WE CAN DO IT!

The “treble operation” goes through attaining the first comeback since Guardiola is the coach.

“In Sevilla I will play the best team possible” said Guardiola, who wants to qualify today.

Guardiola dines with Piqué to encourage him.

Interview with Ángel Canales: “We’ll decide my son’s Sergio future considering only football reasons”

THE CRACK’S NIGHT

Barça will try to comeback in Sevilla to qualify for Copa del Rey.

Guardiola will play with the bests and won’t rest Messi.

Ibrahimovic will be back on the team and Pinto will protect the goal.

Guardiola’s message: ” Be brave!”

[Non Barça Related]

Madrid lost their pichichi. Higuaín will miss three weeks because he is injured. The Argentinean goal scorer will leave his place to Benzema, who will be starter until Higuaín gets fit.

Madrid based sports paper Marca has today reported that FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez is voted World’s best Playmaker of 2009 by the IFFHS.

Xavi, who was also voted the best in 2008, tops the ranking followed by another Barcelona player, Lionel Messi. Real Madrid’s Kaka was the third best, with yet another Barcelona midfielder, Andres Iniesta, fourth.

The Terrassa-born Catalan player will join other winners of the year 2009 in London on 1 February 2010 to accept their awards at the IFFHS Gala.

Other Spanish winners are the Football Club Barcelona – Best Club, Pep Guardiola – Best Club Coach, Vicente del Bosque – Best National Coach, and Iker Cassilas – Best Goalkeeper

Team News

Barcelona:
Seydou Keita and Yaya Toure are away at the African Cup of Nations while Jeffren is doubtful to make the final squad.
Eric Abidal who took part in training normally seems to have recovered from his injury and is likely to feature in the game.
Jonathan Dos Santos, Thiago Alcantara, Victor Vasquez and Gai Assulin have been called upon from FC Barcelona Atletic.

Sevilla:
Didier Zokora and Freddy Kanoute are representing their respective countries in the African Cup of Nations.
Marius Stankevicius has joined the squad to replace Sergio Sanchez, who has been forced into temporary retirement due to a heart issue.
Jesus Navas picked up a knock at the Camp Nou seems to have recovered and may be featured.
Striker Luis Fabiano has not recovered from his injury and is unavailable.

“We accept the challenge,” was the statement made by FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola during the Copa del Rey pre-match at the Ciutat Esportivo this afternoon.

“First of all, I want to state that we want to continue in the Copa. We’re going to try really hard to get to the quarter-finals, that’s for sure.”

“We are at a disadvantage but anything can happen.”

Reminding those present of the virtues of his players, he added, “We had overcome many adversities before. You know these players, and know what they have achieved. They have always tried their best, and because of that, I am convinced they’ll do it again.”

That said, the Catalan coach also admitted, “Sooner or later, we will be defeated. We are not unbeatable. What we intend to be is a consistent team.”

Asked why he did not start with his best-11 during the home-leg, Guardiola answered, “I did it for many reasons knowing that the tie will be decided at Sevilla (no matter what the result was at the Camp Nou). Even though the result was not favourable, I saw things that will help us in the future.”

Challenged if he will reverse that line-up, he would not divulge much: “I will decide tomorrow. I will play the best team possible to reverse the tie.”

“They’re all more than capable professional players. To me, they are all equal, and everyone is there to assist the team, but I have yet to make my decision.”

“We will try to dominate and generate scoring chances. Even if the result is in our favour, we will still go on the offensive.”

Asked if he had made preparations for any penalties eventuality, Guardiola answered, “That would mean accepting that we must go for a 1-2.”

“Pedro and Vazquez had already trained to take those penalties against Pinto. But we still need three more,” obviously giving the hint that Barcelona is not going for the minimum as Barca Atletic’s Victor Vazquez is not even in the squad being taken to Sevilla.

Queried about any expectations he has of Sevilla’s Manolo Jimenez tactics, Guardiola said “It is a strong and very capable team, and very well managed.”

“With the players the team has, I don’t believe Sevilla will play just to ‘endure’; if they can, they are going to seek to do the opposite, and press up to steal  some goals (counter-attack) on occasions.”

“The result is in their favour and is a very strong team as demonstrated in the first-leg,”

When the matter of the recent announcement made by IFFHS that chose him as this year’s Best Club coach, the coach who will only be 39-years-old next Monday said, “Those who voted for me have never seen me coached. I guess they vote for me because I won (those titles) but it was only thanks to the players and the club. Doing the same thing with another team would not have won me those six titles.”

Finally, concluding the session with another question about Chygrynskiy – whether his 25 million transfer price is worth it, Guardiola answered, “The more he costs, the more we’ll help him. He will cost more (in the future), because now nobody knows him, but then again , I am the one who asked for him, and I will have to look after him. He is an asset to the club.”

Lionel Messi has told senior Barcelona teammate Thierry Henry to tone down his arm waving during games, it has been revealed.

Sport says Messi exchanged angry words with Henry during their thumping of Tenerife having seen the Frenchman make gestures of disappointment after not receiving the ball as he wanted.

The World Player of the Year told Henry to reign in his behaviour as it was affecting the confidence of teammates.

Rather than lose his rag, Henry took on Messi's advice and was the first to congratulate the Argie after the three goals he scored on Sunday.

Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo is targeting a dream Champions League final - victory over Barcelona at the Bernabeu.

The two Spanish clubs, who are tussling it out at the top of the Primera Division, are both in the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition. And Ronaldo would love nothing more than to dethrone Madrid's bitter rivals on his own turf.

"It would be a spectacle to be able to play the final in the Santiago Bernabeu," the Portugal international told Correio da Manha.

"As much for the players as for the fans.

"I hope to meet Barcelona in this final and beat them."

Ronaldo spent around two months on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury during a Champions League clash at Marseille back in September.

Since his return he has scored four goals in as many games and the 24-year-old hopes he has put his injury woes firmly behind him.

"I hope I don't have more injuries and so can help Real Madrid win all the competitions they are in this season," added Ronaldo.

"And not just for next year but also for the future."