FC BARCELONA

Barça could recover next figure of the striker who disappeared with the departure of Ibra. Llorente is the one.

The technical secretariat of FC Barcelona, ​​under the responsibility of Andoni Zubizarreta, is actively working, but with the utmost discretion in the way Fernando Llorente, center front of Athletic Bilbao and the Spanish team.

The nine rojiblanco, who turned 27 last February, has become part of the list of priorities to face Barça of next season, which are also included, primarily, a central and left back.

Interest in Llorente, which have also been interested different clubs in the Premier League and Real Madrid, it might seem a contradiction given that two seasons ago the club decided to dispense with a center forward like Ibrahimovic born for the benefit of Messi who went on to play since then what has been called "lying center forward."

The reason must be sought in what experts call "tactical changes", ie to improve or change a system that has worked very well but, over time, has quit or been known to be offset by opposing teams.

While it is true that Messi has never shown much capacity as the season scoring (65 goals so far in ten months of competition), for some time have found some problems in the Barça game that need needle and thread.

Messi has been playing more and more backward, starting the play almost as a creator more. It has been customary image of FC Barcelona without a single player in the central defenders of the opposing teams, but when Alexis has made this role between the lines.

The absence of a center forward in the old style, type Eto'o or Ibrahimovic, has caused much of the game on the wings is sterile, because of little or no focus from the lime used if there is nobody to finish, beyond arrivals from the second line, which has often been the norm in recent times in the game ofnsivo azulgrana.

The enormous difficulties that the club has had to overcome the defenses ultranzas Chelsea or Real Madrid in recent games has resulted from the technical direction of the first team has raised the need to sign a striker of some characteristics.

Llorente meets that profile. First, it is amazing with his head, a rare commodity in the current Barça does not dominate the air. Second, because there are few strikers like riojano able to fix as well to opposing defenses. His height and build often forces have to be marked up to two plants. Few players move so well in the area as Llorente. (via SPORT)

Strengthening of the rear axle, a priority for coaches.

Milan's Brazilian Thiago Silva wins integers as future option for Barça in the next remodeling the workforce and the Athletic Club midfielder Javi Martínez.

In the case of player 'Rossoneri', as a central defender fully adequate to the 'profile Barça'. In Martínez, calls attention to its versatility: it is as effective as center-back as central midfielder, another province that must be strengthened as it is to dispense a little closer to Sergio Busquets, who played most of this year and also can dispute the Olympics after Euro.

The main demarcation is one of the most need strengthening and Thiago Silva, despite Adriano Galliani made ​​known to Barça that is not for sale, a name with more options in the list that handles Andoni Zubizarreta, having a style of play that makes it one of the central with better profile Barça.

Both he and Martínez would require a heavy financial investment by Barça, which is difficult to cope with the signing of the two. However, the restructuring of the workforce includes some transfers, which itself could make an effort, at least one of the two.

Abidal absent, the template currently has four plants. One of them (Fontàs, with ruptured anterior cruciate ligament) injury until next season, and Piqué is low by the head injury he suffered against Chelsea.

Puyol and Mascherano are both available in Vallecas central apart Bartra and Muniesa, who have been constantly coming in calls but just have been involved in recent months. Only six minutes Muniesa against Getafe.

Next season can not be repeated this panorana.Puyol will need higher dosage than has tenidoen the current, as a matter of attrition.

At 34 years, begins to be in a phase of his career that takes a lot of rigor in managing their minutes, as Xavi, another player who is dosed effort.

So, a center-back is a priority of the technicians to have a balanced staff next season. Thiago Silva like a lot, but the navarro Javi Martínez has the advantage of its versatility.

The club have money to make a reasonable investment and transfers to occur will help meet the needs of the team of Tito Vilanova. (via MD)

The Argentinean recognizes that the output of Guardiola is a "capital loss for football." Athletic coach did not want to assess their possible relationship with the azulgrana bench.

Athletic Club coach, Marcelo Bielsa, has described the progress of the Barcelona Pep Guardiola announced yesterday by the Catalan coach as a "capital loss for the stage of football"

"It's a personal decision, obviously, not for me to interpret, but their loss is capitalized because their presence gave luster to the sport. What he did is unforgettable and not to remain, one loss," has affected the Rosario.

Bielsa has refused to evaluate his name was one of the most sounded in recent weeks to relieve Guardiola on the bench at the Camp Nou before the club azulgrana said it would be the new coach Tito Vilanova next season.

"That is hypothetical and never talk about these issues" has settled Bielsa, who can not "imagine" that the output of Guardiola can have any influence in the final of Copa del Rey which will face Athletic and Barça on 25 May and will be the last game Santpedor technician in front of your computer. (via AS)

Barça have on your list to four names among those who elect to transfer stellar 2012-2013.
Bale and Van Persie are international options, but attentive to the way Basque: Javi Martínez and Muniain.

Barça already working on a template reinforcements in itself very difficult to improve the quality of a championship team. But there are always areas for strengthening and that the club azulgrana is now focusing its efforts on finishing the season fighting for three titles, yet without neglecting the planning of next year.

In the Barça 2012-2013 will transfer pump, make no mistake. In principle, get out of a list that runs the club with four big names. Both are from the Premier League, Gareth Bale and Robin van Persie, and the other two are the sensation of the year with Athletic, Javi Martínez and Iker Muniain.

Logically, unless their status as players have nothing to do with each other in terms of tactical performance. And as the economic context is one that is, the equation between market and technical need tell which of them can land at the Camp Nou.

The amount that the Barça prepares to sign around 50 million euros, it would have to add any transfers. The greedy pieces of the market is not cheap, exactly.

The first one, Bale is a very long journey left back who plays for Tottenham. His attacking qualities like much in a while, but Barça has always considered that district was covered with Éric Abidal flawlessly until it was confirmed that the French had to stop again.

Circumstances force and Bale is more like the lefty market. His problem is under contract with Tottenham until 2015 and that its value exceeds 35 million euros. Its advantage is that Bale just said that "if I called the Barça, I hear."

Van Persie is a temptation on the market. The Dutch top scorer in the Premier League takes months and months stalling Arsenal to renew his contract, which expires in 2013. Its disadvantage is in the 28 years of his ID.

The Basque route also takes account of Barça. A Javi Martínez is seen as the alter ego ideal of Sergio Busquets, capable of exercising midfield or central. A contract until 2016, a buyout clause of 40 million and the little will to do Athletic rebates are their problem.

The same is true of Muniain, the star also plays Athletic 'to Barça'. The skilful playmaker is under contract until 2015 and a progressive clause that would reach 45 million. (via MD)

His colleagues and friends of the selection Culès praised his great performance.

The great match to Javi Martínez scored at Camp Nou on Saturday has served for the azulgrana fans have checked with his own eyes the greatness of Navarre player of Athletic Bilbao. Javi, who acted central yesterday but made ​​his name as a pivot, gave a real lesson in how to cut and remove them with cleaning balls and decision.

One of the 'victims' of the great game of Martínez was Leo Messi, who ran into him on more than one occasion and found that octopus is a real steal when ball and block shots. Only the young Tello was able to get to site leading to the penalty that meant 2-0.

After the game, and despite the defeat, Javi Martínez was congratulated by his teammates for the great party that had studded Barca primarily a shot in their struggle to reach Madrid in the league standings.

Also from the azulgrana side fell out praise to the current central of Athletic. Several fellow azulgrana selection greeted him after the game given the good relationship that unites them and congratulated him on his great work. Until Andoni Zubizarreta, wise as they come, admitted that "Javi is a great player and great players like us." (via MD)

The Argentinian defender was proud of the work carried out by the first team in the game against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

"We were a bit surprised, especially how our rival made us work so hard" said the player.

Javier Mascherano praised his team's victory against Athletic Bilbao, 2-0, in the interview after the game on the Barça TV program “El Marcador”. The Argentinian player said that "it was that type of game, at a physical level, as demanding as we’ve had" and added that Bilbao are a team that "over and above whether you like them, or like their footballing philosophy, they pressurise you all over the pitch".

The defender was delighted with his teams’ effort, as well as with the end result. "You have to give a bit more, and I think the team did that, and that’s why we won, as well as playing a great game" he said. Mascherano also stated that "we were very good, and created a lot of chances; it may not have been noticeable, but the game was really demanding".

Mascherano was thrilled with the huge banner that Barça fans dedicated to his compatriot, Lionel Messi, at the start of the match: "Just seeing the banner gave me goosebumps" he said, and pointed out that "for him, it was spectacular. That your own people, people who saw you grow up as a sportsman, appreciate you so much, and let you know it with this type of gesture, is just spectacular".

Mascherano also commented about the controversies that have been created around his teammate Gerard Pique. "Football is often very unfair. Gerard has given so much to FC Barcelona since he came back, not only in terms of titles, but with the way he’s always played" said the defender. He added that it is an honor to play alongside Pique, and the rest of his teammates: "Playing alongside the likes of Gerard and Puyol has given me lots of confidence".

Javier Mascherano had only kind words for his manager. "We are talking about one of the best managers in the world, if not the best," he said. He added that working with Guardiola is "a constant learning process", and emphasised Pep’s desire for continual innovation. "He always comes up with some surprise, or some detail, that helps us win the game, or helps the team to feel comfortable on the pitch" he said, and pointed out that "it’s what makes Pep different from the rest of the managers” .

"Coming into a game as important as Tuesday’s there’s no way you can be tired” he said in reference to the game on Tuesday against Milan in the return leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. Mascherano also stressed that "when you have something so important to do, you forget everything and your body just responds". (via FCBarcelona.com)

Suffers some discomfort in the back that should not prevent him playing in the Champions League.

Cesc Fàbregas was yesterday officially out of the squad for the match against Athletic Club Bilbao because of a sore back that does not have prevented him from playing but that led to Pep Guardiola to opt for more conservative tactics. So azulgrana midfielder stayed in the stands next to the defense of Muniesa subsidiary.

From the FC Barcelona was not discussed at any time Cesc sick leave by a physical problem because they felt it could have played yesterday. In fact, from the club said his absence was due to a technical decision. Fàbregas had a sore back which was infiltrated and on which Guardiola decided not to report. So not done in the previous and so yesterday neither gave low.

By transcending these annoyances, from the club were stripped of iron, also as regards the knockout quarterfinals of the Champions League against Milan. Come on, it tracks the just Allegri, coach 'Rossoneri'. In any case, since Barça ensures that Cesc Fàbregas will be available on Tuesday to enter the initial team that has Pep Guardiola against Milan.

Also facing the party next Tuesday, yesterday reserved Guardiola Puyol and Xavi start, who started the meeting with the deputies. The Terrassa played a quarter of an hour, the captain came onto the field.

There was also the Athletic rotations. After the great wear of the Basques on Thursday against Schalke 04, and thinking back, Marcelo Bielsa left out of the starting lineup with Fernando Llorente, Iker Muniain, Ander Herrera and Fernando Amorebieta. (via MD)

Barça goalkeeper managed not conceding a goal on Saturday against Athletic but not escaped unhurt from the field.

Barça beat Athletic on Saturday in a match where the whole Bilbao again demonstrated why he is still the feeling of Europe. Marcelo Bielsa's team does not give up never to attack. And if they are told to Víctor Valdés, who had to fight throughout the match with the red and white front.

In the end, Barça goalkeeper was able to keep a clean sheet but not without the occasional mishap. Proof of this is the picture that went Valdés Facebook to finish the game. It may be the goal with one of his stockings with holes and Cesc Fàbregas, Andreu Fontàs and David Villa pointing to the damage. The message accompanying the picture explains the mysterious scene. "Here you have a photo of how looks the knee after having made a" Gravesinha "the dumbest move of the match. The partners are still laughing at me ... A hug! "Said Valdes. (via SPORT)

But what is a "Gravesinha"? I found it in the following video:

The Athletic Club player Javi Martínez said today that if his team could have had more rest after the Champions League match against Schalke 04 would have been a better show tonight at the Camp Nou, where the Basque side has fallen by 2 -0.

"It's a shame for all, because with more rest for us we could give a better show. This is one of the best games that can be seen today in the First Division," he said after the meeting the international footballer, now has played center.

Despite the defeat, Javi Martínez has been found to have "everything" to end the game, looking to close the gap on the scoreboard at all times.

"It's our way of playing this year. That does not matter what the outcome and regardless of the minute of the game, we fought for every ball," stated the player, whose team played the Europa League meeting last Thursday.

Martínez stated that delivery was "admirable" but despite working long run, this is not enough to earn Barça.

Athletic footballer has also commented that this game can not be compared with that live in the final of the Copa del Rey.

"It will be a very different match, because Barcelona is not so used to playing at the Calderón and because we will be more rested," he insisted.

Finally, Javi Martínez has reviewed the controversial play of the meeting, which noted his penalty for a takedown Cristian Tello in the area.

"Not sure, but I think he can do more to keep from falling. Not all contact is missing, you can make more effort to follow," said the Basque team player. (via Marca)

BEST: A Barça overwhelming. Barca not dosed forces despite the imminence of mourning on Tuesday against Milan in the Champions League. Guardiola gave their all, proving that not giving up anything. Neither the League nor to defend his European scepter. The team performed at a high level, making an impressive physical waste. The overall level was very high. Special mention for Mascherano back, Busquets in the half and Alexis and Messi in the forward. Superlatives.

WORST: Lack of success in a point. The end came up short 2-0 to the merits of Barça. The team suffered from a defect that is repeated on a recurring basis this season. If transformed into a goal half the clear chances it generates, the triufos would be a scandal. (via SPORT)

The Barça midfielder, who scored the opener against Athletic, highlighted the competitive spirit of Bielsa’s team and Barça’s ability to combat the Basque’s play.

After the victory in La Liga, the Barça team is focusing on the return match of the Champions League quarterfinal against AC Milan.

Three more points in La Liga were secured ahead of the decisive Champions League quarterfinal match against AC Milan this Tuesday. Barça restored the six-point gap with Real Madrid after the Catalans beat Athletic Club 2-0. The players highlighted the importance of tonight’s victory as the team is now on an eight-match winning streak in La Liga.

Andrés Iniesta, who said it was difficult to beat the Basque team at the Camp Nou, said, “the game was very demanding, I think the team played a very good match. Athletic forced all of our players, from the keeper to the last player, to play well. We played a fantastic match.”

The midfielder praised Barça’s rival: “they didn’t create a lot of goalscoring chances, but they demanded a lot of us. We have to give value to this victory, because if you lower the intensity at any moment against Athletic, they roll right over you.”

A goal celebrated with euphoria...

Iniesta also explained why he celebrated his goal with so much enthusiasm: “scoring goals is always a joy, that’s why I celebrated with so much intensity. It just came out that way, I always want to help and play well.

“The goal was after a fast play, we were able to catch them while they weren’t paying attention,” said Iniesta. Barça, who hope to catch Real Madrid at the top of the table, remain alive in La Liga after a “beautiful match.” Iniesta added, “we needed to win the three points today, that’s what’s really important. If we keep on winning all three points each week we’ll have a chance to win the title at the end of the season.”

... now it’s time to focus on the Champions League

Iniesta talked about the return leg of the Champions League quarterfinal against AC Milan. “We have to win, that’s the reality. At home, with our fans, we have to get to the next round and we must go into the match with confidence. We’ll see 90 thrilling minutes,” said the midfielder.

Here are the statements made by Barça players after the match against Athletic:

Thiago Alcántara:

“We have to congratulate Athletic Club for their fantastic match. Furthermore, they are having a great season, they are a very young team and what they are achieving is meritorious. It’s not a coincidence that they are doing so well.

“Passing the ball and maintaining ball possession won us the match. It was important to keep a high pace throughout the match.”

On the King’s Cup Final: “there is still a lot left, when we meet again we’ll be two very different teams. We’ll see pure football, we’re two sides that like to play the ball.”

On the tie against Milan: “this match will also be decided by ball possession.”

On the team’s situation in La Liga: “we hope to cut into their lead. We believe we can make a comeback. Everything is possible and we can fight, however, we aren’t dependent on ourselves.”

Cristian Tello:

“Athletic played a very intense match. They were all over us, but it’s important that we won.

“The penalty is a satisfaction for me and for the team. We’re doing well and we have a good tone in our matches.”

Sergio Busquets:

“Milan will look to hit us on the counterattack. A tough match awaits us.

“There’s still a lot of Liga left, we’ll keep on trying until the end.”

Gerard Piqué:

“What a fantastic match! Congratulations to Athletic for the fantastic team they have and for the football that they play. It’s spectacular.” (via FCBarcelona.com)

The Barça manager noted Barça’s defensive intensity as one of the keys to Barça’s victory over Athletic Club, who, according to the manager, “gave a lesson in mentality and how if you want to succeed, you can”.

Guardiola is convinced that that King’s Cup Final will be “fantastic,” and he doubts it could possibly be more intense than tonight’s match.

The manager said that “it’s a gift to football to have people like Bielsa”.



Josep Guardiola considers that Athletic Club Bilbao, keeping their Europa League match this week in mind, gave “a lesson to all athletes on how to manage situations, with or without difficulties.” The Barça manager said that Barça “put in one of the most brilliant defensive displays” in memory in order to beat Bielsa’s team. “Bilbao takes you to the limit of tension and effort. They force you to put in a good effort to win the match. If you don’t play with intensity, they roll right over you,” he added.

“Mascherano is a one-of-a-kind signing”

The Barça manager praised his team for their performance tonight, but he especially singled out Gerard Piqué, Javier Mascherano and Adriano: “we’ve missed Gerard for the better part of the year. He’s back to his necessary playing form. He and Mascherano played a great game. Javier is an almost unimaginable signing. He’s the type of player that a manager wouldn’t trade for anything, and would never sell. He’s a unique signing, we’er very pleased to have him. I also want to highlight Adriano’s effort.”

Guardiola gives great value to the three points the team secured from tonight’s “very complicated” match. When asked about Barça’s next match against Milan, the Barça manager said: “Athletic Bilbao doesn’t defend, they come for you. It’s completely different from Milan, it’s like night and day.”

Finally, after saying that Cesc didn’t play tonight as a precaution, Guardiola said the next match at the Camp Nou this Tuesday, the return leg of the Champions League quarterfinal, is “the most important match of the year” and, at the same time, “the most beautiful one.” (via FCBarcelona.com)

The rojiblanco coach refused to blame his team's defeat to physical exhaustion after Thursday's meeting in Europa League and praised the offensive potential of Barcelona.

The Argentine coach of Athletic Marcelo Bielsa, acknowledged at a news conference that "the result just seemed totally" and would not attribute the defeat of his team encounter the fatigue of Europa League.

Bielsa criticized the play of his team, especially complained bitterly about the lack of depth of their own after stealing the ball on defense. "We played a little better the second time, in any case as equals, we defended very well, but the recovery of the ball was followed by the organization of an attack," said the Argentine, who lamented that the rojiblanco "lost the ball before the attack and if the men of Barca's offensive in normal conditions are dangerous in these conditions is very difficult to neutralize. "

Asked whether the blame for this lack of depth in his team was motivated by fatigue, Bilbao coach denied such an extent: "I agree the problem, but not the reason behind the problem, the club is a team that has a power players that goes beyond the physical circumstances of the moment, are very fast, very powerful and it is hard to beat if the ball is divided. not only attacks but defensive cracks open. physically I saw the team run as long as no attribute our lack of depth to attack a physical problem. " (via AS)

El portero del Barça es el cuarto jugador que más veces ha vestido la camiseta azulgrana, por detrás de Migueli, Carles Puyol y Xavi Hernández.

Andrés Iniesta suma su partido oficial 397 y Dani Alves ya lleva 300 encuentros en Liga.

Víctor Valdés ha disputado esta noche ante el Athletic Club su partido número 449 con el Barça y, de este modo, ha igualado a Carles Rexach como cuarto jugador en la historia del Club que más veces ha vestido la camiseta azulgrana. El portero azulgrana debutó el 1 de septiembre de 2002 de la mano de Van Gaal, en el partido que enfrentaba al Barça contra el Atlético de Madrid y que finalizó con un empate a 2. Con tan sólo 20 años defendió la portería del primer equipo, alternando la titularidad con el argentino Bonano. Tras 9 años y 7 meses de su debut, Valdés iguala a Rexach, 'El chico de Pedralbes', que jugó como delantero del primer equipo del Barça desde 1965 hasta 1981.

Valdés se ha convertido en el cuarto jugador que más partidos ha disputado con el FC Barcelona y es el único portero que consigue estar entre los futbolistas que más veces han vestido la camiseta azulgrana, ya que el resto son jugadores de campo. El tercer capitán del Barça es superado sólo por Migueli (449), Puyol (550), y por su compañero Xavi Hernández, que lleva 617 partidos vistiendo de azulgrana.

La competición en la que ha disputado más duelos el portero del FC Barcelona es la Liga, con 324, seguida de la Liga de Campeones, con 90. Estos dos torneos monopolizan los choques jugados por Valdés. En la Copa, ha disputado 12 partidos, 5 en la Copa de la UEFA, 8 en la Supercopa de España, 3 en la Supercopa de Europa y 6 en el Mundial de Clubes.

El primer título que ganó Víctor Valdés fue la Liga de la temporada 2004-05. Desde entonces, el cancerbero ha acumulado cuatro Ligas más, tres Ligas de Campeones, una Copa del Rey, dos Supercopas de Europa, cinco Supercopas de España y dos Mundiales de Clubes.

El portero ha conseguido cuatro Trofeos Zamora, galardón que se otorga al meta que menos goles encaja, y se queda a solo uno de igualar al mítico Ramallets, que acumula cinco.
El trofeo de la temporada pasada lo alcanzó con el segundo mejor coeficiente (0,50), solo superado por Liaño que lo obtuvo en 1994 con una media de 0,47. Con este cuarto Zamora, Valdés igualó a Cañizares y Juan Acuña. (via FCBarcelona.com)

El FC Barcelona reconoce el récord goleador del delantero argentino desplegando la pancarta más grande que ha lucido el Camp Nou. Parientes de César Rodríguez han saludado a la familia de Leo.

En los prolegómenos del partido, además, se ha mostrado en los videomarcadores del Estadio una recopilación de los mejores goles en la historia.

El Club promueve los hashtags # etsunic y # sosgrande para felicitar al futbolista azulgrana.

Se lo merece todo y más. Lionel Messi recibe un sentido homenaje del FC Barcelona tras superar el récord histórico de César Rodríguez, futbolista que hasta la aparición del delantero argentino conservaba la mejor marca goleadora en la historia del Club, con 232 dianas. Pero Messi, con su 'hat-trick' ante el Granada, se convirtió en leyenda azulgrana con 234 goles, siendo el máximo goleador en partidos oficiales de la historia del Club.

Por este motivo, la entidad barcelonista ha organizado un merecido reconocimiento para el de Rosario. En un primer momento, se ha organizado un acto institucional en el que han asistido miembros de la familia de César Rodríguez para ceder el honor a la familia de Leo. De este modo, se hacía el traspaso simbólico del récord goleador con la camiseta culé y el presidente del FC Barcelona, Sandro Rosell, hacía entrega de dos recuerdos con forma de bota a los parientes de ambos jugadores.

Emma Revillo, viuda del delantero de las 'Cinco Copas', y Julia Ischerland, nieta del jugador, han dado paso a Rodrigo Messi, hermano del futbolista, quien se ha fotografiado en el Palco con las familiares de César Rodríguez. También han estado presentes en el acto el Vicepresidente del Área Deportiva, Josep Maria Bartomeu, el Director del Área Deportiva de Fútbol, Andoni Zubizarreta, y el presidente de la Agrupació Barça Jugadors, Ramon Alfonseda Pous.

En los prolegómenos del partido, además, se ha mostrado en los videomarcadores del Estadio una recopilación de los goles de los mejores arietes en la historia del Club.

Tras estos primeros actos, se ha producido la gran sorpresa de la noche: 47 metros de largo por 46 de ancho, un total de 2.162 metros cuadrados para reconocer este hito histórico. Y es que el Estadio ha desplegado en el partido ante el Athletic Club la pancarta más grande en toda la historia del Camp Nou. En el cartel, se podía leer el siguiente mensaje: "Leo, ets únic! ¡Sos grande!".

Con estos dos mismos eslóganes, el Barça promueve a través de la red social Twitter los siguientes hashtags para sumarse a una felicitación global: #etsunic y #sosgrande. (via FCBarcelona.com)

Meanwhile, Gerard Piqué said that "the two teams have rested enough, but I think it was a show. Has been much pace, two teams on the attack and I think the fans has been great." (via SPORT)

Thiago Alcántara applauded the match and the result against Athletic.

Thiago started recognizing the importance of victory, "not only by the party that made ​​today but also the path that led the Athletic". The midfielder was clear when he explained the style they wanted to impose on the Basques. "We knew corráramos corráramos as they always would do more than us, so we had to do was to impose our game."

For the Barcelona player, this game exemplifies not for the final of the Copa del Rey, who will play the same two sets. "There is still a lot to the final of Copa addition, the party itself will be a final and sure we will see two different teams."

Looking to Tuesday's game against Milan, Thiago knows that "it will be important to have the ball, a lot of possession, to search for our times." And over a six-point lead that keeps Real Madrid, has no doubt that "we will continue waiting to see if you click on a field so that we can cut points." (via SPORT)

The FC Barcelona sports vice president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, spoke after the game against Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou.

FC Barcelona’s first vice president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, said that Athletic Club is a team that “plays football very well” and that he’s convinced that the King’s Cup Final next May will be “a totally different match” to tonight’s game at the Camp Nou. For Bartomeu, “a final has nothing to do with a La Liga match. It’ll be a different story.” On the other hand, with Barça maintaining the six-point gap with Real Madrid, Bartomeu said that Los Blancos are “having a fantastic season” and that Barça must “work hard, win our matches, and if they lose points, all the better.”

The vice president also talked about the tribute to Leo Messi before the match: “he’s the biggest, the best. We have to live this story that this player is making with us.”

El vicepresident s’ha referit també a l’homenatge que Leo Messi ha rebut abans del partit: “És el més gran, el millor. Hem de viure aquesta història que el jugador està fent amb nosaltres.”(via FCBarcelona.com)

The professional football director of Barça praised Barca coach and Athletic Bilbao and acknowledged that the Basque side has some interesting players.

Andoni Zubizarreta spared no praise on Saturday to praise Pep Guardiola and Marcelo Bielsa before television cameras to the rest of the match between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao.

"I think we both teach us to enjoy and live football with this intensity and this form of play. It is fortunate to have these two football coaches with that mentality of watching football and also explain and explain," held .

The director of professional football of Barça called the Basque side as "an extraordinary team." "It's the teams that you sit before the television knowing that you'll have fun. Also connects with the intensity of the history of the Athletic. I feel proud," he added.

In this sense, 'Zubi' threw balls out to assess whether some players of interest to Barça Athletic or not, as is the case of Javi Martínez and Fernando Llorente. "We have not talked to Javi Martínez. It's a great player who has lots of resources. We follow all the players who are good". "Athletic have players who would be attractive to any computer in the world," to settle the debate.

Zubizarreta also continued the discourse on options azulgrana regain the lead. "We must win our game and add all sides until end of season. In this club there is no party that is irrelevant," he said.

'Zubi', which held that the first goal azulgrana, Andrés Iniesta "has stuck with the soul," held firm to assess the future of Guardiola at Barça. "We must remain calm," he said. (via SPORT)

The Brazilian defender has overcome his muscular problems and, after training as normal on Saturday, will be available to face Athletic Club.

Good news on the first team training this Saturday at noon at the Camp Nou closed prior to the match of the night with the Athletic Club. Adriano Correia has received a discharge from the elongation of the right thigh semimembranosus muscle he suffered on March 20 against Granada and will be available.

With Adriano, have exercised gently on the grass 22 players. All available first team, plus Afellay and Abidal, and three team players: Tello, Montoya and Muniesa.

After the session, the team had lunch at the Camp Nou and then break available to an hour and a half before the game. Barca-Athletic Club will begin at 22 am. (via FCBarcelona.cat)