Guardiola warns Ibrahimovic to control his temper
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Barcelona centre-forward will miss the team’s next La Liga match, away to Tenerife on Sunday the 10th, after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season last night.
The Swede, who was frustrated by the Villarreal’s tight marking, and dubious refereeing – whose calls seemed to be against him all night, could not contain it further in the 88th minute when he two-footed stomp one of his marker, Villarreal’s centre-back Diego Godin. He was lucky to get off only with the lesser caution as it could easily have been a sending-off offence.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola advised Ibrahimovic to control his temper and accept the decisions made by match officials or he risks letting down the team.
“He’s a temperamental player, but he needs to be a bit careful because we might end up with 10 players one day. Ibrahimovic needs to be strong mentally, and he is capable of doing that as he’s a great player. We can never control referees’ decisions.”
This week’s missed match will be the player’s third after he was rested for the Valencia match at the Mestalla (0-0, 17 Oct. 09), and against Athletic Bilbao at the San Mames (1-1, 21 Nov. 09) due to injuries.
Zlatan has so far started 11, and was used as a substitute in another 3 La Liga matches.
He has also received yellow cards in these matches before last night, and will be the first Barcelona player suspended due to the cautions:
Racing Santander – 22 Sep. 09
Malaga – 26 Sep. 09
Osasuna – 31 Oct. 09
Espanyol – 12 Dec. 09
A bad game yesterday but it really does not matter that Ibra got a yellow card, after all we should be able to beat Tenerife without him. Be he must control his temper now or he will get more yellow or red cards.
I didnt think it was such a bad tackle. But many of our players not just Ibra need to control themselves. Xavi almost got booked after the game. The ref was calling really silly fouls but having seen that Barca continued to make the same challanges. Not very smart.
They weren't doing "the same" challenges. At times they weren't doing ANY challanges- and there would still be a whistle. The referee was a disgrace in this game, period.
What I meant was we needed to go down when we felt any contact rather than being the ones creating contact with the Villareal players
That wouldn't be any better. For one thing, it would be diving and we hear enough about it. For another, who is to say the ref wouldn't start carding for simulation?
i don't like diving
With full respect to Zlatan , I got to say that Eto'o was much more fair. And for god sakes how could pedro miss the ball when Henry bend it in ???????? PS: BRING ETOO BACK PLEAS
Oh Christ…
Why not bring El Phenomenon Ronaldo, Ronaldinho back too. Myabe we can play Guardiola as well while we are at it.
Be realistic! What's done is done. The only way is to move forward. Stop living in the past.
Sorry for the outburst. It was uncalled for.
I don't know about that, I agree with you (though I would actually like to see a friendly match when Guardiola takes the field with his team for a few minutes).
Yeah I know. But for fuck sakes , ibra is a "star" that at this type of games can make the difference. But honestly he can't which Eto'o could and you all Know that ???????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
shkumbin , Are you by any chance a five year old ?
Your an idiot! Grow a pair already! But for **** sakes, bring back Ronaldo, and he'll score goals with his eyes shut.. Grow up!
since you bring FAIR up.remember etoo spitting in one guys face in 06/07 season?
geth a life !!!
Go support Inter when you like him that much!
pffff I get it on my nervs always crying on eto'o…. IDIOTS !!!!!!
Well,its not like he is missing a big game so in this case there really is no harm done.
It would have been infinitly worse had he missed a game against madrid or valencia
the good news is david villa didn't score yesterday. the bad news is he could score against la coruna next week, while ibra could've easily scored a couple of goals against tenerife. so i do think there's harm done, considering the pichichi.
That's the deal ibra is to angry . He think that he is at Inter when he was the " star " but he isn't …He should keep his mouth closed and don't do stupid things beacus there isn't many player that can get the chance to play for barca… PS : ETO IS THE KING .. SACK IBRA PLZ!
I really wanted to jump into the tv and chew the ref, he wasnt sure of what he was doing, furthermore, he wasnt giving Ibra a chance even though no fouls were committed. Ibra is tall which makes him have skills to pick the ball from a shorter defender of which its part of football. The ref was seriously didnt like Ibra for being tall !! All the passes that he used to pick, he said they were fouls, thats totally unacceptable. That ref should not be allowed to referee any games or maybe its time FIFA makes rules on the applicable heights for players to have !!!!
Well, I think Pep's right. It's not the first time Ibra messed with his temper and his yellow cards are starting to be usual for a game. I understand it's different in Italy, there you can piss of on referee, but it's not the same in Spain so I would do the same as Pep if I'm in his shoes.
And yes, it's true Xavi and some others should control their temper, too. But yesterday was referee really sometimes unfair. And it was the first time, Xavi got so pissed, but for Ibra it wasn't a first.. So Pep continue your great work, everybody makes mistakes..and so do you. But Sevilla is going down on Tuesday.
I understand your point, but it should not matter how many times it has happened before. Xavi didn't have a great game, and i think it has something to do with him running after the ref instead of the ball most of the time. Last night was a tough match for the team, and it bugs me that they focused so much on the ref. Last year, they played through bad refereeing without that much whine on the pitch – they should leave that to the fans who can yell at the ref
Yes I agree, fans are the ones to yell on the ref .. And players should focus on the game, if they don't let the ref to bother them, they can play as good as they always do and at the and everybody is happy.
easier said than done guys
A question, why did Puyol get a yellow card later in the game? I was watching it on GolTV, and they never showed the incident. The referring was mystifying at times. I am a big Ibra fan, but I am also confident that Coach Guardiola will use this game as lesson for him. Passion is great, but he needs to control it, too. Last, I read in Mundo Deportivo that Xavi might be in trouble because he yelled on the way to the locker room, 'What a disaster you all are!" and the ref heard. him. Here the source:
http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/gen/20100103/53860...
I don't know why Puyol got yellow card, either. And I would really like to know it so if anyone knows, please tell us.
And about Xavi, I really doubt he said that. I mean, he could be a little angry but this was a little harsh and papers aren't always telling the truth, so I doubt it.
I don't know why Puyol got yellow card, either. And I would really like to know it so if anyone knows, please tell us.
And about Xavi, I really doubt he said that. I mean, he could be a little angry but this was a little harsh and papers aren't always telling the truth, so I doubt it.
Bring F*CKING ETOO BACK FOR F*CK SAKES !!!!!!!!
I am already in Milano or wherever he is, I am taking him back to Barca, get outta here.
Man I am still pissed of the game last night, that referee was awful. Although we should have played better and score another early goal. I have a feeling that Ibra is not getting as much touches as he should, and that limit his efficiency on the pitch. Especially in a games when Messi is not playing.
Yeah I understand that , but pleas I am a Barca fan , and after 18 games etoo scored 18 goals and will we see how many goals Ibra will score after 18 games ?? What can it be 13 ?? Get out of Milano and come back to barcelona and take Ibrahimovic with u ,, cuz it's a distaster to compare Etoo With Ibra…. Visca ETO Y PUTA IBRA
Go F*** yourself sucmbag !!!!!
You are a discrace for every Barça culé !!!!!!!
In his first season he scored already 13 goals and has given 4 assists that a total of 17 !!!!!!! Goals IDIOT
Join Inter because you are NO Barça supporter
You realy piss me off !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ibra is a big mouthed player who only moved to barca ,,, cuz he want to become the best player in the world.. That's the problem with ibra ,, he don't give a F*CK about The Club,, only about him self. That's the difference with ibra and etoo. Etoo LOVED BARCELONA which Ibra dosen't that's why he can't score
And ye THE referee was a dickhead 
Haha , stupid pathetic small minded hater. People such as yourself really amuse me with your retarded logic and ur "insight". "That's the problem with ibra ,, he don't give a F*CK about The Club,, only about him self. That's the difference with ibra and etoo"
So either you and Etoo are best friends and hang out at Starbucks , OR your full of shit. Im gonna guess the latter though. And also , get a real nick dude. shkumbin ? I think that means shriveled up monkey **** in French. If it does , then it suits your assessment of this whole situation.
You have a lot of growing up to do.. You are no BarcaFan, just a poser..
please block comments by this person who badmouths our players.
visca barca!
Why ? I'm just telling the truth
o well more match time for bojan yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
barca ppl chek dis out out a site barcissim.com
See we are still on the top. Real made it out with a draw and we are first, leading with +2pts. So stop arguing. It's meaningless..
Ibra disappointed me in the villareal's game, i seriously missed eto'o in the game. i believe we need to improve seriously.
the shkum.bag is correct to some extent..1point tho.although he did't really say it.
etoo had more passion..he fought really hard..
to win the ball, pressure..although he misses lots of chances lol