HAT TRICK

The blaugrana ‘crack’ knocked out Valencia with three goals

1 Messi . . . 2 Messi . . . 3 Messi

Barça 3-0 Valencia

Super ‘Pichichi’ Leo has scored the last six goals for Barça and now has 22

[Non Barça Related]

Vallsdolid 1-4 Madrid – Valladolid made it very easy for Madrid

Tenerife 4-1 Espanyol – Espanyol made it ridiculous and will suffer

YOU’RE THE GREATEST!

Memorable Hat Trick by Messi

Barça 3-0 Valencia

Leo’s ‘golazos,’ a reborn Henry, and a grand keeper Valdes overcame a great Valencia

Messi’s goals, 29 total, 22 in la Liga

‘Cracks,’ Messi and Valdes

[Non Barça Related]

Tenerife 4-1 Espanyol – the ‘pericos’ complicate their lives

Villadolid 1-4 Madrid - Mejuto skipped two penalties of Ramos

Speaking at a press conference after the match against Valencia, FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta congratulated forward Leo Messi, for his three goals, and also the team for their win against Valencia at the Camp Nou. Aware of the importance of the match, Laporta acknowledged that the victory has been “very important to us.”

Laporta said, “It really has been a tough game, Valencia really complicated the game, but we have a great team, the players struggled and in the end deserved the three points. Messi scored three very important goals, he is an example and a reference for everyone.”

The President, who was aware of what was happening in the Nuevo Zorrilla (Valladolid’s home stadium) said, “this match was very important to us. The result was important, but so were the number of goals achieved. We are on the right track.”

About next Wednesday’s clash against Stuttgart, Laporta said, “We must act respectfully after what happened to Real Madrid in the Champions League. You always think the Champions League is very competitive and that many things can happen. We must be very aware and focused on the match against Stuttgart and show utmost respect to our opponents. We must be vigilant that what happened to Madrid does not happen to us against Stuttgart.”

FC Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova filled in as head coach against Valencia after Guardiola was suspended for the match during last week’s La Liga game. He substituted Henry for Bojan in the second half and that is when the blaugrana played their best football. Speaking in the post-match press conference, Vilanova heaped praise on Henry who had two assists in 45 minutes.

“Henry gave us more depth in attack and allowed Messi more freedom. With the entrance of Henry, we gained more depth and above all, we pressured their central defenders and didn’t allow them any time to settle. We were better positioned and it showed. Henry adds depth and plays well into space and he shined more playing in a more central role tonight. He gave more space to Messi. who when playing outside, has less space. Messi was able to find more holes after the expulsion of Maduro.”

Vilanova then commented on Messi’s more central position by saying, “it’s nothing new for him and he can cause a lot more damage when he’s closer to the area.”

Turning back to Henry, Vilanova congratulated him by saying, “all of his training sessions this week have been excellent. It’s possible that the lack of scoring might have taken away a little of his confidence.”

The players expressed their views in the post match press conference:

Pedro

“Titi came on during the break and played a wonderful game. He gave us a lot of depth which allowed us to keep the ball and generate a lot of occasions. It’s a valuable victory because Valencia is a great team but Messi is always spectacular.”

Pique

“In the first half they were able to pass the ball with ease but we had a much more aggressive attitude in the second and were able to dominate the game. Everything is easier when Leo is playing, he’s the best in the world and there aren’t enough words to describe his quality.”

Speaking of Real Madrid, Pique said, “now they’ll concentrate on the league and they will lose very few points, therefore we can’t lose any points or we’ll arrive to the Bernabeu without any options.”

Milito

“It’s great to be able to count on Messi because he makes difficult games easier and he deserves praise after his three goals, but nobody should forget about Valdes because his stop against Zigic is as important as the three goals. We were better in the second half due to some tactical changes that paid off. I felt very good physically, I was comfortable and the team always helps me.”

Iniesta

“We couldn’t figure out how to stop Valencia in the first half because we weren’t well positioned when we had the ball. It was difficult to get the first goal but Leo helps in many ways, although we shouldn’t forget about Valdes.”

Messi:

“We improved greatly in the second half, we pressed and kept the ball. Even though at 1-0 Valdes kept us alive with his to stop from (Nikola) Zigic,”

“The first half took a lot out of us, we allowed the game to suit them and their counterattacks. In the second half we improved. The first goal was the most important for what it meant to the game.

“In the locker room we know that we are all important. Henry has really helped with his work, his desire, his pressure. With him on the field the game changed.”

In an interview published by Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, Barcelona defender Dani Alves (26) spared no criticism of his club’s eternal rivals Real Madrid. He also spoke of Madrid’s elimination from the Champions League, saying it should act as a “lesson” to his own club.

“I think he [Kaka] is in the wrong team. Elsewhere things would have been better. He was used to one thing [at Milan] and now he is surrounded by another: a club where many people have great weight that eventually eats up his space,” said the Barca defender.

“In Milan he played for the team, in Madrid it is not so. They have bought many important players. One takes away space from another. Kaka is not playing in the position he likes and is imposed to play elsewhere. Things are complicated and even more if the colleagues perform better than you. The pressure increases, making comparisons, and injuries don’t help either.”

Alves believes that in the Brazil selection everything is easier for his fellow countryman, because they play, “as a collective team, something that also happens in Barcelona, but not in Real Madrid.”

“It would have been better for him to come here [Barcelona]. Our game is perfect for him. I am not one who buys the players, but, if so, I would have signed him right away,” he says.

On Madrid’s elimination from the Champions League against Lyon, the Brazilian says it’s a good lesson to take and a “stimulus” for Barcelona to win the European title with the final being at the ‘Santiago Bernabeu’ in Madrid, now that the path is more clear.

The elimination of Real Madrid is “a good lesson for us. In Europe things are complicated, you may face rivals who may not have much name, and are not so highly regarded, but if you make the slightest of mistakes, they will send you home,” said Alves.

The marauding full back also had words for the Spanish national team, whom he thinks can win the next World Cup in South Africa.

They are “a favorite. The World Cup history says the imposed are almost always the same, and Spain have a great tradition. They are strong and play well, although in the World Cup they have never done great things,” concluded Alves .

Former Bayern Munich president and German legend Franz Beckenbauer has told the German giants to do everything they possibly can to hold onto Franck Ribery. The French wizard was heavily linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena last summer, as he was constantly linked with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea. The same clubs are again expected to be his likely destination this summer.

“He’s a player apart,” said Beckenbauer to Die Welt. “In his first season in Germany he shifted the habits of our league and it really was a delight to watch. Although in his second season he has not been as impressive he remains an exceptional player.”

While Beckenbauer has stepped down as president of the club, he still holds influence and said that Bayern Munich must “try everything to keep Ribery.”