In a short interview with Catalunya radio station ‘Cadena Ser’, FC Barcelona and Ukrainian defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy answered a few questions about the recent incident where he was again ostracised by a segment of the Camp Nou crowd during the Copa del Rey match against Sevilla last week.

Asked how he felt, Dima said, “In a very special club like Barcelona, you have to be prepared for everything, good and bad. When they get bad, you have to be positive in the next match.”

On how he copes with the criticisms, the 22-year-old acknowledged, “The team helps me and for me that is important. Xavi told me other players were also whistled at before.”

“Not that I need time, but I could not make the pre-season with the team and I had to adjust quickly with the amount of matches that we have. If the circumstances are different, I’m sure the integration can be a lot quicker. I know I can do a lot better.”

“I will work even harder (to win their approval),” the player promised.

Chygrynskiy joined Barcelona on 26 August 2009 – at the close of the summer transfer season – after a protracted negotiation period with Shakhtar Donetsk for a transfer fee valued at around 25 million euros. He signed on for 5 years, becoming the first ever Ukrainian player to play for the Catalan club.

In his weekly column for Catalan newspaper El Periodico, Dutchman and former Barcelona manager, Johan Cruyff, gave the Camp Nou faithful a piece of advice: Support Chygrynskiy if you want Guardiola to stay.

Reacting to recent events surrounding the less than stellar performances of Ukraine international and Barcelona defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy, Cruyff warned fans to refrain from overly criticizing the player, noting that the whistles directed at the defender would have hurt Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola more than the player himself: ” Basically, if people criticize the player, they are in effect criticizing the coach.”

Chygrnyskiy, who last summer was signed for 25 million euro by the Catalan club at the express wish of Guardiola, was resoundingly jeered by the home fans for his poor performance in Barcelona’s first leg quarterfinals match against Sevilla. Cruyff, however, believes that Chygrynskiy, whom he likened to former Barcelona defender Ronald Koeman who went through a similar rough start, should be given more time to adapt.

He also counselled the fans to tone down the critical environment at the Camp Nou, stating that things would not come easy and that it costs so much to achieve both (league and Copa) titles:  “(Guardiola’s) players are not machines.”

Seydou Keita told in an interview to the French newspaper, Le Parisien, that he was shocked and scared, when he heard about the guerilla, who attacked Togo’s bus on Friday. Two members of Togo’s team have died, including the bus driver after the attack, while one of their goalkeepers are hospitalized at Johannesburg Hospital.

“We try to get in touch with Togo’s players to show our support, but it’s difficult. Angola’s government should act to get everything back to normal. In Mali we use to stay in Luanda, where the security is good.”

The attack happened next to the border to Congo. Keita admitted that such things can happen in Africa. Despite that Togo choosed to withdraw from the tournament, Keita and his Mali has no plans to do the same. “I am here to defend to colors of our national flag.“

In article carried by the Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo said, FC Barcelona and Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure (26) is again fuelling rumour about his intention to leave the Catalan club even though he had just renewed his contract until June 2012.

The unsettled player’s name kept cropping up in the rumour-mills, reports and interviews since this summer transfer window because his agent, Dimitri Seluk made a mess of his contract renewal negotiations by hinting at all sorts of club-move threats when talking to the media.

Caught by a ‘Eurosport’ news gathering crew during the current African Nations Cup, Yaya gave a quick interview along with his brother, Kolo.

Asked if it was true that he would like to play together with his brother at the same club as they do in the national team – as he had once tried before when Kolo was still with the ‘Gunners’, Yaya said, “It is true that I was on the verge of signing for Arsenal. I spent two months for a trial there (before signing for Greek club Olympiacos in 2005). It was an incredible experience but in the end, I was disappointed that they did not sign me. But I am sure that someday I will return to play in England.”

Kolo, who was next to him, interjected, “If you want, you already know where you are invited to come,” obviously referring to his current club, Manchester City, adding, “He is a brave player, and has a great pride in his abilities, as he had demonstrated in the semi-finals of Champions League defending against Chelsea’s Drogba.”
Yaya Toure joined FC Barcelona in June 2007 from AS Monaco for 9 million euros. On 27 June 2009, he signed a new one-year extension that will keep him at the Catalan club until June 2012.

LEO WANTS THE PICHICHI

The crack has challenged himself to be the best Liga striker.

He has a goal left to be the youngest Barça player to score 100 goals.

Sergio Canales, target.

Pep reviewed  the Sevilla – Barça match while the team was coming back from Tenerife.

[Non Barça Related]

Oswaldo already wears white and blue. “I came here to stay”.

African Nations Cup: Surprise in Angola, pain in Togo.

“WE’LL QUALIFY IN COPA DEL REY”

This was what Xavi promised to Laporta in “Festa de l’esport català” (Catalan sports party)

In the pic: Xavi recieves the Best Catalan Sportsman of the Year award and Laporta the Best Team award.

The president doesn’t lose hope: “There’s room for a unique candidacy”

The best league start for Messi. He hass scored two more goals and gave one more assist than the last season.

[Non Barça Related]

Oswaldo: “I want to convince them so I can stay here”

Benzema, tired of being a substitute. “I’m disappointed”.