ps. totusi raman pe pozitia mea, la Pique e rosu meritat!  (2min 09sec)

FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta praised the players after the game for their great spirit:

“We showed we can overcome difficulties. The players had to work a lot harder after Piquè’s red card. It was a great game, despite the sendings off”.

Joan Laporta then refused to comment on the referee’s performance:

“We have to try and make the ref’s job as easy as possible and help him as much as possible. The fans reacted responsibly. They criticised some of his decisions and they are free to do that. What we have to do though is work hard and keep playing at the level we have been”.

Finally, Laporta commented on praise from many areas, including Madrid player Raul who praised Barca’s recent form: “that shows we are exhibiting a great level of motivation, effort and hard work”.

British sports tabloid The Suday Mirror, claims that Arsenal will offer their captain Cesc Fabregas a new five-year deal that will make him the highest paid player in Arsenal’s history.

Despite still having three years to run on his ­current contract, the Gunners board will sanction a £120,000 a-week deal to ensure the 22-year-old Spaniard stays at The ­Emirates.

Arsenal hope the lure of a £30million contract will ensure ­Fabregas rejects overtures from Barcelona after the player recently expressed his desire to return to his boyhood club.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola refused to criticise referee Fernando Teixeira Vitienes after his side were reduced to nine men in Saturday night’s 2-1 win at home to Getafe.

Barca had Gerard Pique sent off halfway through the first half and were reduced to nine men deep into stoppage-time, when Rafael Marquez saw red for bringing down Kepa Blanco, which led to the award of a penalty for the visitors.

Guardiola said criticism of referees is pointless.

“We shouldn’t always doubt the referees – we need to enjoy this wonderful league and spend less time talking about referees,” he said.

Guardiola refused to discuss any of the decisions, but said referees can be expected to make mistakes.

“It’s not worth talking about it – they make mistakes and get things right like everybody else,” he added.

The former Barca captain praised his side’s ability to win in adverse circumstances.

“I am very proud,” he said. “Getafe are the worst team to play against with 10 men, but we took a step forward and my players behaved marvellously.

“It is one of the best days we have had, one of the games with most merit.”

Guardiola also defended misfiring striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has failed to score in his last five league matches.

“He was scandalously good tonight,” the Barcelona coach said.

The win came at a cost for Guardiola as he will be without four key players for next weekend’s trip to Atletico Madrid.

Pique and Marquez will be suspended, while their fellow defender Dani Alves was a late withdrawal from the team after he felt a pain in his calf during the warm-up. The Brazilian is facing a three-week lay-off.

Midfielder Yaya Toure, who played in defence following Pique’s early dismissal, limped off with a leg injury and is likely to be sidelined for 10-15 days.

Getafe coach Michel claimed his side lacked an edge on the night.

“We had the ball, but we didn’t perform up front and that is really worrying,” said Michel.

“We are struggling to score goals and we lacked bite.”

Getafe played for almost three quarters of the match with an extra man, but failed to make their numerical advantage count.

The Madrid-based side pulled a goal back from the penalty spot at the death, but missed several good opportunities before that.

Michel believes his team need to use the width of the pitch to best exploit their attacking qualities.

“We need to make better use of the wings and pressure our rivals more,” he said.

MESSI WINS THE REFEREE

A “golazo” and an assist to Xavi gave them the three points, despite Piqué’s and Marquez’s sending-off and a penalty against.

Barça 2 – 1 Getafe

“Pañolada”* to the “Villarato“. The Camp Nou protested a refereeing influenced by the anti-Barça campaign.

[Non Barça Related]

Madrid 3 – 0 Espanyol. Madrid had an easy match against a sad Espanyol.

* Definition: “waving of handkerchiefs by crowd at sporting events to signal approval or disapproval”(usually to signal disapproval, though).

TRIUMPH 10

Barça 2 – 1 Getafe

The Camp Nou, indignant with the disastrous refereeing

Barça overcomes a very hard challenge, without the sent-off Piqué, with many football and heart and a great Messi.

Guardiola: “They won’t convince me that we won 6 titles because of the referees (’s help)“

[Non Barça Related]

Apathy in Bernabéu.

Previously linked with a move to Barcelona, it seems Liverpool are closing in on the 14-year-old Danish starlet Alexander Jakobsen. The youngster was compared with former Barcelona legend Ronaldinho both for his looks and ball skills and according to reports emerging from Spanish sports daily AS and British tabloid The Daily Mail, Liverpool have beaten Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid to his signature.

The player, who is reported to have unique ball skills and trickery, is Danish born but can also play for Egypt as his father is Egyptian.