Silent. Steady. Unspectacular yet still special. These are some of the terms that spring to mind when considering Barca’s son of the soil Sergio Busquets. Born and raised a cule, Busquets came from nowhere to become an ever present fixture not only for Pep Guardiola’s Barca but also for Vincente Del Bosque’s Spain. He has, at the age of 22, won all there is to win in the world of football and yet his reputation as one of the finest young midfielders in Europe is only now beginning to take hold, with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City all making eyes at the boy born Blaugrana.


With his father, Carles Busquets, playing in goal for Barca it seems Sergio had little choice as to which would be his chosen club. That he would go on to be such a vital member of their greatest ever team still feels like a huge surprise for the midfielder who last month gave a revealing interview to Four-Four-Two magazine.

“Like many goalkeepers, my father was seen as a character but he was very serious about my education. He told me to work hard at school and I did. I think I could have gone to university but football started to become more important and suddenly I was 18 and playing for Barca,” said Sergio of his introduction to the game, showing just how close he came to straying from what most would now recognise is his true calling in life – football.

But perhaps through this we can see just why the young man is such a prominent figure for current coach Pep Guardiola, a manager who wants his players to be not only technically gifted but also intelligent, committed and always willing to learn. This seems to be something Sergio demonstrates every day in training, with his desire to improve not going unnoticed by his colleagues. Speaking of his teammate, Andres Iniesta said, “[He is] Quiet and focused off the field. He loves to train and is always first to arrive in the morning. He loves to play – he has that enthusiasm every day.”

Little wonder Pep values his talents so much. It can’t be for nothing that two of the greatest defensive midfield players in the world (Yaya Toure and Javier Mascherano) have found themselves warming the Barca bench because of Pep’s preference for Busquets. From all reports, the boy born in Sabadell, a small town just outside of Barcelona, is a real committed character, who despite his lack of years, leads by example both on and off the field.

Think back to when Pep first took over. He changed the rules about punctuality and tardiness, and enforced a sense of togetherness and a strict high work ethic within the team. This saw some players fined and cast out from the group. Busquets, on the other hand, knew what to expect and set about making his presence felt behind the scenes. Following Pep from Barca B to the first-team, it seems Sergio was the player Pep would point to as a demonstration of what he expected.

Asked how important Pep has been to his career, the midfielder acknowledges just how Guardiola’s guidance has enhanced him as a player. “Enormously. I played under him for the B team, then he promoted me to the first team in 2008. He showed absolute faith in me and I played every game despite there being very good players in my position. He told me to enjoy myself and not get nervous. He said there was no pressure because I was good enough. I was lucky that everything went well from the start. We won the title at the end of my first season.”

But did everything go well for him from the start?

One of the first ever opinion pieces I wrote for totalBarca was about Sergio with the title of the piece asking whether or not he was actually good enough for Barca. The article received a huge response, with many feeling Busi’ was not up to our demanding standards, and while many called for the boy to be given time some were a lot more adamant that he would never make the grade and should be shipped out as soon as possible. Many felt he was too lightweight in the tackle, reckless with the ball and didn’t deserve his place ahead of the more experienced Yaya Toure.

How times have changed. Yaya has been and gone. Sergio is growing stronger by the game.

Today it seems Sergio has impressed himself on the fans the way he did on Pep, his work-rate and quiet toughness changing many minds. Sure he can still be slightly sloppy in possession and his tackling still lets him down on occasion but all in all his presence within the team is certainly a lot more secure today than it once was – from a fan perspective of course, Pep has always known. Add to that the revelation that is his ability to pick a pass and suddenly the player who everyone once mocked now seems set to step up and become one of the club’s all time greats – what with many fans feeling he may yet be the rightful heir to Xavi’s throne.

But maybe it’s not just his technical gifts and vision that sees the fans singing his praises. Maybe, like Xavi, Iniesta and Lionel Messi before him, it is his nature and personality. Like those mentioned, he seems humble and reserved, never thinking of himself as more important than the club. Asked how his time in the youth teams sculpted him, he stated,  “They teach you not only to be a good Barca player, but also to be a good Barca person: to understand what this club is about and what it means to the people, to Catalonia.” A lesson the lad has certainly learned well.

But of course it was not only his time in the youth system that sculpted the man and player Sergio has become today. Having a professional footballer for a father undoubtedly helped too. “He [my father] taught me a lot about the mentality of being a good professional: work hard, listen to your coaches, don’t have a big ego. It sounds elementary but I’ve seen some really talented kids leave Barca because they wouldn’t learn.”

Elaborating on what it meant to have his father playing in the Barca first-team, Sergio reveals some details that are surely enough to make any fan jealous. “He would take me to the changing room and I remember meeting players like Rivaldo and Figo. I see the current players bringing their kids and always make a fuss of them because that was me not so long ago.”

Perhaps this explains why when he was only a little older, Busquets felt no concerns in walking into a Barca dressing room filled with the likes of Eto’o, Messi and Puyol and feeling right at home. He was used to seeing his heroes up close and personal, and as such he felt at ease to perform in front of them.

So what of his life now? “One minute nobody recognised me, the next I played for Barca and was a World Cup winner. It was like a dream for me, but nothing changed in my barrio (working-class housing estate): my friends are the same as they’ve always been. People want to talk to you more and are very happy for me. Wherever else you go people stop you for photos or autographs all the time.”

And yet the boy from the Barrio continues like nothing has changed. Maybe that’s because it hasn’t. He is still the quiet, unassuming defensive midfield player who shuns the limelight while getting his job done. A job he so obviously enjoys, not only for the glory but also for the challenges. Alongside Xavi, Iniesta and Messi, I would say Busquets has the greatest ability for drawing a foul from an opposing player; he twists, he turns, he feels any touch and he goes down. This isn’t a criticism, in fact it is a compliment. It is not diving. It is inviting the opponent to do something they don’t want to do – foul you – through your own technical know-how.

Many have said Sergio is not strong or robust enough for the tougher, more physical games. While this is certainly a part of his game he can still improve upon, it is little things like the above mentioned point that sees Pep remain faithful to the 22-year old. Certain in the knowledge that he has the brain to get out of most sticky situations. Only when he can get out of all sticky situations will he be truly worthy of Xavi’s crown.

Having said that it seems Sergio relishes the challenge of a physical battle too, what with this story he recalls from his time with Barca B. “I remember one game the people were shouting all kinds of abuse at us, as were the other players. Most of us were 18 or 19, playing against 34-year-old men who wished they played for Barca. It didn’t intimidate me. I don’t mind that part of the game. In fact I quite like an aggressive game – I’m from a barrio so I was not scared playing down there, but some of the other players were nervous after the first challenge went in.”

Such a calm head, not to mention such leadership, explains why Pep and Del Bosque feel no concerns putting Busquets out on the kind of stage where many youngsters often falter – crucial games in the Champions League and World Cup proving no obstacle.

So what of the young man’s future? There are two interesting points raised by this recent interview – both concerning where his future lies, both on and off the field.

Asked if he could ever see himself joining Barca’s bitterest arch-rivals Real Madrid, Busquets replied, “There are many teams I’d prefer to join before I joined Real Madrid. Many. For me, a Catalan, who plays for Barca, for me to play in Madrid – that would be very difficult.”

A diplomatic answer for sure but one that seems to say that Barca is the place to be for Busi’. Sure things can change, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Madrid try to unsettle the boy, but generally speaking, from the things we have heard earlier, it seems unlikely that he would ever do a ‘figo’.

The second interesting point comes when asked about his role within the Barca team. Busquets responds, “That depends on the opponents. I can be the only defensive midfielder and try and break up play. Or I can play a little more forward. Whatever the coach wants. I’ll be his man.”

Such willingness and versatility bodes well for the youngster’s future while also throwing up a few questions. If he can make the step up and become ‘the play-maker’ then do we really need to be considering the likes of Cesc, Pastore, et al? Mascherano will step in behind Busi’ while Oriol Romeu steps up from the B team as re-enforcement?

I must say for large parts of last season I felt Sergio was a liability; he gave away the ball too cheaply, went down too easily and often got caught out of position. Did I want him to leave – no. Did I want to see Yaya given more of a chance – certainly. Then came the World Cup and I found myself nodding at Busquets’ work a lot more than shaking my head in disdain. You could see him growing into his role, becoming the player Pep obviously knew he could be. And he has continued on from there with aplomb.

This season he has been one of our most consistent and sturdy performers. He has shown a stronger positional sense whilst also improving on his physical presence in the challenge. Is he ready to replace Xavi? Not quite, but given the faith shown in him by Pep thus far it does seem he will be given a chance to stake his claim. Don’t be surprised if he just goes on right ahead and takes it.

So I ask the question again – Is Sergio Busquets actually good enough? I look forward to the responses, but think we may all already know the answer.

Защитник "Шахтера" Дмитрий Чигринский заявил, что для главного тренера "Барселоны" Пепа Гвардиолы не принципиально обыграть "Рубин" с четвертой попытки.

    "Пеп не такой. Он абсолютно не мстительный. Вспоминаю, как два года назад "Шахтер", открыв счет в первом тайме, драматически уступил "Барселоне" в донецком матче Лиги чемпионов, пропустив два мяча от Месси на 87-й и 90-й минутах. Наша неудача была тем более обидной, что каталонцы в какой-то момент пренебрегли принципом fair play: игрок "Шахтера" после болезненного стыка остался лежать на газоне, а "Барса" продолжила атаку, которая оказалась результативной.

    Многие думали: дескать, Гвардиолу эти обвинения могут обидеть и разозлить настолько, что в ответной игре на "Камп Ноу" от "Шахтера" камня на камне не останется. Но никакого "мщения" не произошло. "Барселона" уже обеспечила себе место в плей-офф и против горняков вышло немало футболистов, не имевших постоянного места в составе.

    Теперь, к слову, ситуация похожая: "Барса" гарантировала себе первенство в групповом турнире, поэтому Пеп, скорее всего, даст возможность некоторым ключевым игрокам перевести дух, а молодежи — окунуться в атмосферу Лиги чемпионов" — сказал Чигринский газете "Спорт-экспресс".

  Шестого декабря станет известна тройка претендентов на "Золотой" мяч, причем не исключено, что все они будут испанцами. 50 лет назад лучшим игроком Европы стал футболист "Барселоны" Луис Суарес.

    Суарес вошел в историю двух великих клубов — "Барселоны" и "Интера". Он родился в Ла-Корунье, начинал в местном "Депортиво", а затем попал в сферу интересов каталонского клуба. Но в Испании тогда властвовал "Реал", хотя "блаугране" все же удалось выиграть два чемпионских титула. Во многом благодаря Суаресу, игроку очень универсальному и передовому по тем временам, удавалось совмещать на поле роли классического диспетчера, который одним пасом мог вывести партнера на голевую позицию, с функциями опорного полузащитника, умеющего надежно сыграть в отборе и не дать развиться атаке соперников. Кроме того, было две победы в Кубке Ярмарок, который впоследствии станет Кубком УЕФА, а еще позже — Лигой Европы. В Кубке чемпионов дела шли не так успешно. В розыгрыше-1959/1960 "Барса" проиграла в полуфинале "Реалу" ди Стефано и Пушкашу два раза со счетом 1:3, а через год каталонцы добрались до финала, но голов Кочиша и Цибора оказалось недостаточно для победы над "Бенфикой".

    В 1960 году Суарес стал лучшим игроком Европы, опередив в опросе таких игроков, как Ференц Пушкаш, Уве Зеелер, Альфредо ди Стефано и Лев Яшин. Справедливости ради стоит заметить, что представители социалистических стран по принципиальным соображениям не голосовали за сбежавшего из Венгрии Пушкаша, поэтому его шансы на победу значительно снизились. Спустя четыре года Суарес проиграет "Золотой мяч" Деннису Лоу, и это будет одной из главных неожиданностей в истории опроса "France Football". 1964 год по всем показателям был годом Суареса.

    В 1964 году Луис в составе сборной Испании выиграет чемпионат Европы, "красная фурия" тогда обыграла в решающем матче сборную СССР,, кроме того, в составе "Интера" испанец стал обладателем Кубка чемпионов. Через него шли все атаки как национальной команды, так и миланского клуба. В течение всего финального матча Евро-1964 Суарес раз за разом отправлял в прорывы испанских форвардов Переду, Амансио, Марселино. Первый гол в ворота советской команды был забит при непосредственном участии Суареса – уже на шестой минуте он изящно перебросил мяч через центрального защитника Альберта Шестернева, и моментально выскочивший на передачу Переда с близкого расстояния вколотил мяч под перекладину. Затем Галимзян Хусаинов счет сравняет, но испанцы забьют второй мяч и завоюют титул.

    Инициатором переезда Суареса в Милан стал великий тренер Эленио Эррера, поработавший с Луисом некоторое время в "Барселоне". Но в каталонском клубе "Маг" не поладил с Кубалой и был отправлен в отставку. В "Интере" же у него получилось все, что он хотел. "Чтобы сотворить команду, какой я ее вижу, мне не хватает одного игрока – Луиса Суареса", — сказал тренер тогдашнему президенту клуба Анджело Моратти. И президент нерадзурри заплатил "Барселоне" за игрока 142 тысячи фунтов стерлингов, это на тот момент был самый дорогой трансфер в истории мирового футбола.

    Идеально выстроенная Эррерой оборона делала штрафную нерадзурри фактически неприступной, а с помощью мобильного Суареса, его замечательных длинных пасов, итальянская команда могла вскрыть любую линию защиты в Европе. В Кубке чемпионов-1963/1964 в финале "Интер" обыграл "Реал", а через год оказался сильнее "Бенфики", так что за две неудачи с "Барселоной" лично Луис рассчитался в полной мере.

    Четырежды он попадал в тройку лучших игроков Европы, показатель более чем солидный, особенно учитывая количество конкурентов. К уже перечисленным в тексте великими игрокам мы вполне можем добавить Эйсебио, который получил "Золотой мяч" в 1965 году. В те времена приз не могли получать южноамериканцы, выступающие за европейские клубы, в противном случае Суарес и вовсе мог остаться без призовых мест в опросах France Football. Кстати говоря, многие считают Луиса единственным испанцем, который получал "Золотой мяч", хотя еще дважды в опросе побеждал ди Стефано и его успехи записывались на Испанию. Как аргентинец он не имел права претендовать на эту награду, но Альфредо сменил гражданство и даже выступал за "красную фурию".

    По окончании игроцкой карьеры Суарес выбрал тренерский путь, неплохо работал с молодежью, а в 1986 году выиграл молодежное первенство Европы. Кроме того, он был помощником главных тренеров национальной команды на чемпионатах мира 1982 и 1986 годов, но ничего у испанцев на этих мундиалях не вышло. В Мексике испанцы уступили в четвертьфинале бельгийцам, а четырьмя годами ранее и вовсе не вышли из группы. Затем Луис и сам возглавлял национальную команду, но также успеха не добился.

    С 1996 года Суарес работает в "Интере" скаутом. Именно он договаривался о переходе из "Барселоны" Роналдо, он отыскал в Южной Америке Роберто Карлоса и Хавиера Дзанетти. Луис пользуется большим уважением президента нерадзурри, который часто обращается к клубной легенде за советом по самым разным вопросам.

    Любит Суарес и поговорить о современном футболе. Например, нынешний стиль игры "Барселоны" называют скучным и навевающим тоску. Ну а главным претендентом на победу в текущем опросе испанец считает Хави. Ветеран полагает, что они очень отличаются по манере игры, но признает, что Хави – великий футболист.

  Президент "Барселоны" Сандро Росель прокомментировал ситуацию вокруг игры 14-го тура Примеры против "Осасуны" (3:0).

    "События, которые произошли в субботу в связи с игрой в Памплоне, требуют спокойного рассмотрения. Во-первых, я хочу поздравить нашу команду и тренерский штаб с тем, что они способны превратить серьезные проблемы в вызов для себя. Эта победа над "Осасуной" стоит многого.

    Лично принимаю ответственность за все, что произошло перед матчем, потому что я вел переговоры с Федерацией. Я поверил в слово официальных лиц и, несмотря на мои ошибки, действовал в интересах клуба. Мы сделаем выводы.

    Я должен быть критически настроен к себе и понимаю, что кому-то мои действия могут не нравиться. Но я не потерплю несправедливость. Это неправда, что игроки и тренеры хотели добраться в Памплону только на самолете. В этой ситуации они проявили профессионализм. Я должен поблагодарить их", – говорится в заявлении Роселя на официальном сайте "Барселоны".