Iniesta thinks Eto'o deserves a statue

Asked about the exit of his former team-mate Samuel Eto'o earlier this summer, Barcelona player Andrés Iniesta has praised the Cameroonian striker in an interview with Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia:

"Everyone has dealt with it in his own way, we all have different relationships with each other. I can only say that it was basically something between the club and him, the players weren't involved.

We have to remember Samuel as who he was. History tells us that there have been very few strikers like him since this club exists. I don't even know if there has been anyone like him before, but what I do know is that Barça should make a statue for him. Samuel has been a key player in all those years he has been here, and he has been fundamental in all the trophies we have won."

Read more:
Thank You Samu - Remembering Eto'o at Barca

Transfers of Vitor Baia and Dugarry investigated

Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia reports that the Belgian courts are investigating the transfers of former Barcelona players Vitor Baía (39) and Christophe Dugarry (37).

Agents of the Spanish police would therefore have shown up at the Camp Nou yesterday to look for information related to the transfers. Employees of the club would have provided the documents asked for.

The agents of the two players, Luciano D'Onofrio and Maurizio Delmenico, are accused of having used a part of the transfer fees paid for money laundry.

Former Barcelona presidents Josep Lluís Núñez and Joan Gaspart (vice-president at the time of the events), as well as other former board members, are expected to declare as witnesses soon.

Portuguese goalkeeper Vítor Baia joined Barcelona from Porto in 1996. In January 1999, he returned on loan to Porto, that signed him the next summer. French striker Christophe Dugarry joined Barcelona in the summer of 1997. After half a season, he left for French club Marseille.

Read more:
Barcelona's worst eleven

Messi: "I'd like to finish my career in Argentina"

Barcelona player Lionel Messi gave an interview to Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia.





You've been at Barcelona for a long time, but do you miss Argentina?
A lot, especially when I'm here alone and my family is over there. It's tough.

Not ever playing in Argentina makes you consider retiring in the league of your country?
I'd like to finish over there because since I was a child it was my dream. I went to the pitches, and I want to play there for the people over there. At Newells? Well, what I want is to play in the Argentine league in general and witnessing the football over there. I'd love it.

You appreciate your roots and family, but what does Barcelona and Catalunya mean to you?
It means everything to me, I think that I've been here longer than in Rosario. Being here feels like I'm in my homeland. The only thing that I miss is not being with my family. Everything else I have here.

Do you think you could adapt to living in Argentina?
Living over there is very different, here I'm more relaxed but regardless, to me Argentina is Argentina.

Where do you see yourself in a few years?
I live life as it comes, as always, and I've never stopped to think. You never know what will happen next year. You need to go step by step, without worrying, but the other day I was looking at the small trophies that I own at home and I thought to myself that I'd like to retire winning much more.

In this case, this is your first year as the number 10 of the squad. How do you take being an idol?
With calmness. At first I was surprised that people would recognize me, but now I find it normal. I don't have a problem walking in the streets and stopping to take pictures.

What are the best moments in your life, those you would photograph?
Probably when I debuted with Barça and when I won my first titles that season. But so many things happen in so little time that they pass me by. I never imagined to be within the elite so quickly.

Florentino Perez, as a presidential candidate, has had an emphasis on possible signings from Barça. Will you one day go to Madrid?
I doubt it. I wouldn't ever leave here, but you never know what can happen in football. Without a doubt, I don't see myself at Madrid, to be honest.

Where you do see yourself is with Dani Alves. When he arrived did you believe that the connection between you two would be so harmonic?
I've always played well with the Brazilians. I already knew that Alves would understand me well. With great players you always are understood and it's easier. Since preseason it looked like we were united.

Does it annoy you that when you're done playing a match, Alves looks like he's ready for another one?
(laughs) Not anymore, because he's with us, but when he was at Sevilla, yes.

How would you define Iniesta?
Everything said about him is said with few words, it's impressive. Same with Xavi. They're pure quality, they carry the weight and drive of the team.

And what would you say about Eto'o?
It's hard to find forwards like him and you can't find them anywhere. He has a natural goalscoring ability and you can see with the work that he does.

Has Henry changed much?
He was able to adapt himself better to the team's play. Now he's happy and that makes things go well within the pitch.

Do the Catalans control the team?
In this team we all get along. There is no envy, because we're all on the same side and nobody controls more than another, because the one that controls things is Guardiola.

translated by: al


this was the third and last part of this interview, you can read the earlier parts here:
Messi: "Guardiola won me over in every aspect"
Messi: "When we have the ball, we enjoy ourselves"

Messi: "When we have the ball, we enjoy ourselves"

Barcelona player Lionel Messi gave an interview to Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia.





Why does this squad deserve it all?
Because of the year that Barça is having, for the football that it's playing, which is enjoyable for many people, whether or not if you're a Barça fan. I hear what many people have to say and they enjoy it as much as we do. This football deserves, at least, compensation with titles. All year we have been the best in the Liga, both in how we play and in our results.

A year ago you told this very publication that the team could win more than one title and you didn't even win one. Is it time to forget about the past?
We need to take advantage of the moment, because you never know if something like that could happen again. We have the opportunity to go down in history at a club as big as Barça. We will do it. We will give our all to win the Champions League.

What changed within the squad in order to achieve these results?
What has changed is the coach, who has much to do with everything that's happening even though he says that the responsible ones are us. Obviously, the arrival of Guardiola and his work, the energy that he shows, has been very important. He has done many things to change us and his arrival has made us succeed. Guardiola knows a lot, but, what's important to me is that he also knows how to transmit his knowledge to us. That's fundamental for any manager. When he tells you something, you know that you have to do it, because you know that it's the truth.

Rijkaard was also praised for his achievements, but has Guardiola done more?
They're different. Rijkaard to me was impressive, because he won many titles and made the team play phenomenally. He was the one that gave me my debut at 17 years old and he was the one that gave me confidence. Everyone has their style, not better or worse.

Have you seen a team play like this Barça?
The squad that won the league and the Champions League also played enjoyable and pretty football, but this team, if they win the Champions League, can be claimed to be better. I didn't witness the "dream team" era, so that's why I don't have any other squad to compare to. I'm only 21.

Not even Manchester United are close to this level?
Manchester United is a great team and has great players, but I think that Barça has a little more football in them.

If you could remain in any moment in this Liga campaign, which would you choose?
It's hard, but there have been many... but I think that the goal fest against Madrid was special. Even though we say that the match wasn't revenge for the "pasillo" and the 4-1 last season, what's true is that we had a grudge from that match. Being able to go to Madrid and win that way, will be remembered forever. I didn't want it to end.

Speaking of grudges, do you feel that there is one from the Champions League when you weren't able to play in the final in Paris?
Yes, in that campaign I couldn't enjoy myself, because after getting injured in the quarter finals, I couldn't play any more. Now I've been able to play everything, and now we're in the final and winning it would complete everything.

Now that some time has passed, were you very disappointed that day, in Paris, not being able to play?
Yes, but I was still very young and was still thinking about other things. I think that it was foolish for me to be mad. I should have enjoyed that day more than I really did, but they are moments in which you never know if they can happen again. I didn't even show up in the photo after the match and that was a mistake. I should have shown up, because I was still a part of that team.

What do you like most about the team?
That we always want to have the ball and with it, we want to make the opponent chase after it. When we have the ball, we enjoy ourselves and we see that the opponent gets gradually more nervous.

When you talk about how the team plays, you let out a smile. Is this sense of enjoyment that supporters feel something that you feel on the pitch?
Without a doubt, we're the first that enjoy ourselves and have fun on the pitch. And if you're winning, just imagine how much we enjoy it.

Do you agree with those that believe that this year they are seeing an even more complete Messi?
Well, I think that I've been playing the same as always but I've obviously improved on many things. This season I've learned much and I'm still learning.

You've scored more goals...
Yes, I've always been used to scoring goals, but I've never scored this many and I didn't expect it. It's thanks to the play of the team, because the forwards have many chances, and every forward in the world would like to be here.

translated by: al


this was the second part of this interview, you can read the first part here:
Messi: "Guardiola won me over in every aspect"

Read more:
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Messi, the true heir to Maradona's crown
Messi rejects record offer by Manchester City

Messi: "Guardiola won me over in every aspect"

Barcelona player Lionel Messi gave an interview to Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia.





Did you imagine a year like this?
We were coming from two complicated years and people expected an improvement. We also expected to do better, but to be honest, I think that none of us deep down expected it. We couldn't imagine it.

Do you have time to think about what you've been achieving?
No, we cannot stop. We still have a few Liga matches and, above all, the Champions League final. We can't stop now. When the campaign is finished we will look back.

Playing practically the whole season is your greatest triumph?
Yes, I think so, because I've had two years getting injured, being away from the team for many matches, two or three years without playing in a season, many instances the same. Now being able to play everything is the best.

What do you think changed that allowed that to happen?
I don't know, I don't think there's something. I've always done everything the same. I got injured before because it had to happen.

You haven't taken any special precautions?
No, what I've been doing for the past years I still do with Juanjo (Brau, one of the team's physiotherapists), who has always been by my side. What has changed with this year, opposed to other years, is that I had a good preseason.

Guardiola has said many times that what he wants this season is to feel pleased. Is that something that you believe?
To me, of course. The coach is a special person, who thinks way beyond the playing pitch. The coach thinks much on human aspect. He's someone very close to the player, thinks like them, speaks very detailed to the players, and above all he's very similar and that's why everyone here likes him a lot.

In that sense, Guardiola has won you over?
In every aspect, because for one it's something great for a manager to be very close and to care about a player. He has treated me well since day one.

What is your concept of happiness?
Everything that's happening right now. Training with motivation, feeling good, the team doing well during the year, playing well with spark, and with good results and titles.

Did you hear how people wanted you subbed in the Copa game to protect you?
Yes, but to be honest I always like being on the pitch, even more so a match like that one. I'd rather enter than be subbed.

Are you aware that people are afraid that you'd get injured and couldn't play the final in Rome?
Yes, because people still had fresh in their mind what had happened to Iniesta and they were a bit scared. It's true that the match was a bit intense and we had to be careful, but I'd prefer to worry about being careful on the pitch.

Guardiola says that matches like that are what you make of them. What do you think about that?
He has no problem knowing how I think. In one year he almost knows me perfectly. He has the ability to know us, not just me, but everyone. That's why he knows how to get along great. He has achieved gaining everyone's confidence.

How were you able to beat Athletic's markings, which were very tough from the start?
We know that they wanted to defeat us playing very physical, to try to intimidate us, but that didn't happen for a moment. On the contrary, our team showed much more and proved why they deserve it all.

translated by: al


this was the first part of this interview. you will be able to read the following part here in the coming days.

Read more:
Messi: "I would like to be a better header"
Messi, the true heir to Maradona's crown
Messi rejects record offer by Manchester City

Henry: "Catalonia is not Spain"

Barcelona player Thierry Henry gave an interview to Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia.





Why are people always that critical? Even about Messi, people are saying he's playing regular lately.
It's normal. If you score three goals every game and you don't play well the next, that's... Leo is leo, it's a genius. If you don't have quality, it's very difficult to understand someone who does. What he does is not normal. Every genius, those who play or those who paint, is difficult to understand.

You expect every opponent to play tough from now on? How would you have to deal with those kind of games with an opponent who focuses on kicking and a referee who doesn't pull cards?
I really didn't see a team like Espanyol kicking a lot. I've played in England for eight years and there they kick. I didn't see anything here yet. Here you cannot touch anyone, if you do, it's card, card, card. In the cup against Atlético, is was over the top. Sometimes when you just jump for a header, the referee already indicates that it's a fault. Men like Alan Shearer wouldn't have been able to play here.

What's the last thing you read and learnt something from?
I didn't read a lot lately, but the last ting that had an impact on me was an autobiography of NBA coach Phil Jackson. In the book he explains how Michael Jordan made fifty points and his team didn't win. It was only when he started to play for the team that Chicago started winning and that Jordan became the best player in the world thanks to his teammates. It's a nice lesson.

You who has the reputation of being a little grumpy, are you going through the best moment since you arrived in Barcelona?
The team is playing better, one enjoys more. The thing is that in the big games in December I played well, I've scored in important games and I've changed a little the general opinion about me. But without the team you cannot do that. It's true that if you get a good ball from behind that puts you in a one on one, everything is easier than when you have three defenders before you.

But you also have more confidence.
Last year was a string of events. I arrived injured, I played because of my own fault, I forced myself and I shouldn't have done that. It was hard to regain the trust of the fans, we weren't playing well, it was difficult for me to understand the new way of playing. Moving to another place, learning a new language, that makes it all hard.

You had a hard time adapting?
What I think is this: Catalonia is not Spain, it's something else and you have to feel that. Barça is another story. When you arrive here from Arsenal it's surprising to see so many people, it's a shock. You have to live it if you want to understand it. In England there's a different mentality. When I left England after eight years, it wasn't easy. But after eight months, when my back didn't hurt anymore, it was time to gain some confidence and win back the people.

You already feel loved?
The truth is, yes. Last season, in the stadium, we went through moments that were very tough, although justified because we didn't win anything, we didn't do anything. I'm my own first criticiser. It was difficult to hold on. This year, people were happier.

When you played at Arsenal, you were already a symbol, and you're still, but people keep questioning you.
I like it when people question me. I demand a lot from myself, so it's normal other people do the same. The real problem will be when they won't question me anymore. The fans expect a lot from Leo, from Samu, from myself, from the whole squad. It has been that way all my life. My father has always told me: "You have to give more." If I have scored three goals, people ask why I didn't score four. Yes, I'm going home being satisfied, yes, but there's always a question mark.

You're on your way to turn 32. You would like to finish your career here?
Of course I would like that. I always say that and sometimes it's like people aren't paying attention. I love the city, it's February and look at that sun. How hard it might have been last year, in the streets, people always were supportive. You can live good here, the food is great. We're in one of the three, four best clubs in the world. It's normal I want to finish here. Wearing this shirt is an honour. But before you understand the shirt, you have to understand the club, the city. Last year I only understood things very late in the season: I was in the northern hemisphere and the club in the southern.

How would you like to be remembered in ten years?
I don't know. A career isn't only about one or two years, it's a journey of 15 years. For me that's the most important thing. Sometimes you have a difficult year but in the end people look at your whole career to make a judgment.

The first time we met was in 2001 when you went to see a basketball game in New York, invited by Philadelpia player Allen Iverson.
Oh yes! The Bulls were my first team though, I like Iverson more as a person than as a player. I'm friends with Tony Parker, Ronny Turiaf and Steve Nash.

You have plans to invest in a French basketball team together with Parker?
No, that's not true. Maybe something else but I can't talk about that.

The tattoo on your left wrist. What is it about?
(shows it for a few seconds) It has nothing to do with a friend, or with my daughter, or any of the other stuff that has been said. It's just a private thing. I put this tattoo for myself. (brings the tattoo to his nose as he leaves)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.


This was the second and last part of this interview. You can read the first part here:
Henry: "This team never surrenders"

Read more:
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The man who changed Henry's luck
Henry will be put for sale in the summer

Eto'o: "Every goal gives you more confidence"

Barcelona player Samuel Eto'o gave an interview to Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia.





How do you look at today's economic crisis?
Those who are close to you should help you to invest with little risk. God has wanted me to have enough to feed myself and the people around me.

Are you a jealous person?
No, although they have said this about me. I have a lot of friends, I know a lot of people, but there are only few people whom I fully trust.

What does scoring mean to you?
Scoring is football. Everything we do, everything Pep is thinking about, it all has to lead to one thing: scoring. All goals are the same, they are equally important because every goal gives you more confidence. The goal against Real Madrid, the champions, almost at the end of the game. That day I scored in the 82nd minute, but I could have run a thousand times around the pitch to celebrate it.

Winning against Madrid is something special?
Winning every game is special. Of course the clasico is a special match. Every player in the world would like to play it. We should be happy for having defeated Madrid, but it shouldn't become an obsession. I just want this club to continue being important. We should have enough self-esteem to be always one of the best clubs in the world, if not the best.

What about Messi? Is he already one of the best players in the world?
It's easy: he makes the difference. He's still young, yes, and I'll keep on calling him "el Nene" (baby boy), but it's a fact that he has become a predator on the pitch. Before we knew he was good, now he's excellent.

How do you have to solve the problem of the many faults he has to deal with?
In the game against Madrid he suffered a lot, but there have been games where he had to deal with uglier faults. They all know that when el Nene touches the ball, he can deal with everybody.

You returned from Africa last week. How do people celebrate the holidays in Cameroon?
The same as here. Family dinenrs and spending time with friends. People eat a bit of everything. There's no dieting over there. Now it's really hot, around 40-50 degrees.

You once said that you lived in Europe but slept in Africa. Is that still the case?
Yes, I know a lot of people here, but I also have a lot of friends there. Africa is my home.

Can you define your continent?
Africa is happiness.

Despite all the pictures we see here about the poverty?
News is sensation. Failures or negative images sell more than happiness, because you can't say a lot about happiness, you can tell about it once and that's it. You can take much more advantage of the problems.

Despite being as popular over there, you feel more free in Africa?
I don't see myself as someone popular. I know my job attracts a lot of attention, but here or there is the same for me. I always get along with all people and I hope God gives me the strenght to never change.

In Africa, you sometimes have the feeling that life is a gamble?
The truth is that life is a gamble, there and here. The nice thing about Africa is that, despite the problems, people never lose their smile. You never know when God will call you, so you have to live with joy.

When you see how many immigrants try to come to Europe in dangerous circumstances, how do you link that with the happiness?
When you see them catch those little boats, you can see them smile. They don't think about the fact that it could be their last trip. You're seeing it from your house, on your television screen. You give yourself the permission to judge, while you don't know the whole story. Life is short and you have to keep on smiling, no matter what.

You've noticed a decline of racism in the Spanish stadiums?
Until now, yes. But I don't like all the talk about the football stadium just being a reflection of the society. Those who should make decisions, should do that. Nobody can be blamed for being white or black.

Which dreams do you have?
I have very few, but when I dream, they always come true.


This was the third and last part of this interview. You can read the previous parts here:
Eto'o: "I live to be happy"
Eto'o: "Renewal talks should wait for the summer"

Read more:
First positive meeting on Eto'o renewal
Xavi: "How did this happen?!"
Barcelona wants to renew Eto'o

Eto'o: "Renewal talks should wait for the summer"

Barcelona player Samuel Eto'o gave an interview to Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia.





When he took over, Guardiola said that you weren't part of his plans. Things seem to have changed.
Although I wasn't part of his plans, Pep didn't say I wouldn't be part of the team. He recognized what we had achieved. There were 23 players in the squad last season, but some were given a greater responsiblity, which is normal. Ronaldinho, Deco and Eto'o didn't win games on their own. To be at my best, I need Puyol, I need Valdés, I need Xavi, and all the others. I accept the fact that I hasn't been at my best level over the last two years. It's true, but it's also true I have been injured. I'm not looking for excuses, I'm just saying that Pep hadn't coached me on a daily basis. So his point of view was normal. When he saw how hard I was working during training, I'm sure he said to himself: "Samuel has to stay". When we defeated the champions a few weeks ago, we celebrated together like we had won the league. When I missed the penalty, I told myself that I had to score. I was looking at the scoring board, to see how much time there was left. I started to feel tired, but I had to stay focused. I knew I had to score the one chance I would get. I scored and I started to run. Before, I had told Bojan that I would score, so I ran to him saying "you see, you see" and Pep was also there.

You've played for three Spanish clubs: the one that brought you here but wasted you, the one where you could end your career and Barça. What do you feel for Barça?
The president always says: "I love this club". And we all love it. Once you're part of this club, you don't look elsewhere anymore. Because of the way they treat us, the way the club works, the city... If things are going well, you can't compare it with anything. How could I not fall in love with this club? I also have a lot of feelings for Mallorca and I'm grateful they gave me a first chance when nobody believed in me. I would like to end my career there.

When will that be?
In 2010, I will be 29 years old and the World Cup will take place on my continent. I don't want to look like a fool there or show a lack of respect for the public.

You're thinking about the renewal?
I'm focused on my daily work. I still have a contract. If one day Barça wants me to continue, there will be time for that. If someone, the president or Txiki, tells me that we should sit down to negotiate, I will tell them that I don't want to be distracted now, that they should wait for the summer to settle it. For now, it's only about football and more football. There's no time for distractions, no talks about one euro here or one comma there.

This will be an expensive renewal...
One year there was a important club that wanted to sign me and they were ready to pay me whatever it took...

An English club that plays in a blue shirt?
I don't know (laughs). Anyway, I called the president and I told him that I didn't want to leave Barça, that I would let him know if one day I would. And if that day comes, I will leave as happy as the day they signed me. But I'll be a Barça fan until I die.

During the pre-season, the majority of the teammates asked that Eto'o would continue.
Thank you for reminding that. At a moment in which a lot of people had an opinion about me, my answer was my teammates who said I should stay. They see during the training sessions what I'm about. There were doubts about my attitude in the dressingroom but the answer of my teammates showed my real role. I'm not faking things and I'm a true teammate. I will always be grateful to them. It was a human detail.

That's where the team spirit comes in. Now everybody talks about the group, including yourself. What's the role of Guardiola in this?
I never thought about scoring my goals and that's it. We've lost two years while we had the best player of the world in the squad, everybody was to blame and who was the least to blame was Frank. He dealt with the dressingroom just like he had been doing since the first day. I think he showed being a great person by not changing his way of thinking. When we lost games, we weren't able to raise our head. Mistakes like that are made a lot. But now we have that extra experience. If you don't burn yourself, you never know what it is. But when you have burnt yourself once, you know fire can be dangerous. We will continue with modesty, like Pep wants it. He has used the right words. He, who never had coached in the first division, arrived and introduced the dialogue. And he keeps on doing that. Living like this has a lot of advantages.

You have the feeling that nobody can beat this team?
No, we cannot live things like the fans. We have a lead, but we're not even halfway the league. We know we're playing great, but we also know we're gonna have to face difficult moments. I just ask the fans to bring their enthusiasm to the stadium every game. The moment of celebrating will come later.


This was the second part of this interview. You will be able to read the next part on this blog in the coming days, with Eto'o talking -among other things- about Africa. Read the first part of the interview here:
Eto'o: "I live to be happy"

Read more:
Barcelona wants to renew Eto'o
Bojan: "There's still a lot left to learn"
Eto'o confused by Madrid reactions

Eto'o: "I live to be happy"

Barcelona player Samuel Eto'o gave an interview to Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia.





After the Madrid game, you said: "If I fall, I stand up again" and "The best is yet to come".
Those are mottos that keep me going and that I try to transmit to those who are close to me. I'm 27 years old and I've had my problems in life, but life has also teached me to always look back and learn from the mistakes. I raise my head, although it hurts a lot sometimes, and I say to myself that I can achieve it. I live to be happy, whatever happens.

Success can disappear quickly. Rijkaard is an example of that. It seems he hasn't done anything.
No, that's not true. From our point of view, looking at how well the team is doing today, this is partly because of his work. Let's hope Pep will be here forever, but if he leaves one day, his successor will also take advantage of Pep's work. You should almost name a street after him if you see what Frank has achieved here. Barcelona has won two Champions Leagues and he won one of those... Two leagues, two super cups. The team hadn't won anything for five years. I hope this team will do the same. There has to be a lot of respect for Frank, he did great things for the club. If it was up to me, I'd name a street after him so this will not be forgotten and always remembered.

"I raise my head, although it hurts a lot sometimes". Is that what happened during the pre-season?
When I'm saying that, I'm not really refering to football issues. Football is my hobby. It's what I like most, but only behind my children and my wife. Football is something that goes by. I love the game and I live 2000 per cent for it. But I can deal with what comes. Whatever happens, it's a game. You have to be able to win and to loose, because if not, how can you be a great champion? I only dreamt about being a football player. Now they consider me to be a great player and the truth is that I never expected this.

A few months ago, you said that you didn't hold anything against anybody after you had to leave the club last summer. It's really that easy to deal with it?
When I got injured for the second time last season, I was disappointed. Even more because the team wasn't playing well. I decided not to recover on my own because I wanted to be with the others, so we could form a united group. And this summer, when the whole thing started, I knew that hard work was the key. I knew I would be there. I saw it as a natural thing. When I returned, I showed that I was still the player that Barça signed. Since the summer I have tried to be at my best level and my physical condition has permitted this because I didn't feel any more pain in my knee or anywhere else. It's easy to get injured, but recovering is something else. But I'm here, fighting and playing at the top.

What did you feel when the club decided to let you go?
In every big club, there's no time to wait. They have to build their squads. I was the first to recognize that I wasn't at my best level over the past two years, and if I can recognize this, the club has to look for others. I think it was a normal thing. Time wasn't in my favour and the club had to make a decision. Some people are immediately liked, but with others, like myself, you need time to get to know them. Sometimes people tell me that I give an antipathetic impression, but my problem is that since I was twelve I've had a lot of unpleasant surprises.

But are you resentful?
No, why would I hold anything against someone if God can call me tomorrow. I'm here on earth to enjoy and to be happy and I only ask to see my children turn eighteen years old and see that they can make their own decisions.

What about the critics...
They motivate me. I don't read them, but I always have someone who tells me what is being written. A journalist has an opinion but he's not someone from the world of footbal. He's a news professional, so I can't criticize him because I don't know a lot about his job. You have to understand that we all have our preferences. I try to give my best for Barça to play well. If along the riad I have hurt someone, I apologize for that.

Your six-years old son is very critical with you?
We're very close. For him, Messi, Xavi and I have always played fantastic. I'm his father, his idol, everything he says sounds nice.... He has a littel character though... He tells me everything what's on his mind. He resembles his father. It's great to experience something like that. He's hansom, intelligent, clever, passionate about football. The thing is that he has another idol who is pilot and from the other team (Formula 1 driver and Real Madrid fan Fernando Alonso). But Fernando has always acted very correct towards us.


This was the first part of this interview. You will be able to read the other parts on this blog in the coming days, with Eto'o talking -among other things- about his renewal and about Africa.

Read more:
Barcelona wants to renew Eto'o
Henry: "I'm a bit of a loner beause of my youth"
Eto'o confused by Madrid reactions

Barcelona wants to renew Marquez until 2012

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona plans to offer Barcelona central defender and Mexican international Rafael Márquez (29) a contract renewal.

Barcelona manager Guardiola considers Márquez to be a key player, one of those who can replace the coach on the pitch, and thinks there are no defenders like him available on the market.

Barcelona would therefore be considering to offer Márquez, whose current contract expires in 2010, an extension for two more years, until the summer of 2012.

Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia and other media confirm the intention of Barcelona to renew the Mexican defender, who joined Barcelona in 2003 when current Barcelona president Joan Laporta came to power.

Madrid sport tabloid Marca claims that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain plans to renew Márquez until 2014, and minimum until 2012, and wants to offer the player comparable contract conditions as those of his centre back companion Puyol.

Begiristain made already a first informal contact on the renewal and now wants to start negotiating with the player's agent from next week on. It's assumed that Márquez also has the intention to stay longer with the club (read more here).

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the wish of Márquez to end his career at Barcelona will make the renewal talks with the Mexican central defender easier.

Read more:
Marquez wants to renew until 2012
Marquez could move to Miami in 2010
Marquez wants renewal before returning home

Xavi: "If I were a fan, I'd be enjoying this team"

Barcelona player Xavi gave an interview to Catalan newspaper La Vanguardía.





Is there a reason why the fans aren't filling the stadium?
I think that it might be because of the economic crisis, and also because of the scheduling of games because all the games are televised. To play any better than we're currently playing is difficult, and we have plenty of reason for fans to come...

You can't play better?
No, it's not that, I'm saying that the football that Pep is giving is fantastic for the team. There's offense, pressure, teamwork with movements and circulation of the ball. If I were a fan, I'd be enjoying this.

How much does Guardiola contribute in your growth as a player?
A lot. It's funny, because people wanted me to "face" him and match him playing wise, yet he has always been helping me. He helped boost myself in many ways. He likes me very much and he told me that. We have a good relationship, we're not friends and we won't have dinner together, but we have a good harmony. I also like him very much and I have a soft spot for him because he has always helped me. Maybe the comparisons between us helped because I always had to push myself. I'm hot-headed, but I always push myself. His presence has always helped. When I leave training I leave with an illusion, with some brutal energy, something that I owe to him.

This hasn't happened before?
It's just that ambitions were refreshed and in the past two years, they were a bit lost because there wasn't such a level of demand. With Pep, Barca wins a lot because he's a good person and loves the club.

Was it difficult to shine individually while the team had two bad seasons?
It was hard because you want both the team and yourself personally to do good. When you play incredibly and you don't feel happy it's because there are no titles and it was all for nothing. On the contrary, in the Euro, feeling involved, doing a good job and winning.... that's the best. It's what we have to do this year.

Will this team be doing that all year?
It's hard, because every year you have two or three weeks that you spend badly. It hasn't happened yet and we'll do what we can to prevent it, and hopefully we don't have to suffer, but the dynamic that we've had is incredible because we're into the game since the first minute.

Which squad do you look up to?
The Barca "dream team". Everybody played marvelously. I saw how Eusebio and Amor thought, the ones that didn't think too hard, or Pep and Bakero. It was solid football, like "bam-bam". Nobody slowed it down. Only Laudrup, and that was when the stadium stood up and watched. You enjoyed those European nights. That football mentality was impressive.

In the Copa del Rey, Guardiola wanted the most difficult rival possible and you got it. What about the Champions League?
In the Euro we saw that we won defeating Italy, Russia, and Germany. Almost all of those were once world champions and and that has a lot of merit. If we get Chelsea, then I guess that's how things will be.

It feels like there is no team that can overcome Barca.
Our philosophy has made us better than our rivals, but only until now. We play hard in any stadium, we pressure, and we don't allow ourselves to slip.

There's not long until the clash with Real Madrid. Do you understand what's happening with them?
Yes. What happens is that we're doing very well. It's like a pendulum, because they aren't doing too bad. They're only nine points away. It's more of an instinct in which it's natural to compare the two teams, but be aware that Madrid hasn't sunk and we shouldn't think of them as dead because they are just as good recovering.

Translated by: AL


This is the second and last part of this interview. Read the first part here:

Xavi: "I owe everything to my teammates"

Xavi: "I owe everything to my teammates"

Barcelona player Xavi gave an interview to Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia.





What does it mean to be fifth in the Ballon d'Or ranking and the best-ranked Catalan in its history?
It's an intense happiness. The fact that I'm on the list was already a big privilege, but to be in the top five I would've never imagined it, nor to have been doing so good right now. I've always said that I owe it all to my teammates. We won the Euro, we play attractive football and there's a positive aura which helps a lot. Managers count on me and see me as a key player. I can't ask for anything more. What I didn't know is that no other Catalan has ever hit such a high.

Why didn't you think that you'd be there? A lack of confidence?
No, I think it's because of my characteristics. It's very difficult for a midfielder to win the Ballon d'Or. You always think "I'll never have the chance" because most of the credit goes to forwards. They make the difference, I'm not like that because I'm only one within a group, not only do I think about my teammates but I also try to create a one-two or make an important pass. Now those who make the difference are rewarded. Messi, Cristiano, and Torres make a difference.

But in the Euro the prize was yours.
It's true, but my award was based on the achievement of the team. I say and believe that I'm only a player within my team. It was a collective effort and they gave me the prize because I'm the one that circulated and touched the ball the most.

Now you score many goals.
That also helps because I have a different role, now I'm more transcendent and I assist playing from three-fourths of the field. Before I didn't see myself playing there. I told Rijkaard: "Coach, I need to see the entire pitch in order to play". I've gotten used to it.

What about the Sevilla game?
The first goal by Eto'o was a rebound after I hit the ball. In the second I passed to Leo, but I didn't expect him to score such an amazing goal! I've always been told that I must look before passing.

Now comes the result. Do you feel the maturity and solidity?
Yes, I feel very comfortable, even in personal terms. In football terms I'm in the role that I've always wanted, the one that I've always had since I was a beginner. My dream was to play in the first team, and I've done it. I wouldn't change it for anything, now I'm enjoying everything like a youngster.

Being the best at the Euro and fifth for the Ballon d'Or pays as third, fifth, or first at Barca?
(laughs) The club's philosophy is very clear. It has a worldwide star, which is Messi, and it has a goalscorer. And those two players will be above any home-grown player's salary. But the status of my new contract is almost close to theirs, and it's great.

Your agent, Ivan Corretja, wanted more?
We held on to some figures... What I wanted was a long-term contract so I was more relaxed and I could concentrate on football with a solid contract for many years to come. The anticipation for the end of my current contract in 2010 you didn't know when it would really end. That was my lack of tranquility. I told Ivan that what's important was to be in a determined state. I'm molded into Barca. Imagine if I had gone to Inter, I wouldn't enjoy it as much. I could adapt, yes, but that's a different kind of football.

Have there been moments where you saw yourself leaving the club?
Many times, of course, because here it is difficult to stay for many years straight. Here people are more demanding and they get tired of the same faces. The supporters are grateful but you must give them something, unlike that of Liverpool where they'll support you no matter what. I thought about the Premier League, which I like, but my vision was to retire here.

Translated by: AL


This was the first part of this interview. The second part will follow in the coming days.

Read more interviews here:
Marquez: "The clasico is a different game"
Laporta: "Mourinho was a more secure option"
Xavi: "I was the first to say that Eto'o had to stay"

Barcelona working hard on set pieces

Asked about the opening goal in last weekend's game against Recreativo Huelva, Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova has confirmed to Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia that the team had worked on the free kick during training:

"We had practised that move a lot and we also had a secret sign. Actions like that aren't about one player, others have to mislead the defenders or have to position themselves well. You have to coordinate the movements of five or six players.

Coordinating your players is already hard work and that still doesn't mean that the opponent falls into the trap. Against Valladolid we also tried something at two corners but it didn't work. You also shouldn't use them if you don't really need them. If we would have been winning against Recreativo, we wouldn't have tried it. You shouldn't waste those actions.

The inspiration can come from everywhere. Every game serves. For the Recreativo move, we remembered a goal that Barcelona B made last season in the fourth division. But it doesn't matter, even a Russian league game can be a source of inspiration. We watch the movement and if we like it and it has its worth, we start to work on it.

We notice that the players are enthusiasic about it. Players like Márquez, Touré, Xavi and others are happy with having more options at set pieces, although we don't always have enough time to practise them. Sometimes we have to focus more on working the passing rhythm or tactical issues, which leaves us less time than we would want for the set pieces.

The set pieces are also the result of video reports that contain tens of actions of the opponent. Some have almost hundred actions that are later filtered to show the squad only a small part. They see around twenty of them. The first work is done by staff members Carles Blanxart and Domènec Torrent, they separate the material: tactical issues at one hand and set pieces at the other.

When preparing a game, we try to watch and analyze three or four games of the opponents. I watch all of them, sometimes together with Pep, sometimes with Juan Carlos Unzué. The minimum is the last two games of the rival team and if there's time, we watch some more."


Watch the video of the Recreativo game:

Luis Enrique ready for assistant job

Asked about the rumours linking him with a job as assistant coach of Josep Guardiola (read more here) or José Mourinho (read more here), if one of those two would become the next Barcelona manager, former Barcelona player Luis Enrique said last week in an interview with Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia that those are at this moment nothing more than rumours.

Luis Enrique nevertheless made clear that he wants to start his career as manager next season, and if he could do that with Barcelona, the better: "I would like to return to Barcelona, not simply to pose but to really add something to the team. But until they don't offer me something, I don't want to think about it too much."

Although he lacks experience, the Spaniard doesn't think he is not ready for the job: "It wouldn't scare me at all to make my début in the Primera División. I think I'm capable for the job and I want to start as soon as possible. Of course I don't yet have experience as coach, but I know the dressing room inside out."

The former Barcelona right winger thinks he would make a good duo with his ex-team mate Josep Guardiola: "He's a friend with whom I have shared a lot of time and many tough games."

Luis Enrique also repeated (read more here) that he would like to work with José Mourinho, who he knows from his time in Barcelona: "Name me one coach in the world who wouldn't like to work with José Mourinho, even without knowing him. And I do know him and have a good understanding with him."


Read more:
Luis Enrique would like to return
Mourinho preparing to take over
Luis Enrique did not send his cv