Caption This: Kung Fu edition
Shoot away in the comments after the jump. Don’t know what to do? Look here.
Puyol: “If we don’t go there focused, we could really have a bad time”
FC Barcelona captain and Spanish international defender Carles Puyol (31) admits Barcelona could be in for a bad night if they underestimate the threat posed by in-form Stuttgart in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
Barca make the trip to Germany having bounced back from their first league defeat of the season against Atletico Madrid by thumping Racing Santander 4-0 on Saturday night.
That was the Catalan giants’ sixth victory in seven league games, but on Tuesday night they will come up against a Stuttgart who are in just as good form.
Quote of the Day: Carles Puyol, Captain of FC Barcelona
“We cannot afford to make any expensive errors, but I see that the team want to win the Champions League again and to do that we must give everything.”
Carles Puyol, FC Barcelona captain and Central Back, at a press conference.
Ibrahimovic and Messi within top 3 highest paid players of 2009
A chart was released by Portuguese marketing agency futebolfinance.com publishing the top 50 player salaries for 2009. Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi completing the top 3 list.
FC Barcelona leads the rankings in the top 50 with 8 players followed by Chelsea (7), Real Madrid & Manchester City (6), Manchester United & Bayern Munich (4), and AC Milan with 3 players. Liverpool along with the 3 other big Italian sides (Inter, Roma, and Juventus) have 2 players each in the rankings. Andrei Arshavin is the only player representing Arsenal on the list.
The Four Captains Speak
Speaking to Catalan sports paper Sport, Spanish radio station Ona FM and their personal websites and blogs, the four captains of FC Barcelona, had some words of encouragement for their fans:
Puyol
In Puyol’s post match blog entry he wrote, “There is no need for alarm. This team has demonstrated that it rises to the occasion when faced with adversities and always comes out stronger than before. Obviously, the injuries we have are important but the team is ready to move forward. Now we’ll have to work a little harder to cover for all of the injuries. Hopefully everyone will heal quickly because the most important part of the season is upon us. Competing for titles is the best part of a footballer.”
Speaking about this weekend’s game, Puyol said, “We look forward to seeing all of our fans in the Camp Nou this weekend. We need to be united as a group and in order for that to happen we need your help.”
Indispensible Puyol
Dedication, professionalism, heart, strength, courage, humility . . . Carles Puyol.
Quote of the day: Pep Guardiola, FC Barcelona coach
“We wouldn’t be where we are this season without Puyol. He’s the player who’s performed most often and he’s solving a lot of problems.”
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola praises skipper Carles Puyol at the post match press conference on Saturday.
Puyol accumulated his fifth caution; out of Getafe match
FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol will miss the La Liga match against Getafe next weekend, 6 February at the Camp Nou after he received another yellow card last night, his fifth in the league this season, and according to Spanish Football Federation, RFEF’s rule, he is to be suspended for one league match.
His absence will not be overly disruptive to Guardiola’s preparation however, as Dani Alves is expected to be back in his right-back position after being rested for last night’s match because of a right-calf pulled muscle. As for central defense , the choice is abundant with Chygrinskiy, Marquez and Milito likely to be paired with mainstay centre-back Gerard Pique.
The player had picked up his four other cautions in the La Liga matches against:
Puyol overtakes Rexach
Carles Puyol overtook Carles Rexach on Saturday having played 26.898 minutes in the league and next week he could beat Zubizarreta and become number three on the all time list of players who’ve played most minutes for the club.
Puyol made his debut on 2nd October 1999 at Valladolid under the guidance of Louis Van Gaal. After more than 10 years in the first team, it was the same stadium that saw him beat Rexach’s record on Saturday night.
Since his debut in the 1999/2000 season Carles Puyol has become a fundamental part of the team and a reference within the club over the last few years.
Puyol and Xavi told Pep not to get Robinho
British sports tabloid Dailymail, report that Barca’s senior players, including the influential Carles Puyol and Xavi, have told Guardiola – a Robinho fan – that the Brazilian would hurt team spirit in the dressing room.
Robinho’s hopes of seeing out the season in the sunshine of Barcelona look like being dashed as the club’s players are urging coach Pep Guardiola not to sign him on loan from Manchester City.
City boss Roberto Mancini has apparently given the all-clear for £32.5million Robinho to spend the rest of the season somewhere else after a series of poor performances.
Puyol doubtful for Valladolid; Keita back in training
The big news at training today was the return of Seydou Keita, who has rejoined the team after being knocked out of the African Nations Cup with Mali. Puyol, who has back trouble, was missing.
It was a day for reunions and congratulations on Thursday at Barça. Seydou Keita is back in town, and spoke to Josep Guardiola before training in isolation with two fitness coaches.
Guardiola congratulated
Puyol: “We are very proud of Guardiola”
Speaking at a press conference yesterday at the Sant Joan Despi, Spain international and Barcelona captain Carles Puyol did not mince words about his boss, Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola:
” The players are very proud of him. I absolutely disagree with his words. He has not failed anyone. “
Five Barca players in the “eleven of the decade”
British newspaper The Sun published a lineup which includes the best football players of the decade. Up to five players who play or have played in Barcelona, are included in this lineup of football stars.
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon
Defense: Cafu, Fabio Cannavaro, Carles Puyol, Paolo Maldini
Midfield: Ronaldinho, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane
Attack: Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo
Caption This: Carles Puyol
Last time, Cristiano Ronaldo apparently had skin issues, self esteem problems and a whole host of other things to worry about. This time, it is our dear Captain Puyol, who’s in the crosshair. Is he enjoying a cool-down during the summer, or is this a cruel punishment from Guardiola, as staff-member Cerridwen noted? You tell us!
Quote of the Day: Carles Puyol
And what if you see a kid wearing one (shirt) with your name on it?
That would be wrong. He should wear one with Messi, Andrés or Xavi… But I’m sure I would be glad and proud.
Carles Puyol, FC Barcelona
Carles Puyol’s 2010 outlook
Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo yesterday interviewed FC Barcelona’s captain Carles Puyol regarding a host of issues regarding the hexacampeon team as well his outlook for the year 2010.
Here is the interview:
Have you awoken from the ‘dream’?
Yes. I realised that what we have achieved is something almost impossible, it was very difficult. But it is done, and now it is necessary to look ahead to try to continue this path, but we are aware that maintaining this level of success is difficult but we will try.
Okay, but now what?
Puyol and Chygrynskiy: “We want more”
Speaking to the press entourage yesterday, FC Barcelona central defender and team captain, Carles Puyol said this Blaugrana team has already made history no matter what happens in the Club World Cup tournament.
“I believe the team has already made history but we always want more, and that is why we are here,” said the ambitious Spanish international. He confessed that the team is not “obsessed” with the only cup missing from the club’s trophy cabinet but insisted they came into the tournament “with a lot of desires and enthusiasm, considering that we already had a chance to win it but failed (2006). We hope it won’t happen again.”
Puyol lamented the long trip that the team’s flight had to take to reach Abu Dhabi, and said they felt physically and mentally worn out after spending unnecessary hours on the plane. Nevertheless, he is confident that the players have enough time to recover before their first match on Wednesday: “We are used to playing a lot of matches with barely enough time to rest and it is not something new for us.”
OFFSIDE: Official Photo Shoot 2009-10
The Barca squad posed for the official photo shoot in the Camp Nou.
Read on after the jump for more pictures and a video.
Puyol: “I see a 50-50 chance, but we’ll go for the 3 points”
In a press conference yesterday, FC Barcelona defender and captain, Carles Puyol said, just like the rest of his teammates, he is looking forward to win el Clasico but only seeking to secure the three points available.
“A match against Real Madrid always has its attraction, filled with great desire. I always want to win it and it comes at a good moment for us because the win against Inter gave us a lot confidence and morale. Both teams feel the pressure and I see a 50-50 chance for both teams.”
Touching on the team’s different playing ‘style’, the player just said that “everyone has his game philosophy” and what matters is the result at the end of the match: “What is crucial is for us to keep the ball, try to play our style of football and go for the win,” adding, “If Real Madrid is leading, it is for a reason. They have won almost all of their games.”
Puyol: “Robinho is good but we have players in that position”
In a Spain’s national team press conference, FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol yesterday answered a few pointed questions about himself, Barcelona and the selection.
He started off by admitting that “before renewing with the club, I did ask for some time to ponder about a possible move abroad but in the end I decided to stay and renew until 2013 but I wanted to be sure a hundred percent before signing on. I am very happy with Barcelona and the club has treated me very well”, as well as denying rumours about a rift with his coach before the signing: “It’s totally false what was said about me not renewing because we are not getting along well. It is not just the coach and my teammates who are happy (with the contract extension), I am very happy with it too. I respect him (Guardiola)a lot”.
Queried about the possible signing of Robinho over the winter, the player said “the Brazilian is a great player, but we already have equally good players in that position such as Henry, Bojan, Pedro and Iniesta, who can also play on the wings. I believe we already have a complete squad”.
Medical: Abidal injured, Puyol OK
France and FC Barcelona defender Eric Abidal was reported to be injured in les Bleus match against Ireland last Saturday, and is now back in Barcelona to undergo further medical tests to determine the extent of his ailment, according to Catalan sports paper Sport.
Although Abidal played the full 90 minutes, he complains of muscular discomforts in his left thigh after the match and was ruled out of France return-leg play-off match this Wednesday.
Spain’s Carles Puyol meanwhile, was cleared of any injury after complaining of pain in his left knee during the friendly match against Argentina also last Saturday. The result was verified by Spain’s national team doctors.
Players reaction to Real Mallorca match
Carles Puyol – Defender
The first to speak was Carles Puyol, and El Capitan could not hide his satisfaction: “because it was an important victory against a tough opponent that closed up (defensively) really well”.
Playing in place of Daniel Alves at right back, Puyol welcomed the rotations because “(even though) we leave out several of the best players in the world (on the bench), it just shows that the team is good”.
Finally, Puyol said he is pleased with the result because “we have to focus on adding three points every week to ensure that we still lead (the table) at the end of the season, which is imperative”. Continue reading »
Post Match Review: Barcelona vs Real Mallorca 4-2
Phew.
Once again – in dazzling fashion – Barcelona have silenced their recent critics with a thundering victory over a Mallorca side that lacked creativity and imagination as Barcelona demolished the islanders 4-2.
Barcelona will once again retain their lead at the top of La Liga for another round as Real Madrid are – as I speak – dominating their game against Atletico Madrid and are a certain bet to take home the 3 points.
Back to the game now, and what a game it was! Beautiful Barca is all you could say, it was vintage, it was attractive it had goals, it had it all!
Puyol preferred a short sleeved shirt
Barcelona defender Carles Puyol (31) said on his blog, Carles5puyol.com, why he chose to wear a short sleeved shirt instead of one with long sleeves, in the cold game in Russia against Rubin Kazan.
“We used the night in Russia to discuss the game we had yesterday.It was a very difficult opponent, that’s well organized in freezing temperatures. Even if it was below 0 degrees Celcius, I chose to wear a short sleeved shirt since I feel more comfortable with it. I was more worried about the legs, but we solved the problem with a special salve we put on our legs. From the first minute we tried to go for a goal, with our ball possession game, but our opponent defended well, and kept us out of scoring opportunities. Tomorrow we must think about the game on Saturday against Mallorca, to get three points from a rival that has started well.”
Carles Puyol: We are not in a crisis
Barcelona captain Carles Puyol (31) told Catalan television channel TV 3 that Barcelona are not in a crisis. Despite the fact that Barcelona only have won 2 out of the last 5 games he stated that they have not suffered any dip in form, and that they are desperate to come back from Saturday’s draw against Osasuna.
“We are not in a crisis. It is certain that some matches there were not too many positives for us but Barca has the capacity to react. Our objective this week in the Champions League is to win in Russia. The defeat to Rubin Kazan was unexpected but we are the champions of Europe and we are expected to win.”
He also stated that Real Madrid will be a difficult opponent for this seasons La Liga title, somewhat like last year: “This league will be very equal. Real Madrid possess a good squad and they have players who can win a match in a single moment. Real will be a hard rival for us and I am convinced they will be near the top of the table.”
Puyol signs new deal
Carles Puyol (31) has signed an extension of his contract until 2013. The 3 year contract was signed this afternoon 14:23 and will last until June 30, 2013 according to Barcelona’s official website. The rescission clause of this new contract has been fixed at 10 million euros as long as Puyol plays 60% of the games in a season. To Barca TV he said that he was glad for the confidence the club and members have shown in him.
“I am very happy for the confidence that the club, the coach and my team-mates have put in me. The fans also played a key part in my decision to stay as they constantly show me their support, as much in the good moments as in the bad. There is nowhere quite like here.”
Carles Puyol’s contract extension could see Robinho move put on hold
British newspaper The Daily Mail has today reported that the proposed formalisation of Barcelona defender and Spanish International Carles Puyol(31) contract extension has put a dagger in the hopes of English Premier League side and moneybags Manchester City signing the Barcelona Captain.
Though Manchester City’s first choice for a reinforcement for their backlines was Chelsea defender John Terry(28), Puyol was another player mooted as a possible transfer target with Robinho going the other way to the Camp Nou in January.
With Barcelona stiker and French International Thierry Henry(31) becoming prone to injury, Barcelona’s coach Pep Guardiola is said to have insisted on securing the services of Robinho during the January transfer window in a fee touted as being around £15 million (€16.5 million.)
Puyol, the captain with the most laurels
Carles Puyol will continue to make history donning a FC Barcelona jersey for another three seasons until June 2013, says Catalan sports paper Sport. By then he will be 35 years old and would have spend 14 of those years with the first team. The centre-back from La Pobla was made team captain since taking over from Luis Enrique in August 2004 will become a symbol, an icon for Barcelona as one of those exceptional professional players that pledge to retire at the same club where they started their career.
