Quote of the Day: Sir Alex Ferguson
“They [Real Madrid] might be on the same level as them soon, but for the moment Barça have still got that magical ability to play a game that’s beyond everyone else. When [Lionel] Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta are on song, they’re just unstoppable.”
In an interview to FIFA.com, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said that while Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid is inching closer to Barca, Pep Guardiola’s side still remains the team to beat. He added that he had no regrets in losing to a “better” side in the Champions League final at Wembley.
Image credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images
much respect to the a living legend in terms of football managers and to probably the best and world's most well known football manager… por que could learn a few things from him.
Yeah, who cares Man Utd buys referees in England since decades, who cares. Your forgot he's a good friend of Moronho, but who cres.
Exact! but unfortunately for us (although fortunately for others) those three are not on song/out injured this season. Hope they get back to form quickly.
Damn right! When we play with Andrés, Leo and Xavi, we are unstoppable!
Now,we need to do something about this three,if we can replace them cos they ar irreplacable-we have to look for players or groom some players to their level(tello,thiago or slyvia/neymer)..we can't aford to keep depending on this trio or else??? Madrid wil catch us and d elcalssico duel could even be harder..We need to act fast after the end of the seson..
Visca Barca!!!!
Easily one of the greatest managers to grace the game, along with Pep of course. At least he knows when to realize that your opponent is better than you… unlike a certain Mou.
http://www.facebook.com/the.fans.of.barcelona
Join plz
Saw a picture of Mourinho celebrating a cup win with Guardiola back in 97. http://t.co/Z8Y9F2wH
If I was ever associated with Barcelona I would rather quit my job than work with their bitter rivals/.What this man did and is doing can easily be compared to Figo. And to taunt the Camp Nou like he did in 2010.The audacity… I mean how low can you get?!
loooooooool
don't compare chicken with orange… figo was a high profile superstar; he went straight from barca to madrid. mourinho was an unknown translator in the beginning of his coaching career; no one knew that he would one day return to spain as one of the best coaches in the world coaching real. plus, he wanted to come back to camp nou, and he would've been the coach of barca if not for laporta and cruyff.
well laporta and cruyff were damn right about that.
Mourinho's move was logical. Unlike players, manager jobs aren't easy to come by. After being at Inter there are only a few clubs which would be considered a raise in status and one of those clubs was Madrid.
Mourinho burnt the bridge with Barcelona long before he went to Madrid. It was during his Chelsea stint that you could really see his love for Barca deteriorate and it got even worse at Inter and now it is at its climax.
Anyways. Mourinho going to Madrid… logical.
Figo going to Madrid… illogical
that wye i hate him so much. pig
the dark guy, remember him? He's the one and only EMMANUEL AMUNIKE(Nigeria).
Mixed feelings.. good comment coming from a club I hate. And I'm pretty sure that not what he said after the finals..
… I'm pretty sure it was, or something very close to it. I believe he said something along the lines of Barcelona deserving it because they're undoubtedly the best team in Europe. I think he even went so far as to say that they're the best team he's ever faced as a manager.
Sir Alex is always a class act. I have so much respect for that man.
I think Fergie was really humbled especially when he was beaten in the UCL 2011. Prior to the games, he somewhat implied he won't allow what happened during the semis against Real Madrid and he may have to ask Mourinho how to beat us. But we beat them, fair and square by imposing our style, with a much quicker and intelligent backline and our much revered midfield (Xavi, Iniesta & Busi) and forwards (Messi, Villa & Pedro) working in harmony that gave us those magnificent goals.
And Busquets…
We played with the mouth-watering forward line of Busquets, Xavi, Thiago, Messi, Villa & Alexis against Getafe and lost 0-1. We played our arguably best line-up, incl. Xavi, Iniesta and Messi, against Espanyol and drew 1-1, playing bad most of the match.
What does that mean? It means that it's (almost) never about the names on the teamsheet, but about the attitude these players step onto the pitch. With the likes of Sergi Roberto, Cuenca and Tello we played better against Osasuna in the 2nd half than we did in many other games with our best XI.
Names don't win games or titles. Commitement does.
very true.
Does that mean the mouth-watering forward line weren't committed?
Yes.
OT: Did anyone else read about Zubi saying in his interview that Muniesa is getting promoted next year? If that's true, what are they thinking?! From the few performances that I saw of him with Barca first team, he was very unconvincing. I think that he has great potential but is definitely not ready yet. He's only 19, we might as well keep him in the B team for abit longer so he can have playing time to develop.
yes, Muniesa, Montoya, Bartra and JDS get all promoted in the summer… I also think it's a bit early for some of them… especially when they won't get playing time in the first team
This probably means Dongou, Grimaldo and Samper will all grace the B team officially next season.
Let him mature , defensive players do need experience more so than attaking ones, see Chegrynski case if we buy a high class defender and end up been a loss of money we will be afected the most remember that even with some grate signing(Cesc Alexis) we still no doing greate in the buying deparment. Ibrahimovic, Chegrynski, Milito , Affelay to this day is a 50/50 given that he was fundamental in one of last year classicos with an assist to Messi in a 75fh minute of play to lead RMadrid and still with us. and Henry only because it was a low cash intake after we spend so mutch on him;20 mill and sold him for 5.6, M Caceres whom is picking "now" , Alexander Hlebb.
It has been desapointing , and the risk to spend more high price for a defender going thru a grat moment witch can hit a wall when in this team he is asked to play differentrly than he has all his life, is just hard work and maebe one of the things that give Madrid an edge this year(a side of Refferies perfomances). I like this players sheet a lot ,and hope that Guardiola can be with this team for a lot more years . We probably can learn a few things from Ferguson or ManU. after all, like keeping the coaches even if in the future Guardiola get a bad season because this one is not even if we havent got the copa del rey or Champions yet.
Sir Alex is spot on…and he really exacerbates exactly why I am made to be so sad from the loss to Osasuna. I was not mad watching the game, but rather just felt hopeless. Hopeless because Barca are still clearly the better team, and while I have incredible respect for the voracity with which Real Madrid is destroying teams in La Liga they still to me seem miles away in terms of beauty and style. I know that we lay 10 points behind Real, but I still cannot help but have full hope that we will pull it back. I want so badly to be able to just give up on La Liga and focus on the two other trophies, but I simply cant. Barca still seems to fill me with hope, as I find it hard to believe that the footballing gods would turn their backs on the team that has delivered the most divine football for yet another season. A team that continually promotes players from within that have been bred to carry on the torch and a team that (with the exception of Zlatan) signs only players that are willing/able to accept the role they play in the team as a whole. I continue to carry hope fore the same reason I had hope going into the 90th minute at Stamford Bridge in 2009 and into the 89th minute in the UAE. I hope because they deliver. When I went to the Camp Nou tour last summer they played a video of all the important goals from the sextuple of 2009 and I could not help but sit there in complete awe as the video looped because I thought "we will never again see a team this great"…but I was wrong Barcelona has been that great every year since, including this year. Had it not been for a plague of injuries we would not be in this position (the refereeing would not even matter). And thus I still have hope in this team as I have the past 3 seasons.
Sorry for the long post…just had to get that off my chest
Visca Barca
I completely share thesame opinion with you Samu. I completely buy into every bit of it. It may seem awkward to say but I still believe we can win LaLiga!! Football has its many unpredicable upsets, though everything LaLiga appears gloomy at the moment but I STILL BELIEVE… This belief for me can only quench or skyrocket towards the last two games of the season… Until then, lets keep watching!!
Respect, Sir Alex! It would be nice to meet him again at the UEFA Super Cup next season!
Sir Alex is really one of my favorite managers. He always conducts himself with such class and clearly has so much respect for Barca.
I respect Sir Alex too. He's taken his 2009 & 2011 beatings from the blaugrana with class, unlike Chelsea (2009 Stamford Bridge) & of course Madrid.
Last night i dreamt Pep didn't sign the contract extension, i was crying my eyes out… It was more of a nightmare really… When i woke up i had the largest emotion of releif i ever experienced… We are so happy to have him as manager, thats the reason i don't understand people questioning him…
too dramatic!
Belive me or not i genuinly cried (in the dream, i felt like that), i even huged my dad, i was devastated, i love him here that much… Guess we're not on the same level of affection for this club, you and i…
I honestly and truely believe that Pep Guardiola is the biggest elemant in this team. You can talk about the players but Pep has had a immense influence on them. Take Valdes for example. He was very very shaky before Pep came, Abi being another example.
He even created a system that benefits to the fullest Messi. He has turned Xavi and Andres into international world class players, Busi and Pedro into world champions, still promoting youth players AND STILL being competitive!
All this while playing majestic football and sticking with one clear philosophy…
IN PEP I TRUST! <3
https://www.facebook.com/pages/We-need-Pep-Guardiola-to-be-FC-Barcelona-Coach-for-the-next-25-Years/150795835005886
i am sure you believe the same!
Visca Pep, Visca Barcelona!!!
i love this team the time i got to know about football. sorry if i hart u mate.
where is cartuja?that sport and mundo had writen maybe copa final hold in it!
Sevilla
OT: Some great comments from Guardian:
1.BREAKING NEWS
SERGIO RAMOS TO REPRESENT PORTUGAL AT EURO 2012 – Thanks to engaging in legal partnership with a distant relative of Mourinho, Sergio Ramos will be naturalized Portuguese citizen in time for this summer's European football championship in Poland and Ukraine – "It's a dream come true. Having already won everything with Spain, I had started to feel a strong bond with fellow Real Madrid defenders Pepe, Carvalho and Coentrao. I know I'm not dirty enough yet to match these fine fighters, but I'm really trying hard every game to make my style filthier, so to blend into my new adopted national team", said the sevillano in an interview with Ultimate Violence magazine.
2,Ok enough about LA Liga, what about the Copa del Rey: As an Athletic Club Bilbao fan, i ws there last tuesday among 40,000 people celebrating qualification for the Copa del Rey final… "We're going to Madrid" everyone sang….
How wrong it appears we are. We'd clearly forgotten that Real Madrid, that 'Club señor' that club that talks about its much vaunted 'values'. Is no señor, – just the opposite. That those 'values' are 'mean spiritedness, envy, inability to accept defeat, deceit and cowardise.
Why the rant? because they don't want the Final to be played in the Bernabeu..
Why? because they are scared Barca might win it….( awwwww diddums).
As a result the final will be held (probably9 in Mestalla, which holds around 45,000 fans rather than the 82,000 who could fit into Madrid…meaning a lot of Barca and Athletic fans miss out (as we did in 2009 as well)
Madrid 'say they need to do rebuilding work on the ground – but that story ONLY came out on Wednesday, when Barca qualified… They say they need the ground to celebrate the Champions League if they win (How on earth thay can celebrate in a ground that is undergoing building work is beyond me) They say they may need it is Castilla make the play-offs to the second division (ditto re building work) The fact is they can't even lie properly.
Florentino Perez's mean spiritedness is deny football fans the chance to enjoy perhaps the best day of the season.
Not to mention the huge amount of money that hotels, restaurants and bars would make in the capital (most of it from Athletic fans).
Madrid don't even have the sense to realise that if they don't allow Barca to use the ground cos they don't like them…well Madrid are hardly loved are they? What would happen if next year Madrid make the final and Sevilla, Valencia, Barca, Osasuna, Gijon, Athletic, Atletico etc all told them they were not willing to cede their grounds?
Madrid are an insult to football fans all over Spain and Florentino Perez has shown what a vile person he is over this.
The next time he uses the phrase 'club señor': i won't know whether to laugh or cry.
At least Athletic and Barca have had the balls to formally ask for the Bernabeu. That way everyone can see how Madrid behave… Oh and the city wants to host the Olympics: don't make me laugh.
3.Why do people have this idea that when things don't go as planned is because they (Barca) lost their willingness to win things?
Why would they want to stop winning if in the process they are breaking all kinds of records. Sometimes things just don't work out regardless of the amount of great effort you spend.
4. BREAKING NEWS
MARCA TO LAUNCH NEW YEARLY TROPHY – The Spanish daily sportspaper Marca already distributes among other annual prizes the Pichichi trophy for the foremost scorer of the season, and the Zamora Trophy for the most solid keeper– This year a new prize, the Cristiano Trophy, will be awarded to the player with most scored penalites in the season – Exceptionally, for its inaugural year, it will also be retroactively awarded for last year's incomparable winner, the man who has given his name to the trophy, who is on course to beat his record this year
Thanks for bringing this to our knowledge bro! Its good to know there are some folks with thinking faculty who sees and knows the truth…
reading this was so much fun, thank u barcafnir. u make my day
Someone has to remind Florentino that the namesake of their stadium is actually the grandfather of a Barca player.
Right, SAF
If none of them have good day, then OK.
If one of them have good day, then Great.
If two of them have good day, then Unstoppable.
If all three of them have good day, then Unimaginable/Greatest/Magic/"No word".
Let’s face it. This seems like the end for FC Barcelona with Puyol not getting any younger and Pique getting worse every week. I think Barcelona’s focus for next year should be on getting a new center back since none of those coming from La Masia look promising. I think Barcelona should not let the gap between them and Real Madrid in the league expands. We can still fight to the end, but we all know the league is pretty much out of reach unless Barcelona will all of their remaining league matches and Real Madrid drop points, which is unlikely.
I think it would favor Barcelona if they partner up Mascherano and Puyol in the back, so Pique can have time to recover.
I hope Pep sits Pique's ass for a couple of games to send him a message: concentrate on getting your form back or you'll be gone like Ronaldinho & Deco in '08
Well I guess we could call this the "weeding" period of the season. Did we drop 10 points below Madrid? Yes. Have we looked out of form for the last 2 or 3 games? Yes. But should this change anything to any of the Culés who have been, and will be with this team for many years to come? No, not at all. Barça is still being recognized as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, teams to play the game and a few league losses that strain our chances of bringing home the domestic title should not change any opinion or concerns for the true fans among us. This team is capable of the moon and beyond, a few pitiful losses only act as reminders to both the team and fans that this era of Barça fútbol is not something you see everyday and it truly is beautiful. Stay strong loyal Culés, these losses are nothing that we haven't witnessed before and, yet, will imminently see again. VISCA BARÇA!
with barsa even to the hell.
Out of form for the last 2 or 3 games? Rather make that out of form in away games since the start of the season. If it were just 2 or 3 games we wouldn't trail Real by 10 points.
Good point Erich. Away games at Real Sociedad (drew after winning 2-0 in the second half), the loss to Getafe, the draw at Espanyol after leading late in the game, the boring scoreless draw at Villarreal, the 2-2 game at Mestalla after Valencia torched the 3 man defense countless times, and Osasuna on Saturday. Wins in those games would equal 16 points by my count, and Madrid would thus be in 2nd place. The draw with Athletic in San Mames I can't complain about, that was one hell of a game. That is how La Liga has been lost, not a conspiracy.
Can somebody give me the details of the match Barcelona lost in 1943, 11-1 to Barcelona. Proofs of the Franco soldiers threatening Barca players? Involved in a debate! :/
*to Real Madrid i meant!
I dont know much, but I know that Barca won the first leg, and were up in the first half of the second leg in the Copa Generalissimo and then at halftime, Franco's guys went into the Barca locker room and reminded them that they were only there at the "mercy" of Franco. And then they got freakin drubbed in the second half.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_did_Barcelona_lose…
also great read here about this event and the way Real Madrid fans still interpret it: http://www.barcaforum.com/showthread.php/6846-Rea…
http://twitpic.com/8i91xh
^ That has to be our next "caption this" pic.
It is so cold in Germany and snow as well: http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/de…
OT: I was heartbroken by the loss over the w/e and felt aggrieved that Masch received a second yellow AFTER the game, BUT RM's coach stalked the referee's car and has not received any sanctions.
Sigh,
The downside – if Barca loses La Liga, it is partly due to the poor pre-season with all the "touristing". I hope the coaching staff can push back on Rosell esp with the Euros this year.
The upside – the bandwaggoners will depart, leading to more insightful, refreshing commentary.
I do not know if anybody likes to read "dirty tackle" satira, but for the first time it sounds real to me and fit perfectly to Mourihno personality: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle…
ROTFL… thanks for sharing this!
"The entire team will ride atop a float shaped like Real Madrid winger Jose Maria Callejon." LMFAO!
Barca remain the best big-game team on the planet, and nobody sane would bet against them over 90 or 180 minutes of football against anyone. Where they've fallen short this season, and where Madrid have stepped up, is in efficiency: the ability to grind out results against every team, every week. That's what wind league titles, and that's what Barca haven't had this season.
A lot of people have criticized Pep for not always playing the top lineup, but the top lineup can't play 2x weekly all season, and the only way guys like Thiago, Cuenca, Tello can fully emerge is to get first team playing time. Think of it as an investment. Injuries haven't helped, and the predominance of injuries in the attacking unit has left the team too dependent on Messi for goals.
I still don't think we need to buy forwards, not this summer at least. The answer to the attacking issue is internal: get Villa and Pedro healthy and back to form, keep developing Cuenca and Tello. Accomplish that and we need no more. Buying quality forwards is very expensive and there's never any assurance that the right player will be available.
Yes, I do think not buying any forwards is possible. However, let's say there are injuries or loss of form during the summer, pre-season, or during the middle of the season? I believe highly in the potential in Cuenca,Tello, and the rest of the youth players but they are still young and will probably take some time to achieve the level or messi, villa, or pedro.
I guess what I'm saying is there is still a gap between the the regular players and youth players. Yes, the youth players know the system well and are very skilled but it takes experience to be able to play a high level for a full 90 minutes + extra time.
This is why I think there should be some consideration in looking into the transfer market for players in key positions. I believe this would increase competition for spots, create more breathing room for rotations, and not fear loss of form or injuries during vital times in the season. It can be very expensive, especially once barca is rumored to be looking at someone, which is why the club should buy quickly and cheap. (Afellay for example)
We will always need transfers, but we don't have huge money and it has to be spent carefully.
Our midfield is fine. The only player even approaching retirement is Xavi, and he has a number of good years left. Xavi will never be replaced, but the next evolution of barca's midfield will be driven from the inside, not by the transfer market. With Iniesta, Fabregas, Busquets, and Thiago on board there's no need to buy midfielders. I would eventually like to see Romeu come back, but not this summer. That's only because i think Busquets may evolve into a Xavi-style player as he matures, and if he starts moving forward a new DM would be desirable.
As I said above, I don't think we need to buy a forward this summer. With Messi, Alexis, Pedro, Villa, Cuenca, and Tello up front and Iniesta, Fabregas, Thiago, and Xavi contributing goals from midfield we have ample firepower.
I'd like to see the summer transfers aimed at defensive reinforcement. Puyol and Abidal have time left but are not young. We have to remember that any player brought in would need at least a full season to integrate completely, can't wait til we need a replacement to bring one in. I like Alba, giving Botia a try makes sense, given the price. If a really good CB is available at a good price, that would help. With those in place we'd have a lot more options for next season and could assess possible attack reinforcement for the season after.
Gotta remember that high-class attackers are very expensive and if we buy one there's little money left to spend elsewhere.
Yes, I understand money is a huge issue and any spending should be done carefully and I agree completely.
As strong as the midfield is right now and the future looks great, my concern is form and injuries. I'm not saying there should be an expensive buying spree for more midfielders or attackers, however I do like what you said about looking for more defensive reinforcement.
All I'm saying is that if there happens to be a player who can be bought fast and cheap, integrate with the team quickly, and willing to sit on the bench or play full time to allow the regular team players rest; then why not? It relieves concern when injuries or drop in form happens at vital times in the season.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-a…
NIICCEE!!! I LUV IT
If Fergie was our manager, I guarantee you the Spanish FA would not be getting away with helping Real Madrid this season week after week.
I like Pep but his laying down to the refs makes me maad.
I hope Pique doesn't lose focus tomorrow after his lady love was attacked by a sea lion http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/biza… and Pique also had his car door hit by a bus before he left for the airport. Seems like the players can't get a break. 'sigh':x