Team Hail Valdés Save
The players have emphasized the importance of the great save made by Victor Valdés with the scoreboard standing at 1-0.
Milito insisted that the save was just as important as Messi’s hat trick: “Valdés was fantastic. People will take about Messi’s goals but his save has just as much merit as the goals”. Andrés Iniesta also praised the Barça goalkeeper’s “providential” performance and highlighted his ability in one-to-one situations while Piqué told reporters, “He saved us with a great stop”. Finally, Messi also added his praise for Valdés: “He saved our lives”.
Here are some of the players’ post-match comments:
Pedro:
“We didn’t play all that well in the first half. We created a lot more chances in the second half”.
“At half time, Guardiola told us to press higher up the pitch, to increase possession and make long passes. We had more chances, things came off and the victory is very good”.
“Leo had a great game and scored three magnificent goals”.
“Our positions today are another resource to bear in mind but we have our own style”.
“Henry was excellent and gave us depth”.
“The fans were really good and should be thanked. Above all, in the first half I lost a lot of balls and I wasn’t playing very well but in the end the team scored”.
Milito:
“I’m feeling better every day. Today I was also OK despite it being a difficult match”.
“We found it really hard to turn the game around but in the second half we improved thanks to teamwork”.
“We had to work harder in the second half because the match was finely balanced and difficult”.
“At halftime, Pep made some tactical corrections that turned out well”.
“In tight matches, Messi appears and does what only he knows how to do”.
“I’m comfortable on the pitch and happy in football terms. That has a big effect on playing in this team – it makes it easier”.
“These are three important points that keep us in the fight with Real Madrid”.
“I’m enjoying and making good use of the matches I’m playing. When it’s your turn you have to be at the level of the team”.
Iniesta:
“We took our chances well”.
“The referee is in charge and if he doesn’t want to add on any more time on then we can’t do anything”.
“We should be happy with the win and with being up at the top”.
“It’s important to score goals because you never know what might happen about goal difference. But everything’s important because we don’t know how the league will end”.
“Let’s hope we can keep on speaking so well of Messi. He’s scoring goals and can turn matches in our favour”.
“Messi doesn’t seem to have a limit so let’s hope he gets even better. He’s more concerned with winning collective titles because he knows that individual titles come by themselves”.
“Against Stuttgart on Wednesday we have to go for the match from the very first minute. We’re in a Club that demands everything and that’s all we’re thinking of”.
“We have to take full advantage of these two months - they are the most demanding but also the nicest”.
Messi:
“I’m very happy about the victory, about the team’s performance in the second half and about the 3 goals”.
“I dedicated a goal to my cousin’s son of, who was born recently. Also they told me he scored at the same time and the dedication goes to him as well”.
“The three goals are important and very nice but I choose the first one that opened the scoring”.
“I plan to carry on the same way for the team’s sake and not because of individual honours”.
“It was a good game for the whole team, above all in the second half when we put pressure on them and had the ball. In the first half we lost he ball straight away”.
“Henry took the pressure off the team with his enthusiasm and pressure. He affected everyone. He also made two assists”.
Piqué:
“In the first half we struggled to get into the game. They had more chances and dominated the game. In the second half it was completely different and after the goal we dominated the match”.
“The team wasn’t OK, we were badly positioned and we lost our shape too easily. In the second half we pressed up the pitch and every time we stole back the ball it was a chance to score”.
“Pep told us to play the same way as always and be ourselves”.
“It’s always good when Henry participates and becomes himself. He had a good game”.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Valdés: "I’m happy with the ways things are going"
Valdés: "I’m happy with the ways things are going"
Victor Valdes has always demanded a lot of himself and frequently plays down his contribution. However, the Barça keeper admits that both he and the team are in good form.
Messi and Victor Valdés were two of the stars of the match against Valencia. n the 68th minute, with the scoreboard standing at 1-0, Valdés pulled off a wonderful save in a one-to-one with Zigic.
The Zigic save
Valdes described the incident involving Zigic: "I thought that it was offside. I tried to wait and close down the space. We were lucky”. However, he knows he made a good save and at the time he celebrated as if he’d scored a goal: “You don’t get many chances to help the team and you try and celebrate it”.
Thanks to the fans
Valdés is the undisputed first choice for the Barça goal and the fans are well aware of the value of his contribution. Proof of that is the standing ovation he received from the Camp Nou fans during the match against Valencia: “It’s a source of pride. I have a lot to thank the fans for. They give me the strength to carry on working hard. It’s recognition of a job well done”.
Zamora Trophy
Victor Valdés leads the goalkeeping ranking in the Spanish League and is well on the way to winning the Zamora Trophy for the goalkeeper who concedes the fewest goals in a season: “I’m happy with the way things are working out. I’m in a good moment, both individually and as a team”.
Messi "could be the best in history"
Valdés also had plenty to say about hat trick hero Leo Messi: “He’s the best in the world. What he contributes with his talent makes him stand out. He could become the best player in history”.
Victor Valdes has always demanded a lot of himself and frequently plays down his contribution. However, the Barça keeper admits that both he and the team are in good form.
Messi and Victor Valdés were two of the stars of the match against Valencia. n the 68th minute, with the scoreboard standing at 1-0, Valdés pulled off a wonderful save in a one-to-one with Zigic.
The Zigic save
Valdes described the incident involving Zigic: "I thought that it was offside. I tried to wait and close down the space. We were lucky”. However, he knows he made a good save and at the time he celebrated as if he’d scored a goal: “You don’t get many chances to help the team and you try and celebrate it”.
Thanks to the fans
Valdés is the undisputed first choice for the Barça goal and the fans are well aware of the value of his contribution. Proof of that is the standing ovation he received from the Camp Nou fans during the match against Valencia: “It’s a source of pride. I have a lot to thank the fans for. They give me the strength to carry on working hard. It’s recognition of a job well done”.
Zamora Trophy
Victor Valdés leads the goalkeeping ranking in the Spanish League and is well on the way to winning the Zamora Trophy for the goalkeeper who concedes the fewest goals in a season: “I’m happy with the way things are working out. I’m in a good moment, both individually and as a team”.
Messi "could be the best in history"
Valdés also had plenty to say about hat trick hero Leo Messi: “He’s the best in the world. What he contributes with his talent makes him stand out. He could become the best player in history”.
Messi out of this world (3-0)
Messi out of this world (3-0)
The World and European Player of the Year destroyed Valencia with a second half hat trick to give Barca the points at the Nou Camp tonight. Led by the brilliant Argentinean the team put in an excellent second half performance.
In a game full of missing names - Villa, Ibrahimovic, Puyol, Keita, Marchena, Abidal and David Navarro all missed the match – Messi put in one of his best ever performances in a Barca shirt with a hat trick in the second half, as Barca overpowered Valencia’s resistance.
Opposite styles
It was clear from the start how the two teams had decided to face the game. Barca stuck to their usual attacking style, whilst Valencia aimed to hit their hosts on the break even though they tried to hold onto possession, Barca lost the ball far too often in their own half and Valencia were quick to pounce and launch their speedy counter attacks, with Pablo a constant threat to Maxwell and Jordi Alba shifting position constantly. Valdes was again the hero, pulling off a series of vital stops, as the team found it hard to settle.
Two first half chances
Messi came close on two occasions, though even he didn’t seem to be sharp enough in front of goal, but soon the game began to turn Barca’s way as they imposed their possession on the game and their passing game began to click. Guardiola – tonight watching from the stands – must have been relieved to see the team begin to recover their dominance as the half came to a close and at the break he switched Henry for Bojan, who’d been playing down the left, with the Frenchman taking over in the centre of the attack.
Messi’s genius
Henry was soon making his presence felt, setting up Messi, who again failed to make the most of his chance. The Argentinean star had let Valencia off the hook once too often though and in a fantastic individual move, beat Banega and Bruno before swerving past Dealbert and firing past Cesar for a wonderful goal to put Barca one up.
Valdés decisive
Valencia, who’d shown no danger since the break, now had to try and get back into the game and Emery brought on Zigic for ‘Chori’ Domínguez and the giant Serb might have equalised soon after coming on but for a great save from Valdes. Immediately after his save, Valencia suffered another blow as Maduro picked up his second yellow for bringing down Messi.
Two more strikes from Messi
Down to 10 men, Valencia had no answer to Barca’s might and Messi, ably assisted by Henry, thrilled the Nou Camp with two more strikes and was rewarded for his fourth Barca hat trick with a standing ovation when he was subbed late on.
The World and European Player of the Year destroyed Valencia with a second half hat trick to give Barca the points at the Nou Camp tonight. Led by the brilliant Argentinean the team put in an excellent second half performance.
In a game full of missing names - Villa, Ibrahimovic, Puyol, Keita, Marchena, Abidal and David Navarro all missed the match – Messi put in one of his best ever performances in a Barca shirt with a hat trick in the second half, as Barca overpowered Valencia’s resistance.
Opposite styles
It was clear from the start how the two teams had decided to face the game. Barca stuck to their usual attacking style, whilst Valencia aimed to hit their hosts on the break even though they tried to hold onto possession, Barca lost the ball far too often in their own half and Valencia were quick to pounce and launch their speedy counter attacks, with Pablo a constant threat to Maxwell and Jordi Alba shifting position constantly. Valdes was again the hero, pulling off a series of vital stops, as the team found it hard to settle.
Two first half chances
Messi came close on two occasions, though even he didn’t seem to be sharp enough in front of goal, but soon the game began to turn Barca’s way as they imposed their possession on the game and their passing game began to click. Guardiola – tonight watching from the stands – must have been relieved to see the team begin to recover their dominance as the half came to a close and at the break he switched Henry for Bojan, who’d been playing down the left, with the Frenchman taking over in the centre of the attack.
Messi’s genius
Henry was soon making his presence felt, setting up Messi, who again failed to make the most of his chance. The Argentinean star had let Valencia off the hook once too often though and in a fantastic individual move, beat Banega and Bruno before swerving past Dealbert and firing past Cesar for a wonderful goal to put Barca one up.
Valdés decisive
Valencia, who’d shown no danger since the break, now had to try and get back into the game and Emery brought on Zigic for ‘Chori’ Domínguez and the giant Serb might have equalised soon after coming on but for a great save from Valdes. Immediately after his save, Valencia suffered another blow as Maduro picked up his second yellow for bringing down Messi.
Two more strikes from Messi
Down to 10 men, Valencia had no answer to Barca’s might and Messi, ably assisted by Henry, thrilled the Nou Camp with two more strikes and was rewarded for his fourth Barca hat trick with a standing ovation when he was subbed late on.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Barça committing fewest fouls
Barça committing fewest fouls
FC Barcelona is the Liga side that commits the fewest fouls. After 25 games, they have committed 338, nine less than the second placed club. However, they have had four players sent off.
Barça’s record of 338 fouls is cleaner even than Deportivo de la Coruña’s tally of 347, and Real Madrid’s 354. But there are five teams that have had fewer red cards than the Catalans.
Four red cards
The direct red card shown to Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Almeria was the fourth time a Barça player got his marching orders this season. The first came on the day FC Barcelona entertained Real Madrid, when Sergio Busquets left the pitch early following a second booking. Against Getafe, at the Camp Nou, both Piqué and Márquez were dismissed. Sergio, most fouls received
Unusually, the Barça player that has committed the most fouls this season is a forward, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with 49. Midfielder Sergio Busquets is the man on the receiving end of most fouls, 52. So, not only do Barça play lively attack-minded football, but they also prefer to avoid resorting to foul play. Never was there a better example of how a team can win and entertain without needing to employ dirty tactics.
Club to appeal Guardiola and Ibra expulsions
Club to appeal Guardiola and Ibra expulsions
FC Barcelona will appeal against the red cards shown to Josep Guardiola and Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the match against Almeria.
FCB’s general manager, Joan Oliver, made the announcement to reporters on Monday morning. Guardiola was sent off in the 27th minute and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 60th. Referee’s report
According to the referee’s report, Josep Guardiola was sent of “while the game was stopped, for leaving the technical area, approaching the referee’s assistant and putting his face within a few centimetres while shouting with his arms raised “they’re giving everything the wrong way” and “you don’t understand anything”.
Messi third in hunt for Golden BootThe Argentinian is Barça’s top scorer with 26 goals in 35 games, and is on course for a personal record, which also puts him third in the Golden Ball list.
Leo Messi has been on stunning form with 26 goals in La Liga (19), the Champions League (2), the Spanish Super Cup (2), the Copa del Rey (1) and the Clubs World Cup (2). The only tournament he did not score in was the European Super Cup against Shaktar Donetsk in Monaco.19 league goals
Last season, Messi scored 23 times in the 31 games he played. But with 13 games still to play, and as long as injuries are kind to him, he is likely to top that tally, for he has already made it to the impressive total of 19. Leo Messi was the top goalscorer in the Champions League last season with 9, but this year he only been on target twice in Europe, with both goals coming against Dynamo Kiev.
Twelve off all-time record
Leo Messi scored 38 goals in the 51 games he played in all competitions last season. So, he is just 13 goals of beating his personal best, and has a minimum of 14 games to do that in, with 13 left in the League, and at least one in the Champions League against Stuttgart, but hopefully more. So, if FCB go all the way to the final and Messi is involved in those matches, then he could have as many as 19 games left to play.
Golden Ball beckoning
It all means Messi is a serious candidate for the Golden Ball award for Europe’s top scorer. Wayne Rooney, of Man United, currently leads the chase with 23 goals in 27 games, making 46 points. Second comes Uruguayan Luis Suárez of Ajax, with 26 goals and 39 points, with Messi third with 38 points, a position he shares with Ivorian Didier Drogba of Chelsea. Messi is the only player in the running who is not a centre forward.
Guardiola and Ibra, suspended for one match
Guardiola and Ibra, suspended for one match
The two men sent off in Almeria have been given one-match suspensions by the Competition Committee. Neither the manager, who had to watch 60 minutes of the game from the stands, and Ibrahimovic, who was red carded for the referee interpreted as aggression towards Cisma, have been given let offs.
But the club will now be turning to the Appeals Committee in the hope that the decision can be repealed.
If this appeal does not bear fruit, then both the manager and the striker will sit out the game against Valencia at the Camp Nou on Sunday, but will be back in time for Zaragoza v Barça the weekend after.
Messi, new Unicef ambassador
Messi, new Unicef ambassador
Lionel Messi will be unveiled on Thursday as a new Unicef worldwide ambassador for goodwill – the first time a Barça player has acquired this distinction.
Lionel Messi will be presented in his new role in the Sala París at the Camp Nou. At 13:30 he will be giving a press conference in the company of President Joan Laporta and Philip O'Brien, worldwide director of corporate partnerships for Unicef. In favour of children’s rights
Messi will be working to benefit the most vulnerable children in the world. He and Unicef will be involved in a series of activities aimed at supporting children’s rights. Messi thus joins an extraordinary list of goodwill ambassadors, who include cinema’s Orlando Bloom and Mia Farrow, and singers Shakira Mebarak and Ricky Martin.
Barça’s first world ambassador
This will be first time that the United Nations Agency has made an ambassador of an FC Barcelona player. The fame of these people is an important tool that the UN can use to promote its actions, and for that reason, these personages are often seen visiting the different projects in person.
Messi has always shown concern for social problems, as reflected by the foundation he set up himself, and this move represents one further step in the Argentine star’s commitment to Unicef and its charity work.
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