The first round one by one (part 2)

With the first Liga round completed, Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo evaluated Barcelona's coach and players individually.





Keita: Growing
He began disoriented "because at Barcelona the ball runs while in other teams you run". He got more confidence with his goals against Recreativo, Getafe and Villarreal. Very complete player, theres more to come from him.

Xavi: Skillful
The player that has given most passes that turn to goal in the Liga (9). With Pep he playes closer to the box, where his class permits him to connect with Messi, Eto'o and Henry. He takes more risks than ever. And he enjoyes it more too.

Gudjohnsen: Reanimated
He was already preparing his suitcases when Guadiola told him he counted on him.
The Icelander got his energy back and put on some remarkable performances, including starting in the "classico".

Iniesta: Interrupted
Brilliant until he suffered from a muscular injury that kept him out for two months.
His magic has returned, although now he has to compete with Henry on the left side of the attack.

Hleb: Confused
When he signed his versatility stood out, but he suffered a lot at the right wing in a 4-3-3 formation. He always offers something, but few movements end well. And he needs to score more.

Bojan: Enthusiastic
He has so much desire to demonstrate his quality that he plays more with the heart than with the head. He ended up frustrated on the right wing against Getafe, an experiment that confirmed he is a centre forward.

Messi: Brilliant
The most decisive player in the world, showtime assured, scores more every day and in addition, thanks to Pep, involved in pressuring the opponent.

Eto'o: Predatory
Top goalscorer. Competing for the Gold Boot. Wants titles. Nobody could get a grip on him. Until Pep decided to keep him when he saw his work in the summer.

Henry: Unblocked
He was going to be the centre forward, but Eto'o stayed. On the left wing he just did his job until Pep spoke to him after a public complaint. Now he really seems a top class player.

Pedro: Electrical
He needs to learn and has returns regularly to the second team, but it is necessary to value the self-confidence in his few appearances. Has a good dribble, an art in danger of extinction.

Pinto, Jorquera and Milito
The only three squad players out of 24 that have not been used in the first round of the Liga: Milito, Pinto and Jorquera. The defender will be fit again in February after nine months out. The goalkeepers, in the shade of Valdes, are satisfied with other competitions. Pinto plays in the Copa and Jorquera, who just got out of an injury, disputed the last game of the Champions League.

Translated by: Nite


This was the second part of this evaluation. Read the first part here:
The first round one by one (part 1)