looks to have virtually assured a semi final
slot, but their league form has suffered something of a dip, with three defeats
and a home draw against Sporting Gijon in their last four games. That run has
seen them drop from being Champions League contenders to their current more
modest 11th spot in the table. Athletic are also, of course, due to play FC Barcelona
in this year’s Spanish Cup final.
The Barcelona connection
The Cup Final will just be the latest time the fates of the two historic teams
have been entwined. Right back in 1930, the Basques inflicted what is still the
Catalans heaviest ever defeat with a 12-1 thrashing, whilst in 2009, Guardiola’s
team took the Cup title as part of their historic treble-winning season beating
Bilbao 4-1 in the final. The rivalry of the 80s and Goikoetxea ’s infamous fouls on
Maradona and Schuster is water under the bridge now and there was a fantastic
friendly atmosphere between the two sets of fans in Mestalla, which is sure to be
repeated at this year’s Vicente Calderón Cup final- and indeed at the Camp Nou
on Saturday.
Ones to watch
Bilbao’s sparkling young team is full of stars, with Fernando Llorente the main
man up front, ably supported by Munuain , Susaeta and De Marcos , whilst many
of Europe’s top teams are eyeing up the versatile Javi Martínez , who has shown
he can be equally effective at the back or in midfield.

FCB,

Nick Bedson

 

[Classik]

Triman Navarra - Barça Alusport: Barça continue winning ways in Pamplona (1-3)
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/30/2012 22:20
Barça Alusport beat Triman Navarra and they maintain their top spot in the League with 61 points, level with ElPozo Murica
Despite missing Cristian and Gabriel, Marc Carmona’s men continue their unbeaten streak away from the Palau - now they are free to concentrate on their upcoming King’s Cup match with Inter Movistar

Ari Santos, contra el Triman Navarra.
MATCH STATS
Triman Navarra, 1
FCB Alusport, 3
Triman Navarra: Asier, Mimi, Javi Eseverri, Rafa Usín i Ximbinha –starting five– Jonathan Vilches, Jesulito, Roberto, Juanra (1) and Carlitos.
Barça Alusport: Paco Sedano, Ari (1), Lin, Sergio Lozano (1) i Wilde (1) –starting five– Torras, Javi Rodríguez, Igor, Saad and Fernandao.
Goals: 0-1, Ari (min 3); 1-1, Juanra (min 29); 1-2, Sergio Lozano (min 36); and 1-3, Wilde (min 40).
Referees: Gracia Marin and Munez Carpintero.
Barça Alusport leaned on their experience to claim their 19th win in the National League of Futsal. It’s a valuable victory that allows the team to remain at the top of the table with 61 points, level with ElPozo Murcia, who will be awarded three point without playing this week because they are scheduled to play against Benicarló, who have withdrawn from the League.
Ari scores the first
Around 3,000 people filled the Pabellón Universitario de Navarra to receive Barça Alusport. Despite the fantastic atmosphere, the men led by Marc Carmona came out onto the court concentrated on the task at hand. Ari scored the first goal on three minutes, after a fantastic one-touch play. Triman Navarra, spurred on by their fans, reacted and thoroughly tested Barça’s defence. The home team had various chances to score, the clearest of which fell to Eseverri, but Paco Sedano proved to be toomuch for Imanol Arregui’s men.
A vibrant second half
The second half started off with a shot from RafaUsín but the best player at the start of the second half, Asier Llamas, Triman’s keeper, was up to the task and saved Barça’s attempts to widen the gap between the two sides. The Navarre team, determined to draw level, were doing well to recuperate balls in the middle of court and rapidly go on the attack. It was Juanra,from a free kick, who scored the equaliser on 29 minutes. A couple of minutes later, Fernandao put fear into the Pabellón when his attempt to put Barça ahead narrowly missed.
Lozano, key
It was Sergio Lozano who scored Barça’s second. Triman committed their sixth team foul and Lozano had no mercy from the double-penalty spot (36 minutes). From that point on, Arregui risked it all by playing Carlitos as a keeper-player and Usín was close to scoring. In the last minute of the match, Wilde controlled a long pass, beat Carlitos, and made it 1-3 for Barça. Wilde and Lozano consolidated their positions atthe second and third highest scorers of the League with 25 and 24 goals, respectively.
Barça Alusport’s next match is this Tuesday at 21:00 against Inter Movistar - in a do-or-die game. It’s the return leg of the King’s Cup semifinals. Barça won the first game at the Palau by 3-1.

FCB

 

[Classik]

The Azulgrana Roundup, Week 10


03/30/2012 23:19
On this week's roundup: The Catalan daily Sport discusses Guardiola's Barça with the legendary Arrigo Sacchi, Michael Robinson and John Carlin ponder the roots of the Guardiola era, TIME names one of FC Barcelona's players as a contender for Person of the Year...

Alexis against Athletic Club at the San Mamés / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ. FCB
Alexis against Athletic Club at the San Mamés / PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ. FCB
Have ideas? Share them!
If you have any suggestions for this column, please don't hesitate to share them with us. Tweet them at FC Barcelona's twitter account and be sure to use the #FCBroundup hashtag.
*. TIME . The 2012 TIME 100 Poll: Lionel Messi
"Will there be any end to Messi's record-breaking? On March 20, with the 18th hat trick ofhis career — a record — Messi passed César Rodríguez as Barcelona's all-time top scorer. Thiscame just two weeks after Messi became the first player in history to score five goals in a Champions League match. Look out, Pelé: Messi may be the new greatest footballer of all time."
*. Sport. Martí Perarnau. Gente seria y fiable [Serious and reliable people, interview with Arrigo Sacchi]]
Casi sin respirar, Sacchi nos dijo ayer: “En 2008, el Barça tomó la fenomenal decisión de colocar al equipo por delante de los individuos, honrando que el fútbol es un deporte de equipo."
*. El País . Michael Robinson / John Carlin. Barça,¿evolución o revolución? [Barça, evolution or revolution?]
"Lo que sí podemos decir, en cambio, es que el actual Barcelona representa un hito en la evolución del fútbol. Existe un antes y un después con este equipo. Ha redefinido el juego, ha hecho que la totalidad del mundo del fútbol –desde los entrenadores de niños pequeños hasta los cuerpos técnicos de los clubes más grandes del mundo– vuelva a la pizarra y reconsidere sus premisas más elementales."
*. El Centrocampista . Scott Oliver. When the nastiest rivalry in Spain was between Barcelona and Athletic
"By then supremely confident and driven, refusing to be cowed by either of the metropolitan behemoths, in 1983-84 Athletic had pipped Real on the head-to-head rule and Barça by a single point, despite the blaugranas’ somewhat pyrrhic league double over the Basques - and it was during the course of that season that the incremental morbo between Barcelona and Bilbao finally, and spectacularly, ignited."
*. Buenos Aires Herald . London tube names stations after Olympics’ legends
"Several well-known Argentine football players will have the honour of lending their names to the London Underground to pay homage to the sports icons during the Olympic games to be heldbetween July 27 to August 12"
Can you guess which one(s)?
*. Marca . Zlatan Ibrahimovic gives his shirt to Éric Abidal after this Wednesday’s Champions League clash with FC Barcelona via Keita
*. Zonal Marking . Milan 0-0 Barcelona: Lots of little battles
"A brief summary of the tactical battle? Milan often did well to crowd out Barca’s attacks, but Barca should have stretched them more. There wasn’t a key battle, nor an overall tactical theme– but instead plenty of small areas of interest. "
*. Los Angeles Times . Kevin Baxter. Lionel Messi still making a name for himself
"What sticks out most about Messi, though, isn't so much how often he scores but rather how he scores. Many of his goals are works of art — a soft touch here, a long blast there. Left boot, right boot, it doesn't matter; Messi with the ball at his feet is like Picasso with a brush in his handor Toni Morrison with a pen and paper."
*. Goal.com . Mark Doyle. Guardiola: I try to learn from Bielsa
"I have so much admiration for Bielsa and I try tolearn from him. Athletic have been the sensatinof Europe this season. They deserve the admiration of all.â€

FCB,

Ian MacLurg

 

[Classik]

Sala París hosts the Plenary
www.fcbarcelona.cat 03/31/2012 09:00
Jordi Cardoner i Casaus and Pau Vilanova welcomed the attendants

The importance of the Council
Jordi Cardoner emphasized the importance of this event. “We have the oportunity to meet withour representatives so they can provide any suggestion they think relevant†since “it is important the opinions the delegates inform to be actually what the supporters’ clubs presidentsand their members think and believeâ€
Busy Day
This Saturday is an intense day of penyes activities at Camp Nou. Besides the Plenary, rightbefore the Barça – Athletic Club de Bilbao match, two posters will be presented as well as eight crests are to be unveiled.
Jordi Cardoner i Casaus , Vicepresident of the Social Area, and chief director of the Social Comission Pau Vilanova welcomed the attendants to the first Plenary of this year. Delegates of the Supporters’ Clubs Advisory Council and several directors of the Social and Penyes commission also came to this event, along with the Supporters’ Clubs Ombudsman.
This session is highlighted by the series the different committees held during this month. At this meeting the four committees assessed the work done since 2010, and the new projects to come .
Jordi Cardoner i Casaus highlighted the importance of the supporters’ clubs member roll ,as a starting point of a structured and self-managed movement, according to the parameters and goals established on the PenyesSegle XXI project. “We need to know who is who, and how many members each supporters’ club has so, from then onwards, establish their needs so as to help them from the Clubâ€. This way, the Club will have a real view of the movement’s range.
Four committees to raise the penya brand
The four working committees are formed by delegates of the Supporters’ Clubs Advisory Council and directors of the Social and Penyes comission. Their goal is that of working in more specific aspects of the movement, so as to carrt out projects to raise the penya brand within the next four years. “The working methods have been arranged, entering a professional trend somehow, as well as following systematic methods, and ways of knowing the fundamentalopinionsâ€, asserted Cardoner.
The committe of Supporters’ Clubs Identity and their Members, Tickets and Away matches, Events and Activities and Regulations presented today all the issues they have been dealing with,and the future projectes. All this is to establish most papers that are to be introduced during thenext Penyes Congress to be held this August.

FCB