Friday morning training
The first team gathered on Friday morning, beginning at 11am, for their final training session of the calendar year. Eighteen first team players plus three reserves (Vázquez, Bartra and Thiago) worked in the rain at the Ciutat Esportiva.
The group led by Josep Guardiola continued their preparation for Sunday’s match at Camp Nou against Levante (18:00), which is matchday 17 in la Liga. In what was the last training session of 2010, Guardiola had 18 first team players to work with, including Jeffren and Milito who received their medical clearance to play on Thursday, and three members of the reserves.
The only change from the two sessions on Thursday was the presence of B team player Víctor Vázquez, who replaced Ruben Miño as one of the three youth players training with the first team. Vázquez joined his B team teammates Thiago and Bartra.
Both Puyol and Messi reamined absent for the session, with Puyol out injured and Messi with an extended holiday break.
Winter signing Ibrahim Afellay seems to be adapting quickly to the dynamics of the group and their style of play. In the usual training drills at the beginning of the sessions, he has been very rarely seen in the middle, which is the position of the player who loses the ball.
On the first day of the New Year, the squad will be back at noon for another session before their Sunday match with Levante. Afterwards, Guardiola will hold his customary press conference.
Lol at Pinto
oh pique lol
Glad ‘Ibi’ is blendin’ in fast enough. I just can’t wait to see him in action on Sunday, even if he has to come on as a sub in the 2nd half.
I think this is why they win and play the way they do,they love training, they love football, the ENJOY football
I'm waiting for the guy who comments on everypicture, you crack me up xD
Just when Messi decides to arrive Spain again? If he does that on Saturday no way he will start the game, sports wise having an extra long holiday in Argentina is much worse idea than shorter one in Barcelona, he will have to cross the Atlantic due to some stupid friendly games etc more than often anyway
He deserves this break. I'd rather have him fresh as a daisy against Bilbao anyway.
maybe in your rational opinion, you are completely correct, and i agree with you. but he is a person first and foremost, and if for him (knowing the value family means to him, and his hometown), possibly spending winter holidays with those closest to him give him the mental boost and motivation that otherwise wouldn't have been there at the same level. having played pro tennis in the past, i can say that as much as physical attributes are important, the mental part is usually the deciding factor. look at our team, they are usually the shorter ones, guys like iniesta and messi are super tiny, but they take on the giants because of their heart and dedication.
I knew that someone will say that he deserves it but In this case its not really resting, its more about losing form, touch and momentum, plus having a jet lag & maybe even gaining weight. Remember how Dinho had every time massive fitness problems after he had visited Brazil during the season. Messi wont reach his best level for weeks, in addition his parents have a house in Les Corts btw. Even pro cyclist dont have total rest when they have a rare day off during Tour de France (oh please dont mention anything about doping!)
how about we trust the decision of the team to give him this vacation..
remember this is messi- the best player in the world who went straight from a bad experience in south africa to an incredible start in la liga.
Guys wishing all of u everywhere a very happy and prosperous new year. May u fulfill all the past resolutions atleast this time.
Picture 1: Ibi "Height advantage should give me a start over these two."
Picture 2: Pep "Who called this one and why is he shaking my hand"
Picture 3: Pique "Damn iniesta has a ugly ass haircut and look essien black hand trying to take iniesta for breaking his heart in stamford bridge.
Picture 4: Random guy " Look Ibi its gullible in the sky"- Ibi "you think I am stupid"
Picture 5: iniesta "This shit is too easy and why is that ibi kid following me"
Picture 6: Pinto "Damn valdez is teaching Mino , I need to distract him while i am saving".
But Vaffanculo this is not the first time he has been given an extended holiday.
Last season after his "holiday" he came back even better than the first half of the season, TAKING HIS SCORING TALLY TO 47 GOALS! 3 hatricks in the span of a week! Remember that? I didn't see any loss of touch, form or momentum then..
But in any case we have to trust what Pep decides and trust that Messi will indeed continue his greta form. Furthermore, he DOES deserve it.
I love these pictures! Love tha Ibi is fitting in nicely in training, hopng he'll fit in while playing as well.
Lol@ Pinto.
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[youtube n4wY_Azh_aM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4wY_Azh_aM youtube]
last season messi scored a hatrick in the first game he played after backing from extended holiday against tenerifi ..
Speaking of last season in early January we got two awful results at home, 1-1 vs Villarreal and loss against Sevilla in copa, not mentioning all those problems after international breaks…
if we lose points next game due to messi being on vacation i'm gonna be really pissed.yes he deserves time off but i'd rather he had missed the the last cup game against bilbao then miss a league game..hopefully pedro and villa will do the job
He have played almost every game since World Cup. One game ONE! Come on guys! He really deserve it!
Wow guys Messi needs the break. It is a World Cup year for pete's sake. I rather have him fresh and healthy than injured and unhappy. Guadiola knows what he is doing. Ronaldinho got fat because he lacks professionalism. Messi doesn't; he won't let himself get fat because he knows he was to come back and play well.
No he has not. Please explain why Ronaldo has a 5 game advantage over him? Please explain why Ronaldo STARTS EVERY single game (Copa, CL, Liga) while Messi even sometimes come off the bench? At the end of the day, it's how much u score that is important not your games/goal so Messi really needs to play as much as Ronaldo.