Barcelona News Thread

[Magical20]

Frank Rijkaard took a training session that focused on tactics and the defensive system. Deco trained with the team, but Rafa Márquez was absent, as he was doing recovery work in the gym.

Rafael Márquez was the only player missing from Thursday morning's session in the Miniestadi. The Mexican is still recovering from the ankle injury he picked up in Sofia and which forced him out of the reckoning for the win at home to Villarreal.

Deco back in training

But Deco was back after having permission to miss Wednesday's session. The injured Eto'o, Messi and Saviola, as well the aforementioned Márquez, were the players that were absent from the session.

Talking tactics

Frank Rijkaard planned a session based around tactics and defence. After the usual drills and circuits with and without the ball, he got down to work on specifically defensive issues.

The players were divided into two groups of two teams of three, plus two others working separately, and worked on holding their positions and combining passes.

Playing with the defensive system

Once the exercises were over, the players played a short match on the full pitch, with the unusual feature that the defending side always had two players less. Rijkaard wanted to focus on playing in defence when outnumbered and played around with positions using the classic 4-3-3. The players switched defensive roles throughout the exercise: such as Belletti and Zambrotta, Xavi and Iniesta, Thuram and Oleguer, Motta and Edmílson, and Sylvinho and Gio.


Rijkaard active

Rijkaard was especially active in Thursday's session. The Dutch coach stopped the action on numerous occasions to comment on and correct the players' positions. He spoke at length about the way they had to hold their positions and not lose intensity.

He was particularly keen on speaking at length with midfielders like Motta, Deco and Edmílson, or defenders like Belletti, who tend to cover an awful lot of space during matches.


Zambrotta in goal

Once the intense session concluded, Gianluca Zambrotta was keen to show off his goalkeeping skills. And the Italian proved more than adept in the position as he attempted to save strikes from Ronaldinho, Deco, Motta and Sylvinho. While the other players did stretching exercises, Lillian Thuram and Gudjohnsen did extra physical work involving jogging and sprints.

(fcbarcelona.com)

[bandini]

Should be a great game for Barcelona but you always have to be careful in the cup.

[Magical20]

Originally Posted by bandini

Should be a great game for Barcelona but you always have to be careful in the cup.

we cant afford to lose any game right now..that's why rijkaard's working on our defense.. he's a genius .. im sure we wont lose to levante...

[Magical20]

FC Barcelona can make history in ten days time at the World Club Cup in Japan. The club has never won the trophy before, which makes it what Xavi describes as a special challenge.

The Dream Team tried it fourteen years ago, but it wasnt to be. Now Rijkaard and his new Barça team have the chance to proclaim themselves the best in the world. The World Clubs Cup is not just any old tournament, it is a title that the club has never won before, and for that reason it is something that the players are more motivated than ever to win: "It is a challenge" says Xavi. "We know the Dream Team missed out. Thinking that this is something the club has never won and that we could be the first to do it, that's something really exciting".

The Dream Team miss out

FC Barcelona only played this tournament, in its old format, once. That was in 1992 when the Dream Team lost to Sao Paulo. Says Xavi, "I remember the game against Sao Paulo, and Hristo's goal early on. It was looking good for Barça, but Sao Paulo did what they had to do. It was a shame that the Dream Team were unable to finish off the good work they did at Wembley".

América and 'the Flea'

FC Barcelona will start against the winner of the game between Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC of Korea and Club América of Mexico. The latter is a familiar rival, they met in the pre-season and their star striker is none other than Claudio 'Piojo' López, the former Valencia striker who did such damage to Barça on so many occasions. Xavi knows how quick the Argentinian player can be. "He can break right through the defence with his speed. He made life impossible for us at Valencia and always scored against us."

If the Mexicans do turn out to be their opposition, Xavi Hernández believes the important thing will be holding onto possession of the ball. "They play as tight unit, and they have a very fast player up front who can cause a lot of danger. And they like to keep hold of the ball. If we play them, it will be a great game, particularly in terms of finding out who can win possession of the ball."

No worries about jet-lag

All the time changes could create problems, but Xavi does not think so, for after the World Club Cup, "luckily there will only be one more game to play before the Christmas break, and there will be plenty of time to get over any jet lag. And this only really affects us on the return journey. I am sure we will be able to rest and recharge the batteries."

[Magical20]

Getting through to the quarter finals of the Champions League; participating in the World Club Championships for the first time; and winning the world player of the year award. Ronaldinho could have "a perfect end to the year".

The Barcelona ace could end the year on a high. Barça take on Werder Bremen next Tuesday - the winner going through to the next phase of the Champions League. In just ten days time, the team will travel to Japan to take part in the World club Championships for the first time. And finally, Ronaldinho could win the FIFA world player of the year award for the third consecutive year. Three awards which, if all achieved, would be "a perfect end to the year".

A difficult path

Regarding the two competitions, Ronaldinho does not make the distinction of one being more important than the other: "all games are important. The first against Werder Bremen, will be very important due to the situation we find ourselves in. After we'll play in a competition we've never done so before and therefore we want to achieve something special".

World club rivals

Barça could find themselves up against Mexican side Club America; a repeat of the friendly fixture played recently in the pre season tour. Ronaldinho recalls the game as "a tough encounter" and for that reason "it will be a very difficult competition to win".

Brazilian past

Another of the teams competing is Sport Club International; a team Ronaldinho knows all too well. "They were a big rival in my life, but I don't have any special feelings towards them. They're a physical team with a good defense". Questioned whether or not Barça should rest players for the game against Levante, Ronaldinho didn't agree: "I'm good to play, but this is the decision of the coach, I see every player wanting to play against Levante.

"I feel like a winner"

Ronaldinho once again finds himself in the list of possible players in line to receive the award of FIFA World player, along with Cannavaro and Zidane. The Brazilian ace, however, said "I already feel like a winner for being in the top three. I'm happy to be up there again and this motivates me to keep on playing as best I can". Despite the announcement being in the near future, Ronaldinho assured that: "I'm thinking about the games we have".

[Magical20]

The Barça coach does not like the idea of FC Barcelona being considered the favourites to win the World Club Cup in Japan in December. "We'd be making a huge mistake to see it like that" warned Rijkaard.

"We have to go to Japan with all the humility we can, and work hard without feeling we are any better or worse than anybody else" he added, sticking to his usual modest style in the specially arranged FIFA press conference. "The team will be going out there to do its job. I can already see the headlines saying that we are the favourites, but I think that makes it all the more complicated for us. I don't think that there is anybody in the club who thinks that we are the favourites".

A very prestigious tournament

In the press conference held to present the World Clubs Cup in the Camp Nou, the technical secretary of the first team, Txiki Begiristain and the captain Carles Puyol were also invited to give us their points of view. All three wanted to express how prestigious they consider the tournament to be, and in which FC Barcelona will debut on December 14 in Yokohama.

For Begiristain, the fact that Barça are in this tournament means they are "among the big teams. Which means being one of the biggest teams in the world. It is an enormously prestigious tournament and like any of those that FC Barcelona takes part in, we want to win it. We want to be the next champions. We are going in our best intentions to win the trophy back for Europe. We have a lot of respect for our opponents but we feel strong and confident." The FC Barcelona captain added that he is thrilled to be going to the Land of the Rising Sun, saying "the expectations are for us to put on a good show, and, of course, win. It is a very important title for the whole club and for the players and we hope to win it."

No preference

Barça will open their bid against the winners of the game between Korean outfit Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC and a familiar rival in Club América, who Barça already met in the pre-season. Rijkaard believes they are both strong sides. "We will wait for the result" he said. "I have no preferences, we always want to put on a good show, and it doesn't matter who that is against. Whichever one it is, it will be a difficult opponent."

Puyol remembers the 4-4 draw in the pre-season and says "I missed the pre-season game against America because I was injured, but I remember a nice match. We drew four each, and that all goes to show what a good team America are on the counter-attack." Finally, Txiki Begiristain said that the club has representatives keeping an eye not just on América and Jeonbuk Hyundai, but also on Internacional from Porto Alegre, the Brazilian side that will be playing their semi final against the winner of the game between Auckland City FC of New Zealand and Al Ahly Sporting Club of Cairo. "We are making reports on the two clubs we could theoretically meet, they are based on the same kind of reports that we make of sides we play in the League. And we are also monitoring all the games played by Internacional and América."

Options for Giovani and Crosas

Giovani Dos Santos and Marc Crosas are the two Barça B players that the coaching staff have decided to add to the side to make up the 23 for Japan. Rijkaard, knowing Eto'o and Messi are injured, has opted to bring along these two reserve team players that have already had a taste of first team action in the past. "I'm taking Giovanni and Crosas because I am allowed to take a total of 23 players. We have players injured and they will be coming along and helping out if needed. They know what they have to do on the pitch. Giovanni is a great talent and Crosas has played first team football already."

[Magical20]

Ronaldinho will not be in the squad for the visit to Levante on Saturday, while Thiago Motta comes back into squad. Rafa Marquez remains out through injury.


Motta in for Ronaldinho is the only change made to the squad of the last league encounter. Of the 17 player squad, absent will be Rafa Marquez, Eto'o, Saviola and Messi.

The Italian-Brazilian Motta missed the game against Villareal due to having a temperature. He now comes back into the squad in place of Ronaldinho who will sit this tie out for technical reasons. The Brazilian ace has only missed one other game this season, which was the first against Celta Vigo.

Marquez training but will not travel

Marquez picked up an ankle knock in the game against Levski Sofia and was unable to take part in the game against Villareal. Despite having trained with the team, the Mexican defender will not travel with the team. The medical team said "the player has partially rejoined the squad and his injury is satisfactory. Marquez will continue his programme of recuperation until Monday when he should be given the all clear".


The complete list
Valdés, Jorquera, Iniesta, Edmílson, Puyol, Sylvinho, Gudjohnsen, Ezquerro, Giuly, Oleguer, Xavi, Thuram, Belletti, Zambrotta, Deco, Gio and Motta

[Magical20]

Barça coach believes that the game against Levante in the league can have a lot of importance for the game against Werder Bremen next week. "We can't isolate one game from another, the work against Werder begins tomorrow".


Frank Rijkaard knows that the fans have the 5th of December on their minds. The Blaugrana will be playing for a spot in the quarter finals of the Champions League. In order to continue in the same winning way as against Villareal in the last game; to maintain the lead in La Liga and to be motivated "The most important is the game this Saturday. To play well this Saturday will give us confidence going into the game midweek. I know people are already talking about Werder, but for us, it's not like this, we can't think about that game yet" assured the coach.

Rest for Ronnie

The most notable absentee from the game this Saturday will be that of Ronaldinho. Rijkaard wanted to make clear that: "the decision to leave out Ronaldinho is not to do with the game on Tuesday", he explained "Ronnie has spent a lot of energy lately this is a good time for him to prepare himself. The Dutch coach, however, confirmed that "it's not because we give less importance to the game against Levante, we already know they are a strong team and we have to take this game seriously".

The scene of the first Liga title

Rijkaard and Barça know the stadium of Valencia well; it being the stadium where the Barça of Frank Rijkaard won their first Liga title in 2004-05. However, Rijkaard said "memories are for books, you can't stay in that moment, you have to think about now. Feelings don't serve any purpose in this case".

Team performance

Barça put on a real show in the last game against Villareal. "The team has confidence to play important games but I don't want to say they are at 100%. I'm happy with the way they are playing but they can still get better; they must keep working in order to achieve what they want".

The game against Bremen on the horizon

The most important game of the season so far will be played on Tuesday. Victory will mean classification into the quarter finals. In Germany they are confident in their team and they say that the blaugrana are frightened, Frank Rijkaard, on the other hand, thought otherwise: "we're not worried nor are we frightened. We have, as always, respect for the opposition. I've read comments and I believe the worry is on the other side; they are hiding something. The only thing which worries me is leaving a good impression and doing my job well".

His future

The Dutch coach answered questions regarding his future at the club and he reaffirmed: "I only think about the present and if the team is right, I don't think about other things. My only criterion is that the team works; I'm not thinking anything about other clubs. I hope to continue working and I hope the fans are happy with the team".

Larsson signs for Manchester United

Rijkaard has commented on the loan move of Larsson to the English team: "I have to congratulate the player and the club. He is a great player and he deserves it; he demonstrated it here and I hope everything goes well for him".

[Magical20]

Three days before the vital encounter against Werder Bremen, Barça pay a visit to Levante. Without Ronaldinho, the league leaders must demonstrate that their heads are not thinking about the game on Tuesday.

The game (20:00 Barça TV) against Levante will be difficult for Frank Rijkaard due to the vital midweek clash against Bremen looming. As league leaders, Barça must demonstrate their mental strength in overcoming their opponents this Saturday. If Barça win the game, they will go into their midweek encounter with greater confidence as they will know in the back of their minds that they are still league leaders for another week.

Mental Strength: Rijkaard himself has said: "the work against Werder Bremen starts against Levante"; Words which highlight the importance of the game on Saturday. Barça, despite being a little light in attacking options due to Ronaldinho being given a rest, look to continue their reign as league leaders. In order for this to be achieved, they must not be thinking about the game on Tuesday. They must perform to the highest standard in order to show Bremen exactly what they are capable of doing.

Ronaldinho to stay: Of the squad of 17, the notable absentee is that of Ronaldinho, who is staying in Barcelona in order to be in the best shape for the game against Werder Bremen. As to who replaces him is yet to be known; one of the midfield trio of Deco, Xavi or Iniesta may move into a more attacking position, with either Motta or Edmilson filling in the gap. The possible inclusion of Ezquerro can also not be ruled out.

Kapo, the goal of Levante: The star of Levante, Olivier Kapo, is an authentic threat posed by the team from Valencia. The ex Auxerre man, however, has not quite found his finishing touch this season with only 3 goals. Behind him are Camacho and Berson, whose aim is to disrupt the opposition's play. In defense, Alvaro, Alexis and ex blaugrana Dehu; composing a formidable defensive line.


Balanced Statistics
Barça have only visited Levante on three occasions, with a loss (1964-65), a draw (2004-05) and a victory (1963-64). The draw 2 seasons ago saw Barça win La Liga for the first time with coach Frank Rijkaard. Then, the goal coming from the now injured Samuel Eto'o.

[Magical20]

Silvio Mendes Campo, known as sylvinho, is the talk of the day. The left full back has extended his contract with the club until June 2008. His buy out clause being 30 million Euros.

His original contract was due to expire at the end of the current season, however, the technical director of the first team, Txiki Begiristain, saw fit to want to count on the Brazilian for an extra season. "I feel compensated for my hard work, I'm very happy as I've been able to prove my worth to the president, Txiki and my coach" said the Brazilian".

Faith in the team

Sylvinho, who in his two and a half seasons with the club has won two Liga titles and a champions league, has been a vital piece of the puzzle. The full back, a man with deep religious roots, believes in the team and has faith in his coach : "to play here is like playing at home, the coach manages the team in a way which couldn't be better and I have all the confidence in the world in the team's ability to continue winning titles".

Only one important injury

Sylvinho has always maintained an optimal physical level in order to keep his place in the team. In the season of 2004-05, however, he suffered a partial rupture of the ligament in his left knee; sidelining him for a month. Once recovered, he played 21 league game and 3 champions league games.

Titles against his old teams

In the season of 2005-06, Silvinho was one of the first team regulars in the league, however, he did not have such a role in the Champions League; only playing 21 minutes against Chelsea due to an injury sustained by Gio. Silvinho won the Champions league and the Liga titles against his ex teams both Arsenal and Celta Vigo respectively.

His last contract

Silvihno, who has played 540 minutes so far this season, said that this could be his last professional contract: "when a footballer reaches 32 or 34 years old, he starts to have doubts. I have two more seasons to go here and I hope they are good ones. I want to retire here".

[Super Pibe #7]

barcelona are negotiating for daniel carvalho of cska moscow. he is brasilian, but they want too much money and barcelona will not pay the price they are asking for. there is no agreement for the winter transfer window, he will be free next summer

Great player but a big luxury to have on the bench since i cant see him displacing ronnie.

[azzurri]

How much are they asking?

[Magical20]

where di dyou get that bullshit..:S Im sorry but barça is buying NO ONE they have confirmed that so many time + they dont have places for more non-eu ppl.. that cant be.. please submit the source..

[Magical20]

barça doesnt have the money to buy really prices players anyway they are still paying off theire debts...

[Jaime]

Oh phew i thought it was that **** Ricardo Carvallho from Crapski


Oh and we got lots of cash, we juist got bigger debts LOL