During his Ajax period from the years 2001 to 2004, Barcelona forward and Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic (28) had many difficult moments. “I often had the feeling that I was the only one who believed in my qualities. Especially after the departure of technical director Leo Beenhakker. Yet Ajax is a special club for me. It was a perfect school.”

The Swedish striker later signed for Juventus and Inter Milan before signing for FC Barcelona. The forward netted 11 goals in 12 matches so far this season, which has made him an instant hit among the Barcelona fans. “My quick adaption in Barcelona has a simple reason: my past with Ajax. The football style is totally different than I used at Juventus and Inter Milan, but now I have to do the things I was accustomed in Ajax,” Ibrahimovic commented for Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. “It’s all about the speed of action. This was no different with Ajax. Here it is only a level or three higher.”

IBRAGOAL

Barça suffered to win a two-faced Espanyol

Barça 1 – 0 Espanyol

Zlatan scored for the fourth match in a row and he has scored 11 goals so far.

It was penalty! Baena grabbed Xavi’s jersey, who fell to the floor and Iturralde gave the penalty.

Messi gave the Ballon d’Or to the team and fans.

Dani [Espanyol's president] accused Laporta as “unpresentable” and the conflict continues

[Non Barça Related]

Valencia 2 – 3 Real Madrid. An important los Blancos victory but Pepe ended seriously injured.

IBRA PICHICHI

The Swede settles the derby

He’s scored 11 goals so far. Including yesterday’s goal from the penalty spot, he’s now the top goal scorer for Barça .

Barça 1 – 0 Espanyol

From Madrid, the Government refused Barça’s direct flight to Abu Dhabi. Spanish Government forces Barça to make a stopover in Istanbul

[Non Barça Related]

Valencia 2 – 3 Madrid. Los blancos win a crazy match

At the post-match press conference last night, Barcelona coach, Josep Guardiola, has stated that the team’s victory against Espanyol (1-0) has in itself an “added value” because it is a derby and also because it was his players 7th straight match every 3 or 4 days since November 21.

“The players had to exert lot of effort and it was very noticeable in the second half. Espanyol played a very tight game and that affected our play. I would have to give a lot of value to this victory since it is a derby and because the players achieved it by overcoming their fatigue.”

“I congratulate the team because they have triumphed over a great rival, and I think this match is a good assessment of the team’s fortitude,” he remarked.

“I had told them they would have to give their full concentration (despite the fatigue) because a derby match always comes with it a lot of passion. Also, Espanyol is a good team that pressures well, aggressively in the good sense of the word, went for every ball and had given us a lot of problems.”

Guardiola also praised his team’s “very good performance” in the first half and added that Barcelona should have scored “a lot more goals” then – reminding the press that the team deserved the win for the overall effort they put in.

Explaining his decision to substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Guardiola surprised everyone present when he acknowledged that it was not taken to rest the player or for tactical reasons but to prevent the Swede from being red-carded: “I had taken him off the pitch because they would have expelled him. I didn’t like what I saw so I substituted him.”

With regard to the penalty given by the referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez, Guardiola admitted he had not seen anything, but Xavi Hernández has confirmed to him that the foul did happen.

“The Espanyol player (Baena) has even admitted to Xavi that it was a penalty,” he said.

In any case, the Barcelona coach also recognised what effect that decision will have on Barcelona season: “I can already imagine what will happen. It is going to be brought up over and over again this season.”

With the Espanyol match over, Guardiola is now concentrating on the Club World Cup: “We need to recover the players’ strength for Wednesday’s match (against Mexican side Atlante). In Abu Dhabi, we will train a bit and rest a lot. We look forward to play in the final but it will not be easy because our Mexican rival, which is very strong, had already spent a few days there (acclimatised). We’ve also had to go through two months of very intensive competition, but thankfully we’re now top in the League, qualified for the Copa knock-out stage, and in Europe too, after being in a very tough group.”

Finally, Guardiola criticised the Spanish Civil Aviation Authorities for not granting the team’s flight the right to take the direct route to the UAE and is forced to make a technical stop-over in Istanbul, Turkey: “We must thank (sarcastic) the Civil Aviation for not letting us fly direct, and now, we have to make a two-hour stop-over in Turkey. We will be leaving at eleven in the morning and will only arrive at 23.30 hour there. Being in a plane for such a long period, two days before we play in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup tournament against an opponent that has spent time there, is not good for us,” he concluded.

Interviewed by Catalan radio station RAC 1 the other day, FC Barcelona president, Joan Laporta explained that he will have a talk with the first team coach Pep Guardiola about his contract renewal either during or after the Club World Cup tournament.

And according to a report by Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo, the negotiation which was already initiated by the club months ago, was suspended by the coach, who intends to concentrate fully on his present task. The president also stressed that financial term has never been an issue for the deferment.

Laporta said negotiations timetable is decided by Pep himself, but as he’s not interested in doing it now, everything has to be put on hold. Laporta, Txiki and Sanllehí, nevertheless hope that it can be resumed in the UAE.

Even though, the coach himself has yet to get himself involved in the negotiations, Josep Maria Orobitg, his agent was informed of the club’s proposal and was told that the club is anxious to speak to him next week; so it was reported that he will travel to Abu Dhabi today.

According to the paper, the proposal is very similar in nature to the contract agreed to by Puyol; an open-ended contract that is seen as a sign of the club’s absolute confidence towards his commitment and performance, past and future.

On top of monetary incentives, it is understood that special clauses were added into the contract that protect Guardiola’s future interests given the present situation the club, which is in an election year.

Guardiola was offered the liberty to choose the duration of his new contract plus other assurances, all guaranteed by the current club president himself.

What it means is that, Pep Guardiola has the right to rescind his contract should he finds that he could not work with the next board, without penalties.

It can be ascertained, according to the paper again, that through all of this, the delay in Pep Guardiola coming to an agreement is neither because he is after the money nor the power but his desire to take things slowly as he does with his matches, and to sign a contract devoid of any doubts about his future.

Barcelona are set to face Mexican Primera División side Atlante FC in the semi finals of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Atlante qualified for FCWC after they downed fellow Mexican side Cruz Azul 2-0 on aggregate in the final of the CONCACAF Champions League.
Atlante entered the tournament in the quarter finals where they defeated New Zealand outfit Auckland City 3-0.

Barcelona will play Atlante on Wednesday the 16th of December at 17:00 CET at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi with the winner progressing to the final against either the Pohang Steelers from South Korea or Argentina’s Copa Libertadores champions Estudiantes de La Plata in the final.