According to France Football, FC Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has cut his short-list of potential left-wing transfer targets down to a list of just two, with the coach set to focus his energies on bringing either Valencia’s David Villa, 28, or Sevilla’s Jesus Navas, 24, to the Camp Nou this summer.

The left-wing position has proved a weakness for the Blaugrana so far this season, and with Thierry Henry predicted to move away from the club in the summer, it seems Guardiola has already done his research as to whom he wants fill the void.

A move for David Villa was thought to have been close to agreement last summer, only for the transfer to collapse due to wrangling over the proposed transfer fee of the player, but perhaps this summer the two clubs can come to some agreement?

If not, Barcelona may find themselves turning to Navas, who the club has courted for some time, only for personal problems always to stall any potential move for the Andalucian, who made his debut for Spain last night against France. After the game the player is rumoured to have said how ‘thrilling’ it is to be linked with a move to Barca’s bitter rivals Madrid, so perhaps Txiki will have to act fast to complete any deal.

One thing is for sure though, there will be no move for Franck Ribery, whom France Football reports has already given his word to Zinedine Zidane and Florentino Perez over any future transfer. The paper claims that the Bayern Munich player’s agent has already set the wheels in motion for a potential move to Los Merengues, with one source from within Bayern claiming:

“Ribery has an offer on our part to continue here, but if he refuses, it will be to go to Real, the only club he wants to join.”

La Liga’s season ends in two and a half months. Knowing this and how players think, Pep Guardiola decided recently to give a motivational pep-talk to the team. After a string of questionable play and results, he sensed it was the time to step in and see to it that the team was focused for the final months of competition. After almost a year and a half of constant playing, as well as the 2010 World Cup only 99 days away, it would be easy for players to lose focus.

Speaking to the team, Guardiola said, “We can no longer afford to give away points because from now on, there aren’t any games that are less important than others. What we do in the league can affect what happens in the Champions League; one bad result in one competition can end up carrying over to the other; for that reason, we must give our all in every game, no matter who we play. This year we will win the double or we won’t win anything,” he continued.

This weekend, Barca plays away to Almeria, who sit 13th in La Liga. Almeria has had an impressive run of form recently. In their last four league games they’ve beaten Sporting Gijon, Atletico Madrid, and Racing Santander, while drawing away to Getafe. Couple Almeria’s recent form with the fact that most Barca first team players have been away on international duty and this weekend could prove to be a difficult match. This year, Barcelona has not fared well following international breaks, where they’ve dropped points against Valencia, Bilbao, and Villarreal.

Keeping this in mind, it seems that Pep’s speech has come just in time. Taking all three points in Almeria will be a great morale booster for the upcoming matches against Valencia and Stuttgart. Pep has always said that titles are won by defeating teams such as Almeria and this time should prove to be no different.

Former Bayern Munich left back and France legend Bixente Lizarazu told in an interview with Ona FM  that Bayern Munich winger and France international Frank Ribery (26), would fit in well at Barcelona. “Ribery would fit very well in the Barca game system. Messi could play from the right and Ribery from the left. They are both very similar although each of them has his own style. Tactically it’s more likely for Ribery to choose Barcelona ahead of Real Madrid, although it is complicated to go to a club that has won everything. Instead, the game system of Madrid does not seem so clear.”

Lizarazu also said that he can see Ribery leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season. “Last year, it was impossible for him  to leave Bayern, but I think it’s very clear that will be this summer. I have spoken with management and understand that the player wants a change of scenery and to try to win the Champions League  with another team”

Ribery has been constantly linked with Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Chelsea, with the player saying that his future with Bayern will depend on the performances of his team in the Champions League.

HEADLINE : MOURINHO PREPARES FOR ARRIVAL IN MADRID

“THE POOR MAN DOESN’T REALISE WHERE HE IS GOING….EVEN I WANT HIM TO REPLACE ME” – Pellegrini

У Пепа Гвардиолы множество тренерских достоинств, и одно из них – его умение предвидеть проблемы и мотивировать своих игроков в решающие моменты сезона. Понимая, что команда вступает в определяющий период, Гвардиола обратился к своим футболистам как психолог. Он обратился к их гордости, напомнив, что сезон они могут закончить героями или неудачниками, и все зависит от них самих. «Мы уже не можем никому раздаривать очки, и нет более важного матча, чем ближайший», - напомнил тренер несколько дней назад после цепи неудачных результатов, таких как поражение от «Атлетико Мадрид» и выстраданная ничья со «Штутгартом».

Гвардиола объяснил, что в этом сезоне два оставшихся «Барселоне» соревнования – Ла Лига и Лига Чемпионов – взаимосвязаны более, чем когда-либо. «То, что мы делаем в Ла Лиге, может повлиять на ЛЧ и наоборот, плохой результат в одном соревновании может в итоге сказаться и на другом, поэтому надо стоять насмерть во всех встречах, неважно с каким соперником», - подчеркнул тренер.

«В этом году или сделаем дубль или потеряем все», - жестко подытожил Пеп.

Это предупреждение прозвучало как раз тогда, когда настал решающий момент – разыгрывается попадание в четвертьфинал ЛЧ и решается вопрос сохранения отрыва от мадридского «Реала», тем более, что матч на «Сантьяго Бернабеу» маячит на горизонте.

Несомненно, после великолепного матча против «Малаги» создалось впечатление, что команда приняла вызов тренера и не собирается расслабляться до конца сезона, осознавая, что слава или провал в ее собственных руках. Во время перерыва, когда на табло, несмотря на блестящую игру, горел счет «0-0», Пеп ограничился лаконичной фразой: «Вы играли очень хорошо, а теперь выходите и выигрывайте».

Теперь же Гвардиола в очередной раз обратился к своим подопечным, напомнив им, что они в шаге от успеха, и этот успех зависит от них самих.

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