Bojan: "There's still a lot left to learn"

Barcelona player Bojan Krkic gave an interview to Catalan sports paper Sport.





Your teammates keep on saying that, when seeing you, they want to protect you. What do you think about that?
I don't think they're saying it because they see me as helpless, I suppose it's because I'm the youngest member of the squad, maybe therefore it seems that I need to be protected. But there are also a lot of moments where they protect each other. It's just something people observe from the outside, within the dressingroom we're all equal.

Pep Guardiola has also insisted that he wanted to protect you, but he's doing that by not giving you a lot of minutes...
One day he also was a young player so he has experience with this kind of situations, I suppose he wants to get it through to me.

In the game against Valencia, Samuel Eto'o directly ran to the bench to celebrate his goal with you. Keita also ran towards the substitutes against Villarreal. Is there some order to do that?
No, it was coincidence. Against Valencia I was the first to get off the bench and he came running our way and we hugged. Since the goal is far away from the bench, it's not usual we celebrate like this.

You're 18 years old, you have a good contract, your future is looking bright... What do you worry about right now?
I'm not worrying about any sporting issue. The team is doing great and the only thing I should do is continue to grow, as a player and as a person. There's still a lot left to learn, which is normal since I'm only 18 years old.

In what way do you resemble a normal 18 years old boy?
When I'm not training or playing, I lead a normal life. I try to disconnect from the world of football and hang out with my friends. I still go to school. I can't study a lot but I watch out not to lose the rhythm bacause I would like to study sport sciences next year. Besides that, I go out with friends, we're gonna drink something, watch a movie... I sure don't have afternoons off because I'm at school or training or playing a game.

Isn't it annoying to do normal things knowing that everybody will recognize you?
You have to get used to that kind of life. I would also like to change some things, but it's not possible and you have to accept it. If I'm lucky and I can keep on growing as a player, it will always be like this and the sooner I adapt to that life, the better.

You have some tricks to not getting recognized?
In the beginning I put on a cap, but you soon become aware that people recognize you anyhow, so the best thing is to behavve normally. Until now, people have respected me. I only remember one meeting with a group of boys, who went a bit wild and made me feel a little uncomfortable. I guess people sometimes get a little mad when they see us because that could be the one time they are seeing their idol. But most of us feel like a normal person, so you can get somewhat uncomfortable.

You've become more paranoid since you became famous?
The truth is that I'm getting aware that maybe there are people who never greeted me and who are now behaving totally different. But it has always been clear to me that there are very little people who really like me and vice versa. I nonetheless respect all people I get to know. My parents are greatly responsible for that.

You have some advice to survive at Barça?
Yes, you have to have a lot of patience because it's very difficult and everything can easily slip away.


This was the second and last part of this interview, you can read the first part here:
Bojan: "I want to keep on growing here"

Read more:
Bojan not considering to leave on loan
Bojan fourth in Golden Boy trophy
Bojan: "I'm waiting for my moment"

Jorquera is looking for a club in Spain

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera (29) has decided to leave the club in January (read more here).

Jorquera has been negotiating with first division club Mallorca about a loan deal with an option to buy the player at the end of the season. But with Deportivo La Coruña goalkeeper Dudu Aouate being close to Mallorca, a transfer of Jorquera to the Spanish club now seems unlikely.

Mallorca local newspaper Diario de Mallorca claims that Jorquera is still on the list in case the negotiations with Deportivo on Aouate would collapse. Mallorca nevertheless would only want to sign the Catalan goalkeeper on a free loan until the end of the season. ­

Asturias regional newspaper El Comercio claims that Jorquera has been offered to Sporting Gijón, but the technical staff of the Spanish first division club would have rejected the offer.

Read more:
Jorquera is looking for an exit
A goalkeeper, a left back and a left winger
Guardiola asked for three goalkeepers

Barça B - Statistics 08-09: Goals, assists, cards

goals
4 Maric
2 Rochina
2 Jeffren
2 Abraham
2 Gai
2 Nolito
1 Verdés
1 Pedro
1 Botia
1 Longás
1 Víctor Sánchez
1 Xavi Torres


assists
4 Víctor Vázquez
3 Nolito
2 Gai
1 Longás
1 Thiago
1 Maric
1 Abraham


yellow cards
8 Verdés
6 Nolito
5 Víctor Vázquez
5 Corcoles
4 Joni
3 Maric
3 Longás
3 Botia
3 Xavi Torres
3 Abraham
2 Rochina
2 Gai
2 Rueda
1 Oier
1 Víctor Sanchez
1 Espasandín


red cards
1 Corcoles
1 Xavi Torres
1 Longás
1 Víctor Sánchez
1 Verdés



Barcelona Atlétic has played 18 official games

Ivorian Le Mans striker Gervinho being scouted

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona is closely following Le Mans forward and Ivory Coast international Gervinho (21) ahead of next summer's transfer window.

A Barcelona scout would have watched Gervinho two times in action during the last month. The positive points pointed out in the scouting reports are the youth of the player, his pace and the fact that the Ivorian striker could play at all three forward positions.

With several other clubs seriously interested, Gervinho, whose contract with his French club expires in the summer of 2011, prefers at this moment not to take any decision on his future.

Read more:
Possible deal on Brazilian striker Keirrison
A goalkeeper, a left back and a left winger
Barcelona following Brazilian striker Dentinho


Watch a video of Gervinho:

Abidal: "I stand in line like everyone"

Barcelona player Eric Abidal gave an interview to Catalan sports paper Sport.





Are you aware that the start of your season wasn't the best we have seen from you?
It wasn't the best, that's true. The thing is that we played a bad European championship with France and I wasn't at my best level. I started the season with Barça at the same level and things didn't turn out the way I wanted. My head wasn't good, my legs either. If you don't feel well, that has an influence on a lot of aspects of your life. But I want to point out one thing: the people in this club are intelligent and they understand that someone can have troubles at a given moment. It's normal there are highs and lows in the career of a football player and sometimes it's better to take a break to come back with renewed energy later.

You're refering to the technical staff?
I explained them what was happening and they immediately understood it without making any problem. But I'm also refering to my teammates. They have behaved in a spectacular way and I thank them for their support.

What would you highlight from Pep?
He has a way of working that is quite different compared to Rijkaard: with Pep everything is clear and that has an influence on the results. If you train and work well, you know that you'll also going to play well. What I like about Pep are those details and those gestures off the pitch. This year there are new rules, that's true, but it works. We started well and we won our games but nothing is decided yet. The system is hard but it's a good way of working. We're all in it together, that's the most important thing in every project.

You're a good professional, so you didn't find it hard to adapt.
Integrity is my device. I always work very seriously but off the pitch there should be happiness and companionship. We all have the same objective. Last year we just hadn't enough luck. Only that, because we had a quality squad with great players. We all have our qualities and this year the group didn't change a lot.

You always look very serious. Is this real or are there two Abidals? You're just acting cool?
There aren't two Abidals! There's only one. The one looking that serious on the pictures you showed me is real. I'm feeling good, I'm happy, I'm a good person who wants to share everything with everyone, but if you're messing with me, you're out. I'm serious and straightforward and I like people to be straight with me as well. If they hurt me or my family, that's the end.

Seriously, when do you smile?
Every time I'm with my daughters. My life now turns around football. It's true that my work is my passion, but that's not the essence of life. We'll see where we will go or what we will do after my career. Abidal always has that in mind, what will come afterwards. There are people who are going through bad times and who aren't as fortunate as we are. There are days you can be happy but you cannot forget the world in which you life and where some people have nothing to eat.

You feel privileged?
Privileged because I like football and because that's my job, but when I'm going shopping at the supermarket I stand in the line like everyone. Children have a positive idea of football players and that's a good thing.

What kind of person are you off the pitch?
Abidal is always at home. My daily life is easy to explain. Training, going home to do a siesta, getting my daughters from school, eating at home and that's it. I like the city but I don't go out a lot. Sometimes I go out for a drive but only to go and eat quality fish, which I like a lot. I adore fish.


This is the second part of this interview. You can read the first part here:
Abidal: "If Busquets was black, he would be 35"