“There is no No. 9 in the world like Ibra, no other centre forward will have as many assists as he scores.”

FC Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova during an interview with catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo

FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is the latest high-profile name to become an ambassador of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid.

“I believe this is a truly unique bid, and a wonderful opportunity to spread the magic and the benefits of the world’s favourite game across the globe,” he said in a press conference today.

Guardiola, who played for Qatar’s Al Ahli Club from 2003 to 2005, recently returned to the Gulf nation after leading his team to the FIFA Club World Cup title in Abu Dhabi, the sixth trophy of Barca’s 2008-09 season.

Saying he was impressed by Qatar’s football development and infrastructure investment, he added: “My experience in Qatar, as well as the outstanding organisation and football passion we witnessed in the UAE during the Club World Cup, makes me confident that Qatar and the Middle East can host a spectacular, passionate and unforgettable World Cup that embraces all the FIFA ideals.”

Guardiola has brushed aside suggestions of any conflict with the Spain-Portugal bid, pointing to the widespread view that FIFA will award the 2018 World Cup to Europe. This would leave Qatar in a bid contest for the 2022 edition with the US, Australia and South Korea.

Barcelona’s coach is not the only Qatar bid ambassador to be working for bids against their own countries. Dutchman Ronald De Boer has already paid lip service to the Qatar bid, showing his support at events including the FIFA Bid Country Expo held in Cape Town in December. Holland-Belgium are one of the four European bids vying to stage the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

World Cup legends Gabriel Batistuta, Roger Milla, Sami Al Jaber and Bora Milutinovic are also Qatar ambassadors.

Commenting on Guardiola’s appointment, Qatar 2022 bid CEO Hassan Abdulla Al Thawadi said: “We are honoured to work together with Josep to bring the World Cup to Qatar in 2022. Both as a player and as a coach he has been the personification of dedication and passion on the football pitch.”

“More than any of his astonishing successes, though, we are delighted to have him on our team because of his continued commitment to youth development in football.”

Barcelona have denied that they are planning to make a move for Arsenal midfielder and Spanish international Cesc Fabregas (22).

In an interview with The Times, club president Joan Laporta, told that he is not tempted to bring the Spain midfield player back to the club where he was a youth team player.

Laporta also played down suggestions that he has offered Thierry Henry, the former Arsenal forward, as bait to Bayern Munich as part of a deal to take Franck Ribery to the Nou Camp.

Asked if Fabregas could be a summer signing, Laporta replied: “He is not a temptation.”

Fabregas was lured from Barca by Arsenal, who went on what Laporta referred to as a “fishing trip” to the Catalan club.

“Arsenal came fishing for our young players,” he said. “One of them was Cesc. Now he is playing very well at Arsenal. I can’t say any more about this.”

Poaching of young players by big clubs is, according to Laporta, simply a matter of market forces at work.

“It’s the market which fixes theses situations and it is a question of the ability the clubs have to engage the player,” he said.

“We are developing a policy for our youth players so they make the first team. It is showing results because half our first team are from the youth team, like [Victor] Valdes and [Carles] Puyol. We explain that money is not everything. We want them to love Barca.”

Wayne Rooney’s name has also been linked with a possible move to Barca but Laporta refused to be drawn on the subject. Nor would Laporta comment on reports that Barca are about to swoop for Ribery in a possible swap deal for Henry. Ribery is said to be desperate to win the Uefa Champions League – a feat he may feel he may be more likely to achieve with Barca, the current holders – but Laporta was at pains to suggest there were no plans to offload Henry.

“He has done very well from the beginning,” Laporta said. “He is a gentleman. We appreciate him for his skills as well as a human being. His future is here.”

Catalan sports paper ‘Sport’ report that Sporting de Gijon are looking to extend the loan deal of FC Barcelona defender and Spanish U-21 international Alberto Botia by another year (20).

Sporting are very happy with the performances of the Barca youth product, who joined them at the start of the current campaign. The Asturian club now intend to extend the players stay at the Molinon by another year.

Sporting officials have reportedly already made their offer to Barcelona and are eagerly awaiting a response from the club.

When FC Barcelona hosts Racing Santander on Saturday night, a home win would be a perfect gift to Pep Guardiola, who will celebrate his 100th game as the head coach of FC Barcelona. That total includes all League, Copa del Rey, Spanish and European Super Cups and Club World Cup matches.

The statistics are quite impressive. With 70 wins, 19 draws and only 10 defeats, Guardiola is the first manager in history to guide a Spanish team to the treble.

In fact, Pep has another impeccable record under his belt: his team has never lost a final! In Valencia, Barca managed to beat Athletic Bilbao and win the Copa Del Rey by 4-1; in Rome, they beat Manchester United to win the Champions League (2-0); and at the Louis II in Monaco, “The Culés” downed Shakhtar to steal the European Super Cup (1-0).

Guardiola’s 99 official games:

League: 60
Champions League: 21
Copa del Rey: 13
Spanish Super Cup: 2
European Super Cup: 1
Clubs World Cup: 2

Toure Yaya and Dmytro Chygrynskiy continued their race to be fit for the weekend encounter with racing Santander as the rest of the squad enjoyed an intense training session on Friday morning.

Josep Guardiola maintained the focus as the players learnt more about their opponents and worked on tactics to prevent a surprise in Camp Nou when the Cantabrian outfit visit on Saturday (8pm). After the first defeat of the league campaign last weekend in Vicente Calderon the Blaugrana are looking to bounce straight back.

Closely watched

While 20 players trained as youth team starlets joined the first team squad, Touré and Chygrynskiy were being watched closely as they continued to work normally ahead of a final fitness test that will determine if they are able to play against after overcoming knocks.

Alves continues comeback

Dani Alves has been working at the training complex since Monday and he again worked on his own on Friday as he continues on the road back to making a full recovery. After doing some ball work he was put through a circuit designed by the fitness coaches to build up his strength again.

Xavi was also out on the pitch working with a coach as he bids to bounce back from the injury sustained last weekend, but Seydou Keita and Éric Abidal remained in the building to work on their injuries

Moving on up

Marc Bartra, Thiago Alcántara and Jonathan Dos Santos joined the first team squad to make up the numbers and all three are in contention for a place in Guardiola’s squad for the visit of Racing.

Marquez and Pique return

The 18 players for the weekend match will not be announced until the day of the game. Guardiola has been buoyed by the news that Rafa Márquez and Gerard Piqué are both available again to bolster the defence.

Villareal winger and Former Arsenal star Robert Pires (33) reckons Barcelona face an uphill challenge to land Cesc Fabregas but concedes it is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Fabregas has been linked with a summer return to the club he left as a sixteen-year old to join Arsenal.

But Pires, who enjoyed a successful career with the Gunners, insists Arsene Wenger won’t let his talismanic skipper leave without a fight.

“Wenger will not be convinced by money. He always wants his best players,” the French midfielder is quoted as saying by Catalan sports paper Sport.

“At Arsenal, he is the captain and Wenger has confidence in him, and that is important because he knows he will play. At Barca it is more difficult. You must choose and it is complicated.”

But Pires added: “Barcelona have a smart president and if they want a transfer they’ll get it.”

However Barca president Joan Laporta claims he is not keen on bidding for Fabregas.

Despite the stories from the Catalan press and having previously said the player had Barca DNA, Laporta told The Times: “He is not a temptation. Arsenal came fishing for our young players. One of them was Cesc. Now he is playing very well at Arsenal. I can’t say any more about this.”

FC Barcelona defender and Spanish international Gerard Pique (23), spoke today about the feeling in the Barcelona dressing room after the team’s first defeat of the season. “What happens is that a lot of people wanted us to lose the first game and this causes those outside to make a few comments, but we’re equal and we are convinced we will win on Saturday. From the outside there might be a rumor or a feeling of doubt in the dressing room but there is no doubt.”

Speaking at a press conference the Centre half, who was suspended for the trip to Atletico, confirmed the news that some players were making a quick recovery from injury, stating that Yaya Toure and Chygrinskiy were close to a return. “Little by little we are regaining strength” he said, claiming also that the team should be back to full strength in “one or two weeks,” except for the long-term casualties of Eric Abidal and Seydou Keita.

Moving on to discuss the Champions League, Pique expressed an “indifference” about Real Madrid’s result against Lyon. “If they get eliminated they will have more time for the league, but if they continue, we could meet them, so it does not worry me too much.”

“If you get distracted for just ten minutes…it can cost you,” he said of the Champions League format, “it is shown in the draw, you have to be ready for direct confrontation with the greats of Europe.”

Pique then turned his attention to the possible arrival of his close friend Cesc Fabregas, “I do not know whether it will be this year or at another time, but I’m sure he will eventually come because he is a culé and would like to return.”

He ended the press conference on what many Barca fans will see as a high point confirming he will sign a new contract with the club “within days.”

Andres Iniesta recently sat down for a ‘long’ interview with Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo. Some excerpts:

How do you feel after having so many injuries?

I am feeling good and hope to continue this way. It’s difficult because many things have happened at the same time but I’ve got to accept them.

Do you think you could pick up another injury?

No, but if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. Injuries are part of football and depend upon how you feel and how your body responds to the day to day activity.

Have you changed your habits since you got injured before the CL final?

Yes, I do more prevention exercises and try to do other things that help me stay fit.

Do you play with pain?

It’s difficult not to because of all the knocks, but with an entire week between games it’s easier to recuperate.

Why are there so many muscle injuries?

There are a lot of theories because everyone’s body is different. It’s true that they’ve all happened at once and I’m sure it’s for a reason, not only the injuries but life as well. We have people able to find the solutions and try to prevent them.

Have you been scared to injure yourself while shooting?

No, but experience helps and you start to learn about your body. Sometimes things have to happen so that you realize and learn about them. The first injury was against Basilea. In the first half I noticed that my legs felt heavy but I didn’t say anything because I had never felt anything like that before and I ended up hurting myself.

What happened last Sunday in the Calderon?

We weren’t as sharp as usual. There’s no need to look for excuses but there are games where things don’t always go as planned and it becomes obvious if the team isn’t playing well. If we play up to our level, we are almost unbeatable. There’s no need to worry because we train hard and everyone feels good. It was a one time thing.

Is the best thing that the fans still have faith?

We’ve earned a lot of credit after having played 21 games without losing. Everyone would be crazy to start doubting now.

It’s amazing how the morale in Madrid has changed in only 2 days!

It’s the best example of how difficult things are. You’ve got to go step by step and not think too far ahead. There are a lot of games left and everything will be decided at the end.

Do you see a better Madrid team than last year?

No. The names have changed, they have good players and Madrid is always Madrid. Have they signed great players? Yes, but I still don’t see much difference.

Do you feel the pressure of Madrid?

If there is one thing that we’ve done well it’s that we only worry about ourselves. There is no need to waste energy thinking about Madrid. If we play well we’ll be champions. Besides, we’re in first place at the moment.

Do you not think that Villarato is a little exaggerated?

The campaign that has been started over the past few weeks is definitely exaggerated but sometimes we fall into the trap of talking about it and we shouldn’t. Things happen and sometimes they anger you and you can’t handle it anymore so you speak out but it doesn’t benefit anybody. Not even football itself.

You stood up to Cristiano Ronaldo and more than 100,000 people started a Facebook group…

Yeah, it looks like it was successful.

Why does it seem that your rivals have to kill you in order to receive a yellow card?

You’ve got to know the difference between innocent fouls and intentional fouls. Sometimes you complain and the ref ends up giving you the card.

Do you think that they are nervous in Madrid knowing that you could win both the Champions League and La Liga in the Bernabeu?

All of that is so far away. We don’t know if we’ll be there on May 22 but I believe there is a little bit of pressure. I can only hope we’ll be there.

When Pique talks about the Champions League final at the Bernabeu, nobody shuts him up. Is the team excited about the possibility?

Who would be more excited than us and our fans? It’s something that everyone dreams of but we’ve got to play Stuttgart first and it won’t be as easy as everyone thinks.

It’d be quite the gift for the fans!

And for me. I want it to be my birthday present. My birthday is May 11 and it’d be great to celebrate being 26 with the Champions in the Bernabeu.

Do you think Barca is the favorite?

We’ve got the credentials. We’re current champions but I don’t think we’re the favorite now or at any other time. Football has taught me to not be the favorite.

What teams can defeat Barcelona?

The Champions League is very deceiving. Chelsea, Manchester, Inter… Nobody can guarantee you that you’ll win. There are many good teams with good players. You could have to play the return leg away and fail at home during the first leg.

If you had to choose between La Liga and the Champions League what would it be?

I can’t choose. Both. You can’t guarantee me that we’ll win the Champions. It’s like having to choose between your wife or your mother. You can’t choose.

What should Madrid do if Barca wins 0-3?

0-3 and 0-1 is the same to me. Winning is sufficient. And I don’t care what Madrid does.

Do you hang the front page of Madrid newspapers in the locker room for motivation?

There are situations that surpass that mess. Sure, it can motivate you, but you’re not worried about what the tv, radio or newspapers say. You’d go crazy if so.

Do you like to watch replays of games? Which have you seen more?

The one at Stamford Bridge but more the goal than the game. I end up watching the plays that I participated in. I rewind and fast forward many times.

Do you still get emotional seeing the goal against Chelsea?

Of course. I’ve cried watching it and watching the people there cry while burying their heads in their hands. You think of the people that you make happy. It’s wonderful. When I’m feeling down I put that game on. That goal was the happiest moment of my life.

What’s the nicest thing someone has said to you?

You deserved it.

What did Guardiola say after you scored?

He told me to “enjoy” or something like that.

Where is that jersey?

I exchanged jerseys with Frank Lampard.

What did everyone say when you got home?

We cried, we went crazy. It was great.

What do you think about the fact that the birth rate in Barcelona has skyrocketed 9 months after that game?

People celebrated a little. It’s perfect but unfortunately I won’t be able to make it to all of the baptisms.

You haven’t scored since then. Does that bother you?

It might have bothered me before, but I’ve matured and now don’t obsess over it. It’s not that it’s not important. I’d love to score goals, I want to and I try, but I’m so happy playing and having fun that I’m not going to beat myself up over it.

Who will you dedicate your next goal to?

There are friends that I’ve owed for a long time.

Did some of your maturity come from having to speak about difficult things within the squad?

I said that I had to be a captain after having to explain Edmilson’s comment about the “black sheep”. It seems like it’s my turn to speak during the most difficult moments (laughs).

Last year, after losing to Numancia and drawing against Racing, you went to Guardiola’s office to cheer him up. Have you done it since then?

I only told him what everyone felt because I thought he was low on morale. I’ve got a great relationship with him. He’s giving me a lot of confidence and I’ll always support him no matter what.

And has Pep had to return the favor?

Yes, he’s very on top of things. He’s always shown an interest in me and I have appreciated that.

Has he taken you to dinner as he did with Henry, Ibra and Pique?

No, I’ve behaved myself, ha ha.

You said that Guardiola should renew his contract and he did. Did that calm the group down?

Pep put the club and the team in front of everything else in his life. He wanted to continue but didn’t want everything to drag on and for everyone to talk about it everyday.

Is the team affected by all the talk of new signings?

No, it’s part of football. I’m speaking for myself and I don’t know if everyone else is reading newspapers, listening to the radio or watching tv. We shouldn’t forget that we’re a part of that world and those types of things happen.

Ribery, Silva, Villa, and Cesc are some of the names that are being mentioned. As a cule, who would you choose?

I love Silva and of those names, everyone would fit perfectly here. I play with several of them in the national team. They understand the football of Barca and because of their skill they would fit in well here.

With so many great players, would you run the risk of someone not being happy?

The important thing is that everyone gets along and since I won’t be the coach it’s not up to me to worry about those things.

Do you see yourself as a coach in the future?

As of now I don’t see myself as a coach. I’ll be tied to football but I already live it as a player and I think being a coach is more complicated.

FC Barcelona’s Brazilian defender Henrique Adriano Buss (23), currently on loan with Racing Santander, will likely play this Saturday and make his “debut” in Camp Nou. Henrique, joined Barcelona from Palmerias during the summer of 2008 for a five-year deal worth €8 million.

To help him with his adaptation to European football, Henrique was loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen in his first season, and then to Racing Santander in his second season. As he is also a Brazilian and currently does not possess an EU passport, he is counted towards the foreign player quota. This may be one of many reasons Barça decided to loan him out for a while.

While it is an unfortunate occasion to be playing against his real club, Henrique says he is excited to exhibit his improvement in quality in Saturday’s match between FC Barcelona and Racing Santander.

During an interview with Barça tv, Henrique remarks that he is happy with the experience he is gaining in Santander, and says his process of adapting to the Spanish League is going well. “I work very hard to improve every day,” he said. When asked about Saturday’s match, Henrique replied, “It is a day that I am really looking forward to. I am happy and motivated.”

Andalucian businessman David Fernández Borbalán will referee this Saturday’s match against Racing Santander at the Camp Nou. Born in Almeria in 1973, Borbalán made his Liga debut in September of 2004; in January of  2010 he became a FIFA International Referee. He has overseen 95 matches in his six-year Liga career, handing out 445 yellow cards and 31 reds.

Borbalán seems to have avoided some of the controversial decisions that have brought his peers into the media spotlight, despite his presence in many high-profile matches. Many consider him to be among the best officials in action in the Spanish First Division.

Borbalán officiated Pep Guardiola’s very first match as coach of FC Barcelona, a 1-0 loss to Numancia last season. That same year, he also presided over our victories against Valencia [4-0] and Racing [2-1]. Barcelona last encountered Borbalán in the 1-3 away victory against Deportivo earlier this season.

Team News

Barcelona

Once again the focal talking point, Barcelona’s injury woes have taken another blow with Xavi a confirmation to miss tonight’s encounter after he sustained an injury to his right thigh in last weekends defeat to Atletico, a game in which Keita was brought to the ground after a mere 2 minutes of play with an injury that will see him miss the next month of football. Brazilian Daniel Alves reportedly trained with the squad on Friday morning alongside Yaya Toure and Dymtro Chygrynskiy with all three players eligible to take part in the match whilst Gerard Pique and Rafael Marquez have both returned from suspension.
French left back Eric Abidal is meanwhile still out of action due to an injury in his left leg that will keep him sidelined for at least another week.

Predicted Starting XI, Barcelona: Valdes – Puyol – Pique – Milito – Maxwell – Toure – Busquets – Iniesta – Messi – Ibrahimovic – Pedro

Racing Santander

The Racinguistas aren’t without their own absentee problems with Pedro Munitis, Tchite and Colsa all out via suspension whilst Barcelona loan out Henrique is out due to a personal issue.
Bolado and Edu Bedia meanwhile have long-term injuries and despite having both trained lightly earlier in the week they are by no means fit to play.

Predicted Starting XI, Racing: Coltorti – Pinillos – Moraton – Torrejon – Oriol – Diop – Lacen – Moral – Canales – Serrano – Xisco

GUARDIOLA KEEPS HIS CONFIDENCE ON HENRY

Barça – Racing (20h, Gol TV/Canal+ Liga). They want to dedicate the victory to Guardiola in his centenary match.

The coach doesn’t have any doubts about the French striker: “No one has more confidence in Thierry than I do”.

The manager warns that “Now it’s the time” and “demands”: “No more injuries are allowed”.

The other anniversary: Iniesta’s 300th match.

Laureano Ruiz describes Canales’s performance.

[Non Barça Related]

Madrid: Pellegrini, attacked: “In six years, Madrid has only won 2 titles out of 15.”

Inter: Eto’o hasn’t scored a goal in two months and he’s living a torment.

SHOW THAT YOU ARE THE BEST!

Guardiola warns: “Now it’s the time; I don’t want any more injury nor defeat.”

Barça – Racing (20h, Gol TV/Canal + Liga)

Weekend’s interview: Carlos Naval, FC Barcelona’s delegate. “I’ve got the feeling that this year will end in a good way too”.

Basketball Barça plays Copa del Rey’s final today (Valencia – Barça)

[Non Barça Related]

Pellegrini, questioned. The fear to fail overcomes Madrid’s changing room.

FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola his hit out at critics that have suggested he has lost faith in Thierry Henry.

The French forward was again left on the bench last weekend against Atletico Madrid, fuelling speculation that he is no longer considered a first-team regular at Camp Nou.

Guardiola, though, has explained that he still regards the former Arsenal star as a key member of his squad and insists his omission over recent weeks is nothing to do with his ability.

“We have many players,” he told a press conference on Thrusday.

“At times we play without (Andres) Iniesta and put in (Seydou) Keita instead. There are changes in every game. I cannot play everyone.

“Few people have more confidence in Henry than I do. He is a very important player and while he may have gone three games without playing, others have gone longer.

“I have not played for five years,” he joked.

Barcelona’s injury list grew last weekend when Keita and Xavi picked up knocks, but Guardiola believes having so many players out at once is just a coincidence.

“There could be various reasons for this,” he said.

“The only thing we can do, though, is ask ourselves if we have done everything right and the answer came back that we had.

“We had a long run without many injuries and the medical team are doing a great job now.

“What is important now is that we do not pick up any more.”

This Saturday, FC Barcelona will face a Racing Santander squad led by coach Miguel Angel Portugal, a man with deep roots at arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Portugal, 54, took over at Racing in November of 2009 on a 2 year deal, replacing outgoing coach Juan Carlos Mandiá. Since his coaching career began in the mid-1990s, Portugal has been in charge of a number of First and Second division Spanish sides, with notable stints as head of the Real Madrid B and C teams.

In 2008, he was hired by Ramón Calderón as the Technical Director at Madrid, and was actually poised to assume the top-level coaching duties after the sacking of Bernd Schuster. Juande Ramos eventually was hired for the job instead.

Despite this setback, Portugal remains outspoken in his support for Real Madrid. In a recent interview with Barca TV, he explained: “I want Real Madrid to win La Liga, they have been the club of my life and have been in my heart for many years. But I say this with much respect for Barca.”

Portugal will try to strike a blow for his former employers by relying on the defensive tactics that have served him reasonably well at Racing this season. In 9 of the the 12 games that the team has played under his supervision, they have employed a conservative 4-2-3-1 counterattacking formation, with a lone striker leading the line.

Portugal made his way into coaching after a successful career as a defensive midfielder. During the 1970s and 80s, he played in the Spanish First Division with Burgos, Cadiz, Valladolid, and Real Madrid, a team he won consecutive Liga titles with in 1979 and 1980.

On the heels of the first loss in La Liga, the assistant coach of Barcelona, Tito Vilanova, gave an interview to catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo. He talked about the defeat, injuries, as well as the bad run of form of Henry, Ibrahimovic and Chygrysnky.

Is the team doing well after the first loss in La Liga?

It’d be better had we won but we knew that we’d have to lose some day.

Have you had to give the players a pep talk?

Professional football players know that they will one day lose and they are prepared for that. You can’t always win, the other teams are also good.

To what point do the injuries affect the game?

We’ve never tried to look for excuses in the line up nor in the conditions of the pitch nor in the referees.  We could have lost with another starting eleven as well.  In fact, last year we played in the Calderon without any injuries and lost.

Maybe you didn’t offer the expected image…

When it was 2-1 I thought we were going to tie. We had our chances but couldn’t caplitalize. It’s also true that Atletico could have scored another goal. There isn’t much to say. El Atletico played well and won.

Very few times does Barca lose the ball as much as they did…

Everything contributes. The pitch…but we’re starting to make excuses and I’d rather not.  It’s true that the pitch wasn’t in the best condition for playing the way that we like to. However, in other matches the pitch was the same and we ended up winning.

Does the team learn from the defeats?

When one loses they always try and learn, to see what they did wrong and try to take the next game more seriously. But I prefer to always win, I don’t like the idea of having to lose to learn something.

Is there an explanation for the six injuries in eight days?

Our job is to try and make it so that the players don’t injure themselves often. I’d also have to think that last year was a little abnormal. We, as a team, had the least amount of injuries.  On the other hand, it’s not normal that so many players injure themselves in such a short period of time. We’ve got to figure out what we can improve or figure out why it is happening. Nobody can claim to know the cause. We all have our opinion but we can’t say for sure why one player always gets injured when they occur in different parts of the body. I also think that things were a little exaggerated last week. Marquez and Pique were out suspended and it made it seem like there were more injuries. Luckily, they have been short term injuries and I’m not too worried. Only Abidal had a more important injury.

Is not playing every three days as big of an influence as Pep says?

I don’t know.  Everyone has their own opinion. It’s true that we had a lot of stress at the beginning of the season due to having to compete for three titles. We won them by playing at a very high level. We could have been eliminated from the Champions, something that for a team like Barca would have been tough, but we ended up winning. It could have been a stress release having won the Club World Cup, an important title in the eyes of our fans.

Does the preparation change now that you’re only playing one game a week?

There is hardly any time to prepare when there are two games a week. We now have more time but we haven’t done too many hard practices. I’m convinced it has nothing to do with the injuries.

Was it counterproductive training at Palafrugell and Reus?

No, definitely not. I’d say it was a good idea. We traveled together, ate together. It doesn’t have anything to do with it. We’ve got the obligation to do things that benefit the club.

Are you confident that any of the injured players will be ready for the game against Racing?

With muscle injuries sometimes 48 hours is a long time. We’ll have to see how they evolve. We’re not going to risk anyone.

Will there be a central defender playing as defensive midfielder?

If nobody recuperates from their injury, at the moment we only have Busquets and Iniesta as midfielders, we’ll either change our formation or bring someone up from Barca Athletic.

Is it an option to change the style of play if a team, like Atletico, figures out how to stop you?

We aren’t going to change our way of playing nor do I think that Atletico figured us out. They beat us and there isn’t anything more to say. They played better.

Without Xavi it should be more difficult…

Xavi is one of the best in the world and we are a stronger team if we have everyone but another player will fill in if we are missing someone.

Should we be worried about Ibrahimovic’s recent form?

No, it’s not true that he isn’t scoring. He’s scored 12 and he’s among the top scorers in the league. Infact theres no other No.9 in the world like Ibra. He’s in position to score 23 or 24 and that is a lot. You’ve also got to take into account that there isn’t another center forward that gives as many assists. They’re usually more selfish. They’re near the goal and want to shoot themselves. He’s very generous. He helps us because he understands that we need to keep the ball. He knows how to hold the ball and it gives us time to get into position.

Because of the way he plays he doesn’t usually drift out wide. Does that limit the team tactically?

Last season, Etoo played very few games on the left maybe because Leo plays more on the inside. Ibra gives us distinct options when he plays more towards the center of the pitch.  We almost play without a central forward and it lets us vary our tactics. He’s also a player that has no problem drifting out wide when Leo moves into the middle.

Do you miss Henry’s contribution?

The season isn’t over and there is no need to judge anyone now. The most important matches have yet to be played. He is getting better every day. He’s happier and training better and I’m convinced that he’ll help us a lot between now and the end of the season. Henry, like Ibra, is a world class footballer.

He’s been more criticized by the public than by the team but he’s started on the bench for three games now…

Our decisions are made based upon what is best for the team. Just because he hasn’t played recently doesn’t mean he won’t be important.

What does Pedro bring to the team?

He’s getting better and better and gains more confidence every time he plays. Having scored in all competitions says something about him. He offers us a lot as a starter and is a great weapon coming off the bench as well.

Did you expect Milito to come back so strong?

Nobody could say when he would be ready. There were no specific timetables, it was up to how he felt. It’s true that he went from indefinitely injured to ready to play in a very short amount of time. His experience allows him to position himself well. We’re very happy for the team and above all, for Milito.

Do we need to be patient with Chygrynsky?

In a club like Barca I’m not sure there is any patience. There is no doubt that he’s a great player with a lot of quality. He’s young and he was a starter for Shakhtar, the UEFA Cup champions. That’s nothing to scoff at.  He’s got the quality to be successful at Barcelona but in the last few years if a player isn’t world class he hasn’t had it easy at the Camp Nou. The young players that we’ve signed have had a difficult time such as Quaresma, Simao…There wasn’t enough patience with them.

Does the team need to be more direct sometimes?

To say that the team lacks something when we’ve won everything….Sure, there are people that would like us to play another way, but we’ve won everything with our style. It’s true that if the players are technically very good they will lack in other areas, that’s normal. Each team has their own style and we certainly have ours.

Is it okay to expect more goals from Iniesta?  Can you teach that?

Iniesta has the characteristics that he has.He may never been a ‘born’ goal scorer but he can score and he has in the past. If he doesn’t score all year but then scores as he did at Stamford Bridge, I’m happy.

    Шведский нападающий "Барселоны" Златан Ибрагимович поддержал своего партнера по команде француза Тьерри Анри, который в стыковом матче чемпионата мира-2010 с ирландцами отдал голевую передачу рукой, что в итоге переопределило судьбу противостояния.

    "Об этой игре рукой было написано так много, но я хочу сказать, что на месте Анри поступил бы также. Находись я в его ситуации, я поступил бы также, да. Я бы сделал все для того, чтобы моя команда попала на чемпионат мира. И я рад за Тьерри – он поедет в ЮАР", - заявил Ибрагимович в интервью интернет-издание Goal.com.