Andres Iniesta a comentat situatia indisponibilitatilor echipei FC Barcelona inaintea derbyului cu Atletico Madrid de duminica.

“Este o situatie dificila, pentru ca sunt multi jucatori care lipsesc si toti din acelasi compartiment, dar se intampla uneori astfel de lucruri, accidentarile fac parte din fotbal. Va trebui sa ne descurcam cu ce avem si cu jucatori de la cantara si nu avem niciun fel de scuza daca nu vom obtine victoria”, a spus el.

Bartra, Muniesa si Dalmau s-au antrenat in ultimele zile sub comanda lui Pep Guardiola si este de asteptat ca unul dintre ei sa completeze linia defensiva din care vor mai face parte Puyol, Milito si Maxwell. Prezenta canteranilor la antrenamentele primei echipe nu putea fi trecuta cu vederea de Iniesta, care a spus: “Daca s-au antrenat alaturi de noi este, in primul rand, pentru ca au talentul necesar pentru a fi aici si, in al doilea rand, pentru ca sunt pregatiti sa faca acest pas. Daca vor juca, trebuie sa ne asiguram ca vor depasi emotiile si se vor simti confortabil”.

Iniesta nu crede ca accidentarile vor conta decisiv in meciul de duminica, deoarece “noi intotdeauna ne aparam si atacam cu toata echipa si mereu incercam sa asiguram acest echilibru”. “Suntem un grup unde toata lumea vede lucrurile in acelasi mod. Nu exista Alves, Rafa sau Pique, ci un grup unit care functioneaza dupa acelasi principiu. La noi, cel care intra pe teren stie foarte bine ce are de facut”. In plus, Iniesta nu vede meciul cu Atletico ca unul decisiv, deci nu exista o mare presiune a rezultatului: “sunt doar trei puncte in joc!”.

Aseara, Atletico Madrid a obtinut calificarea in finala Copei del Rey unde va intalni Sevilla, dar Iniesta nu crede ca aceasta performanta va afecta performanta adversarului din meciul de duminica: “Este o veste buna pentru ei, dar indiferent de rezultatul meciului lor [cu Racing Santander] caracteristicile duelului de duminica nu se puteam schimba prea mult”.

    Неопределенность по поводу того, кто займет места в защите “Барсы” в матче на “Висенте Кальдерон” начала сегодня обретать кое-какие очертания на тренировке, проведенной на “Сьюдад Депортива”. На ней присутствовало 4 игрока “Барсы Атлетик”. Первую команду усилили три защитника (Марк Бартра, Альберт Далмау и Марк Муньеса) и один полузащитник (Джонатан Дос Сантос).

   

• ТРАВМИРОВАННЫЕ ПРОХОДЯТ КУРС ВОССТАНОВЛЕНИЯ
  

   

• Четверо молодых игроков заняли место травмированных Алвеша, Абидаля, Туре и Чигринского, которые остались в раздевалке проводить работы по восстановлению. Также не появился на поле один из игроков, которые пропустят матч с "Атлетико" по причине дисквалификации: Херард Пике. Защитник занимался в тренажерном зале по индивидуальной программе. Карлес Пуйоль, в свою очередь, разогрелся вместе с основной группой, как и обычно в последние дни.
  

   

• ОВАЦИЯ ЖЕФФРЕНУ
  

    Тренировка началась с аплодисментов Жеффрену, который в понедельник подписал с клубом новый контракт, рассчитанный до 2012 года. Всего в тренировочной сессии приняло участие 20 игроков.

   

• ВИЗИТ МЕНДИЛИБАРА И АГИРРЕ
  

    За работой игроков “Барсы” наблюдали особенные гости. Тренировку первой команды посетил Хосе Луис Мендилибар, недавно уволенный с поста главного тренера “Вальядолида”. Также на ней присутствовал тренер сборной Мексики Хавиер Агирре, который по ее окончанию пообщался с Пепом Гвардиолой. Напомним, что Рафа Маркес и Джонатан Дос Санос являются претендентами на поездку в ЮАР в составе сборной Мексики.

According to Norwegian football site fotballmagasinet.no, Barcelona are supposedly interested in Norwegian youngster Morgan Kornmo. The 17 year old defender has established himself at Malaga’s “Liga Nacional Juventil”, to where he moved from, local side, Lyn Oslo last summer.

His good performance have not gone  unnoticed by several other Spanish clubs which, besides Barcelona, should be Real Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla and Villareal.

Kornmo, speaking to  fotballmagasinet.no, confirms the interest: “I can confirm that trails with 2-3 clubs are being considered at this time. There is nothing concrete, however Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla and Villarreal are probably the most likely”

Unconfirmed rumors has it, that Real Madrid showed interest in securing him for their academy, while Luis Enrique wants him for Barca Athletic.

If, as expected, Victor Valdes starts in goal for Barcelona at the weekend he will match the record held by fomer Barca great Salvador Sadurni for number of league appearances made between the sticks for the Catalans.

At the moment Valdes has 246 appearances to his name but all things being even, he will have 247 come 10pm Sunday evening thus equaling the record set by Sadurni. This would leave Victor third in the list of league appearances made by a goalkeeper for the club, with only the legendary Antonio Ramallets (288 appearances) and Andoni Zubizarreta (301) ahead of him, but aged 28 and with the number one shirt set firmly on his back it would seem even the records of such luminaries are not safe from Big Vic.

Salvador Sadurni was born in Taragona, Catalonia and played for FC Barcelona for 15 years, between 1961 – 1976, wining the Zamora award (lowest total of goals conceded) three times whilst there. He helped the club win the league title and three Spanish Cups in his time, winning ten caps for Spain in the process.

Andres Iniesta has spoken up on behalf of his injury-ravaged Barcelona team-mates ahead of their trip to Atlético Madrid at the weekend, saying “We do not need anyone’s help. With this advantage (five points clear), in the final days, we would be champions. If we were second, we would like to be even on points with the leader. It’s a logical situation.”

Speaking during a press conference today the winger looked relaxed and happy adding “If you do things right, you can click on any field. If you’re psyched, you can take points. Regardless of casualties, the gameplay is the same. We all have things clear and today was just one more session. The play of the central defenders and within the group, everyone knows what to do. The functions will be the same.”

Speaking of the possible inclusion of some of the youth-team players for the squad to face Atlético the Spanish International said “If they are with us it is because they have talent and are ready to do so. The debuts come and someday must be produced. The important thing is that they feel comfortable. They should be calm and with that we can win, because playing with nerves there is the possibility of error.”

He went on to compare his own transition from B team re-inforcement to first-team regular saying “I feel reflected in them because I’m from the cantera (academy). Regardless of whether they are ready or not, they have an overwhelming desire to play. Many of us on the field, we are from the cantera too.”

Addressing the match itself the winger seemed confident of a good result for the blaugrana, but recognised the threat the Rojiblancos posed. “Usually there are goals but no one can predict. What interests us are the three points. We’ll make a serious attempt to score goals and play our game, and what others do, are things we cannot control,” he said. “If goals come, hopefully it won’t be our fault. There you can never relax. Last year we saw that. Try to maintain regularity and try to play our football. The two teams like to attack, both have very good players. These games are a spectacle for the spectators…It will be important for us and we’ll go with the mentality of taking a step forward.”

Speaking of how he expects the result against Atlético to affect the chase for the league title the pale-faced playmaker said “Winning would be a step further. But it’s too early for that. Everything will be decided at the end. We don’t want to lose another game and a win at the Calderon always gives you confidence. Real Madrid are second, and you want them to lose. If they do we can have a good game at the Calderon, but we must stop thinking about that. If we were second, they also would like us to lose.”

Asked if he thought playing earlier in the weekend was an advantage for Real Madrid, Andres was not sure “It depends on how you look at it. You may think that having so many games there is no risk of relaxation and you may think that taking the whole week you’re more rested. The games are very intense. The game would be just as vibrant, with or without the title at stake.”

Finally, in a nice gesture, the midfielder spoke of Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who will make his 500th appreance for los merengues tomorrow “He made his debut very young and even until now his numbers speak for themselves. I enjoy speaking with him in the selection (Spanish national team).”

Gerard Pique is fast becoming an iconic figure in the media, after recently becoming one of the images of Nike, the Barca defender is now the new brand ambassador for the Prince Double Choc campaign, which will start airing on the 15th of February.

With his pull amongst the younger generation, “Prince Pique” is fast becoming an iconic brand in the media and his performances on the field are only multiplying his marketing potential.

NBA’s Pau Gasol was the previous image of this “Prince” campaign. The Lakers’ power forward (who has previously played with Regal Barca) was the ambassador of this campaign in 2002, and will now be replaced by Pique.

The campaign will culminate at the World Cup in June where the Barca defender will likely be one of the key components of the Spanish selection.

Mexico national team coach Javier Aguirre visited Barça’s Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Thursday and held talks with Pep Guardiola and compatriots Rafael Márquez and Jonathan Dos Santos.

Three days before the Blaugrana travel to Madrid to take on Atlético one of Los Colchoneros’ former trainers dropped in to see how the Catalan outfit were preparing and he spoke to the media about the forthcoming encounter. “I am here to speak to the Mexican players that Pep has in his squad,” he explained. “This was all arranged a while ago and me and my coaching staff are visiting 12 of our players across Europe.”

Márquez and Jonathan

Aguire has closely followed Márquez over the past year as the defender has attempted to remain fit. “He has had a difficult time because of injuries,” the coach said. “Now he is in good form and is just like the player I knew 15 years ago.” On Dos Santos the Mexico boss continued: “his dynamism and focus is noticeable. It is great for him at 18 to be here. I believe he has a great future ahead of him at this club”.

Clash of styles

Looking ahead to Barça’s game against Atlético on Sunday Aguirre stated: “they are always open matches with a lot of goals. Historically it is a game between two football philosophies.” On the Blaugrana’s injury woes he added: “Us coaches have the ability to change things quickly and seek solutions.”

The squad of FC Barcelona, and attacker Lionel Messi, have each been nominated to receive the Laureus World Sports Award for outstanding sporting achievement in 2009, according to Spanish daily El Mundo Deportivo.

The Laureus Award, often known as the Nobel Prize of sports, has honored outstanding teams and individual athletes since 1999. Six finalists in five categories are selected by major sports editors, writers and broadcasters from over 80 countries; the winners in each competition are determined by a secret vote from among the members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.

Tough Competition

In the World Team of the Year competition, Guardiola’s record-breaking FC Barcelona squad will be measured against the achievements of NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, World Series winning New York Yankees, the German women’s football team who won this year’s world cup, the Brawn Formula One squad, and the South African national rugby team.

In the World Sportsman of the Year competition, Lionel Messi will face sprinter Usain Bolt, tennis star Roger Federer, distance runner Kenenisa Bekele, Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, and MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi.

Final award winners will be announced on March 10, 2010 at a gala in Abu Dhabi.

Athletic Bilbao forward Iker Muniain has expressed his admiration for Barcelona play-maker Andres Iniesta. When asked who his favourite player to watch was, the youngster said “Andres Iniesta, by the way he touches the ball and moves it from side to side. I love not only how he plays, but also his manner.”

Still only 17 years old Muniain has made the step up from Bilbao’s academy with great ease, scoring 5 goals in 21 appearances so far this season for the Basque team. After only making his first-team debut for the club in July the Pamplona-born winger is already attracting attention from bigger clubs, not to mention Spanish national team coach Vicente Del Bosque, who, it is rumoured, is considering a place amongst his World Cup squad for the young man.

But it seems the new Rojiblancos sensation has his feet well and truly on the ground. “At the moment, I focus on gaining experience gradually, loosening up on the pitch and showing all my qualities,” he said, adding  “An opportunity to go to the World Cup? I’d love to, but I still see that as a bit far, but you have to set goals and try to implement them.”

Speaking at a post-training press conference before this weekend's fixture against Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon, Atletico de Madrid's Sergio Kun Aguero dismissed the suggestion that beating the Blaugrana would translate into Los Colchoneros indirectly helping Real Madrid.

"I am not out to help Madrid or anyone else. We are professionals and all that we have in our minds is to win this match. I think all of the rojiblanco fans are going to be with us and support us during the match [no matter what the implication for Madrid]," said the Argentine in comments reported by Marca.

Aguero went on to praise Barca, calling them "the best team in the world" despite the injury woes the squad has suffered in the past week. "Any player that plays in their defence is going to be do well simply because he is a member of the Barca squad, but if Pique and a few others can't play, all the better."

The Argentine also spoke of his injury woes and assured fans that he now feels very healthy. He also expressed his satisfaction at having reached the Copa del Rey final, adding that he hopes "we are able to win the final. Sevilla are a very strong rival, but all the matches in the Copa are difficult."