FC Barcelona fans: August 2010

Friday, 27 August 2010

Deal with Liverpool to sign Mascherano

www.fcbarcelona.cat

FC Barcelona and Liverpool FC have reached agreement in principle for the transfer of Javier Mascherano, who will join the club for the next four seasons.

The agreement was reached after considerable effort from the club over the last few hours and the willingness and desire of the player to make the move.

FC Barcelona will give more details of the operation once the player has gone through his medical and the transfer is definitive. Javier Mascherano is expected to arrive in Barcelona this weekend.

Barca drawn in the Group of Champions

Barça drawn in the Group of Champions

Roger Bogunyà

Barça have been drawn in Group D of the Champions League together with Panathinaikos, FC Copenhagen and Rubin Kazan.

The draw for the group stage of the Champions League was made in Monaco on Thursday afternoon. Although the other three teams may not be that well known to many fans, they all won their respective leagues last season. In fact, Group D is the only group to feature four league champions and Barça fans will remember that Russian champions Rubin Kazan produced a shock win in the Camp Nou at the same stage last season.

UEFA Club Player awards

During the draw, the winners of the 2009-10 UEFA Club Players awards were announced. Reigning European champions Inter Milan scooped all four prizes - Julio Cesar (goalkeeper), Maicon (defender), Sneijder (midfielder) and Milito (forward). Milito also took the award for Best Club Player.

Group A Inter
W. Bremen
Tottenham H.
Twente

Group B O. Lyon
Benfica
Schalke 04
H. Tel-Aviv

Group C M. United
Valencia
G. Rangers
Bursaspor

Group D FC Barcelona
Panathinaikos
Copenhagen
Rubin K.

Group E Bayern M.
AS Roma
Basel
Cluj

Group F Chelsea
O. Marseille
Sp. Moscow
Zilina

Group G AC Milan
R. Madrid
Ajax
Auxerre

Group H Arsenal
Shakhtar D.
Braga
Partizan

Puyol happy with the draw

Puyol happy with draw

Roger Bogunyà

Carles Puyol admitted that the draw for the Champions League had been kind to the club and that the squad was happy with the rivals they will face, whilst insisting on the need for prudence and respect.

The memory of last year's games against Rubin Kazan was still very much in Puyol's mind when he spoke to reporters on Thursday night and he insisted: “I think it's been a good draw. Obviously we're happy with it, but we have to respect all of our rivals. We can't be over confident, because it's bound to be hard work.”

Rubin Kazan again

The little-known Rubin Kazan pulled off a shock 1-2 win at the Nou Camp last season and also held Barca to a goalless draw in Russia and Puyol claimed: “we have the experience of last year with Rubin who surprised everybody. Every game in the Champions League is going to be tough” The captain sees the Russians as the hardest rivals, reminding everybody: “we suffered with the cold there last year and let's hope the weather's not so bad this time around. It's a long and tiring trip and they are a strong team”.

Ronaldinho

Puyol also referred to the reception given to Ronaldinho on Wednesday night: “it was a very emotional moment. I think he is one of the best players to have played here and I count myself lucky to have played with him. He was a 10 as a player and as a person. What happened on Wednesday was thoroughly deserved”.

Vilanova : "Not an easy group"

Vilanova: “Not an easy group”

Núria Barnils / Jordi Clos

Assistant coach Tito Vilanova reckons the Champions League draw is anything but easy, noting that all three rivals “are national champions”. Vilanova was disappointed to draw Rubin again, but happy to begin the group with a home game.

Panathinaikos, Copenhagen and Rubin Kazan are Barca's rivals in this season's Group Stage and for Tito: “no way is it an easy group. There's no such thing in the Champions League. All three of them won their national leagues. I'm most worried about us believing it is easy. In a group with so many games there's always the chance of a slip up and things getting complicated”.

Dangerous Rubin

Vilanova still remembers last season's clashes with Rubin and admitted: “we were not too keen on getting them again, it's a very long trip, but at least this time we have the advantage that we know more about them. In our first year year we drew Shaktar from the fourth group of teams and they were the toughest – the same thing has happened this time around with Rubin”.

Happy with home start

Vilanova was more pleased with playing the first and last games of the group at home, explaining: “as well as the rivals you draw, the order of the matches is very important. It's better to start at home because the players are still at the start of the season and not yet up to full fitness, they will be just back from international duty and not having to travel is a big plus”.

20 players report for training

Sandra Sarmiento / Aida Soriano

The players were back in training on Thursday after Wednesday evening’s victory in the Joan Gamper Trophy. Guardiola was able to work with the full squad except for Swedish international Ibrahimovic, who exercised in the gym due to an ankle problem.

The absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the main talking point of Thursday’s training session. A total of 20 players worked out on the Club's training grounds including Hleb and Cáceres. However, Puyol and Adriano exercised separately from the main group. There were no players from the reserve squad as Barça B are preparing their first league match of the season against Celta Vigo.

Ibra works in the gym

An Achilles problem in his right ankle kept Ibrahimovic behind in the gym to follow a series of recovery exercises. The Swedish striker was the only player absent from the first post-Gamper training session ahead of the league opener against Racing Santander.

Specific exercises for Puyol and Adriano

For their part, Puyol and Adriano followed a separate programme based on stretching exercises during the first fifteen minutes of the session.

Congratulations to Adriano
Before the session got underway, Josep Guardiola congratulated Adriano for his performance in Wednesday evening’s match. A nice gesture by the manager, who had also mentioned the Brazilian in his press conference prior to the Joan Gamper Trophy.

Zubi analyses Champions League draw

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Speaking immediately after the draw for the Champions League group stage in Monaco, Andoni Zubizarreta called for “the maximum respect” for Panathinaikos, FC Copenhagen and Rubin Kazan.

Zubizarreta attended today’s draw in Monaco to hand over the award for best goalkeeper. Afterwards he spoke to Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat to analyse the three teams Barça will now face in Group D.

"We can’t take anything for granted"
The former Barça and Spain goalkeeper, now head of professional football at the Club, warned: We can’t take anything for granted. Barça will have the maximum respect for our opponents. If they’re in the draw it’s because they’re earned the right to be there. I’m sure we’ll find they have their strong points”.

Turning to an assessment of each team individually, he described Panathinaikos as a “difficult team” while he highlighted that Copenhagen was a team not often seen in the Champions League. As for Russian champions, Rubin Kazan, who FC Barcelona also met last year in the group stage, Zubizarreta stressed the difficulties posed by the long trip to Russia.

Better to finish at home
Before the fixture schedule was announced, Zubizarreta revealed that he would prefer to have the last match at home. As it turned out, Barça’s last match of the group stage will be in the Camp Nou against Rubin Kazan.

Champions League group stage draw

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Barça players and fans will find out on Thursday afternoon which teams they will have to play in the group stage of the Champions League. Barça has the best coefficient in Europe (137) and will not be drawn together with any of the other top seeds.

The road to next year’s Wembley final starts here. The group-stage draw will take place at 6 pm (CET) in Monaco and according to UEFA rules, Barça cannot be drawn against any of the other seven teams in the top seed pot or against any team from the Spanish league – in this case Valencia and Real Madrid. The 32 teams going into the draw will be seeded as follows:

SEED POT 1: Inter (101), Barça (137), Manchester United (125), Chelsea (118), Arsenal (115), Bayern Munich (111), AC Milan (100) and Lyon (97).

SEED POT 2: Werder Bremen (95), Real Madrid (85), Roma (84), Shakhtar Donetsk (74), Benfica (73), Valencia (67), Marseille (63) and Panathinaikos (57).

SEED POT 3: Tottenham (56), Glasgow Rangers (56), Ajax (55), Schalke 04 (55), Basel (49), Sporting de Braga (40), FC Copenhagen (34) and Spartak Moscow (34).

SEED POT 4: Hapoel Tel-Aviv (28), Twente (25), Rubin Kazan (22), Auxerre (20), Cluj (16), Partizan (14), Zilina (11) and Busaspor (7).

Barça will be drawn against one team from Seed Pot 2 (except Valencia or Real Madrid), one from Seed Pot 3 and one from Seed Pot 4.

Match calendar

The group stage matches will be played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The first matches will be on 14th and 15th September and the sixth and final group stage matches on 7th and 8th December.

Victor Sanchez loaned to Getafe

www.fcbarcelona.cat

The young midfielder will spend this season on loan to first division club Getafe. He will be unveiled by the Madrid-based club at noon on Friday.

The 23-year-old spent last season on loan to another first division team, Xerez, playing 25 matches and scoring two goals.

In the 2008-09 season, this versatile player played an active part in winning the treble. Guardiola knew him from his days in charge of the reserves and used him in 12 games, 7 in the league, 3 in the Champions League and 2 in the Cup.

The Gamper stays at home (1-1)

Jordi Clos

José Manuel Pinto was the hero for FC Barcelona as he saved two penalties in the spot-kick shoot-out to give the home side and the Trofeo Joan Gamper in Camp Nou against AC Milan on Wednesday night after David Villa had netted his first goal.

The tension and competitive nature of an official fixture may have been missing, but the two giants of European football produced a vintage pre-season encounter and Ronaldinho was given the send-off from the home fans that he did not receive two years ago. Camp Nou was packed for the game as the excitement and expectation of the new season brought the fans out and Barça did not disappoint as they showed that they will once again be a force and a great side to watch.

Villa and Ibrahimovic

Barça could have been affected by their efforts to win the Spanish Super Cup at the weekend, but the starting line-up performed superbly as they dominated the early stages on what proved to be a very hot evening in the Catalan capital. Milan started slowly and there was a slight lack of depth to the match as both teams worked out how competitive it was going to be.

It took 20 minutes to bring the crowd to its feet as Villa and Zlatan Ibrahimovic both looked to break the deadlock. The Swedish striker did put the ball into the Italian visitors' net, but he was ruled out for offside.

Quiet night

Milan stepped up and attempted to catch Barça on the break when they could and this in itself offered the home team a different kind of challenge. At the other end Pinto was enjoying a quiet evening despite Ronaldinho being given a free role behind Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Marco Boriello. At the break the hosts made three changes while Milan swapped four players in order to bring some fresh legs to proceedings.

'Killer' Villa

After seeing Villa make his home debut last weekend the Barça fans hoped that the free-scoring striker would net his first for the club after joining from Valencia before the World Cup Finals. They were able to celebrate that feat in the second period when he met a cross from Adriano and beat the keeper having been moved into the centre after the withdrawal of Ibrahimovic. Dani Alves, Thiago and Bojan Krkic lifted Barça when they came on and despite the continuing interruptions for more substitutions the intensity increased. Only Pinto and Adriano remained on the pitch for the Blaugrana for the entire game.

Milan equalise

With their first real occasion of the game Milan drew level when the irrepressible Fillipo Inzaghi produced a magnificent volley to beat Pinto. That goal meant Barça had to push forward looking for a winner and they did just that. Pedro, Thiago and Messi all tried to find a way through, but they could not score and that meant that at the end of 90 minutes a penalty shoot-out was required to find a winner of the Gamper cup.

Pinto stood firm and after first preventing Andrea Pirlo's cheeky chip from the sport the keeper dived to his left to palm away Marek Jankulovski's effort.

Guardiola proud of the team and fans

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Pep Guardiola stated that he was proud of his FC Barcelona side after seeing them win the Trofeo Joan Gamper on Wednesday evening and was pleased to see Ronaldinho back at the club.

The Blaugrana boss highlighted his players’ attitude in the 1-1 draw against AC Milan. The hosts won the cup on penalties and deserved it after the impressive performance that they produced throughout the 90 minutes.

Ronaldinho was honoured by the fans for what he did during his time at Camp Nou and Guardiola was pleased. “I am delighted with the fans, it was marvelous,” he said. Dressing room visit

“Ronaldinho came into our dressing room before the game,” Guardiola then revealed. “He was in great form and met many of his former team-mates. On the pitch the people showed their devotion to him and I think he was pleased.”

On the game itself the coach continued: “I am happy with how we played against a good team. We learned when we have to do when the opposition play on the counter-attack like they did. We had a good few chances and I felt everyone played their part. I am pleased with how the game went and that we won.”

No problem
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has told the media that Guardiola has only talked to him twice in the past six months, but the coach was unperturbed. “We have no communication problems,” the trainer said. “For the good of the club it is better I do not say any more. There is always a reason, but I am not going to explain it now. I am very communicative. I am not going to go into the reasons. When the time is right I will give my opinion.” Transfer window

Guardiola was then asked whether he feels Ibrahimovic will still be here after the close of the transfer market. “If he is here after the August 31 then he will play here,” he explained. “I will talk with him about things. The problem is not that we have spoken twice. I have the duty to turn this round. I have no problem with Ibra in his work, but the person always comes before the person. Probably this will be resolved by talking.”

Wednesday, 25 August 2010

Parents name baby Barça

www.fcbarcelona.cat

A Belgian couple have called their first son Barça and he has already become the first club member to have the name. The pair told the media they chose the moniker because "they liked it".

Taking inspiration from the verse "tinc un nom que el sap tothom, Barça, Barça, Barça" (I have a name that everyone knows, Barça, Barça, Barça) from the Blaugrana hymn the new arrival has the full name Barça Beeckman and he lives 60 kilometres outside of Brussels in Nieuwerkerk. Aged three the youngster was made a member of the Camp Nou club on July 19 by his father Wesley Beeckman, 23, an architecture student, and mother Anneke Maes, 24, a nurse.

Game on

During the pregnancy the couple could not reach an agreement for a name for the baby as they did not want to know the sex until he was born. In the end they settled on the name Lona if the baby was a girl. With a decision about the name if it was a boy in full swing the pair were watching Pep Guardiola's team play when Anneke had a bright idea. "Suddenly, I said to my husband that if we had a boy then would he want to call him Barça," she explained. "He turned towards me and winked before saying 'yes, that is the name of my son'".

Surprise, surprise
On April 26 Anneke gave birth in Sint-Truiden and Barça came into the world. "We were convinced that it would be a girl," Anneke continued. "My family did not know what to say at the start and they were not keen, but now they are used to the name. People had to ask me twice what his name was early on and everyone has said it is the first time they have heard the name used." Wesley's relatives were happier. "My father liked it as soon as he heard it," he stated.

Firm fans
Despite the relatives' initial dismay the couple are "very proud that our son carries the name of the best football team in the world" Anneke commented. Anneke and Wesley are keen FC Barcelona fans and he plays for his local team VCT Terkoest Alken.

"We hope that when he grows up that he will like his name and understand why we gave it to him," Anneke added.

Guardiola remains ambitious

Anna Segura

Pep Guardiola is as ambitious as ever for his team and despite winning virtually every possible title over the last two years, he insists that he can get even more from his team, who “with humility” can go on to win many more titles.

Saturday’s exhibition against Seville served as a demonstration of what Guardiola expects from his players and he admitted: “we played at a very high level and the challenge is to continue to repeat that intensity and attention”.

Starting from zero again

For Guardiola: “we have to play with humility. In the games that are supposedly easy, I want to see us running more than our opponents, making as much effort as we did tehthe very first day”. Guardiola is also well aware that there can be no sitting on their laurels for his team and insists that this season: “we have to go back and win everything all over again”.

Still room for improvement
Many might ask how you can possibly improve a team that has won everything, but the boss has his objectives and plans for the new season and believes: “there are always things to improve – how players play together, the quality of our training, our mental strength..... I believe we can do things better”.

Proud of Saturday's performance

Saturday's win against Seville didn't surprise Guardiola (“we've come back so many times in the past”) and he was especially proud of his players, claiming: “we came into the match in a difficult situation because we'd had so few chances to train together, but it was an excellent game and the players responded really well.
Milan

Looking to Wednesday's 45th Joan Gamper Trophy, Guardiola was clearly happy at the quality of the opposition his team will face: “I think there are few other teams who could dignify our tournament as much as Milan. We're very proud they are here and it'll be a good test for us and a chance to look at a few things”.

Open letter from Ronaldinho

www.fcbarcelona.cat

This message is meant for all the members, fans, board members, staff, players and friends at FC Barcelona.

"As you all know, I don't normally talk in public a lot and I'm not one for big farewells, but I would like to take advantage of this occasion to thank you all for everything we shared together during the five years I defended the Barca shirt. They were certainly the best years of my life, both professionally and personally. I honestly think we enjoyed so much whilst we were together.

I don't like farewells and I prefer to think this will be a chance to meet with old friends and renew friendships and relationships we had in the past.

Coming back to the Nou Camp is very special for me. This will always be one of my favourite stadiums and one where I enjoyed myself so much and hopefully helped the Barca fans to enjoy themselves too.

A sincere hug to all the Barca family and especially to Sandro Rosell.

Ronaldinho."

Five B team youngsters in training

Sandra Sarmiento / Vanessa Forns

With the Gamper Trophy due for Wednesday and the league set to kick off in Santander on Sunday, the squad trained at the Ciutat Esportiva this morning.

Twenty two first team players and five Barca B youngsters trained under Guardiola in the second session of the week.

Wednesday's game against Milan and Sunday's league debut against Racing are the focus of training this week and Guardiola decided to bring in five youngsters this morning - Oier, Miño, Fontàs, Thiago and Jonathan Dos Santos - ahead of the two games in just five days.

New League ball
Diego Simeone was again watching the session at which the players used the official ball of the new league season .

Milan's eight visit to Nou Camp

Milan's eighth visit to Nou Camp

David Puig

This year's Gamper will be the eighth visit of Milan to the Nou Camp, with Barca having won four of the games between the two in Catalonia and Milan just one, with two games ending in draws.

A Barca - Milan game is always one of the classic European ties and two of the continent's biggest clubs will meet for the eighth time at the Nou Camp on Wednesday in the 45th edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy.

Barca dominate Gamper meetings

This will be Milan's third appearance in a Joan Gamper Trophy, having previously been invited in 1986 and in 2004. Their first visit came on 19th August 1986, when the trophy was still played between Barca and three invited teams. Milan and Terry Venables' Barca met in the second semi final with Pedraza, Hughes and Víctor giving Barca a 3-1 win -Tony Hateley scored the Italian's only goal. In the third /fourth place play off, Milan beat Spurs 2-1, whilst Barca beat PSV 1-0 in the final.
Milan's second appearance came in the 2004 edition when Carlo Ancelotti's team went one up through a Serginho goal, only for goalscorers Giuly and Andrés Iniesta to lead an epic fightback to make it 2-1 at the end of the game.

Milan denied final place

Milan's last visit to Barcelona came on April 26th 2006 when Barca and Milan met in the second leg of the Champions League semi final with a place in the final up for grabs. Rijkaard's team had taken a valuable 0.1 lead from the San Siro thanks to a goal from Giuly and they held out for a goalless draw at the Nou Camp to see them through to the Paris final against Arsenal.

Only win
Milan's only win at the stadium came on September 26th 2000 in the group stage of that season's Champions League when Zacheroni's team won 0-2 with goals from Coco – who later signed for Barca – and Bierhoff. This proved to be a bad defeat for Serra Ferrer's team who a few week's later were eliminated from the competition.