Barcelona is the King of Spain

Barcelona One Win Away From La Liga Title!

A long route for Barcelona to meet Inter

The Preacher of Beautiful Football

Barcelona will meet Inter Milan tonight for the first leg of Champions League semifinal. The team has to travel by bus over 1,000km, with a stop in Cannes before setting the next day trip to Milan, the fashion capital! It would be a huge disadvantage for Barcelona and we will see whether this shortcoming has any effect on the team.

Hopefully it will be another beautiful game by Barcelona, not marred by bad physical tackles on tiny but incredible players.



My prediction:

Inter 1 Barcelona 2 :)

"The Special One" who doesn't understand beautiful football, yet. Still can improve!

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Guardiola expecting Inter to be tougher than Arsenal

Having seen his team create a plethora of chances in destroying Arsenal in the previous round, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola insists his team won't have things so easy against Inter Milan.

The Italian champions host the holders in the Champions League semi-final, first leg at the San Siro here on Tuesday with many still purring over the Catalans' sumptuous play against Arsene Wenger's Londoners.

Barcelona produced a first half of mesmeric proportions in north London but still came away with only a 2-2 draw.

Yet in the return leg Argentina star Lionel Messi produced a majestic performance to score all four goals in a 4-1 dismantling of the Gunners.

But Guardiola believes this test will be much more difficult.

"We played very well in the last two games against Arsenal and we'll try to maintain that level," he said.

"I'd like to create the same number of chances we did against Arsneal but I don't think we will because Inter are so competitive, from the coach (Jose Mourinho) right through to the players.

"We're not the only team playing, there are the others too and sometimes they play well.

"Tomorrow we're playing a team like Inter who are four or five times champions of Italy.

Barca endured a nightmare journey just to arrive in Milan, travelling the 1,000km by bus and stopping overnight in Cannes, but Guardiola insisted they will not be making any excuses.

"It's not an ideal situation playing a Champions League game after 14 hours in a bus but it's the volcano, you can't do anything about it," he added.

"We could have stayed at home and lost the match 3-0 but we wanted to play and we took the bus and wanted to do it in the most comfotable way so we took two buses.

"Of course it's not easy coming by bus but they do it every day in the second and third divisions."


To read more, click on the title!

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The Special Battle begins – but can Mourinho settle a score with his old club?

"Everything is in place then for Inter against Barcelona, Mourinho against Guardiola. The Special One against the apparently even more special one. Mourinho once said: "Barcelona is a great club but in my short time as a coach I have won just as many European Cups as them." That was true when he was starting out at Chelsea, but things have changed. Guardiola made it 3-1 to Barça last season... Mourinho has got some catching up to do."

A Coach Everyone Will Remember

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is probably a coach that everyone will remember for long after guiding Barcelona to six titles in 2008/2009. Maybe he will replace Alex Ferguson next season. A move to Manchester United is good for him. But will it be good for Barcelona? Only time will tell. Being a Barcelona fan, I hope he will stay for at least 3 years instead of 1.

Guardiola - A coach that knows how to preach beautiful football and enjoy the game!

Anyway, scored five goals for yesterday's games. What a day! :)

Guardiola to extend deal by one year

BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has agreed to extend his contract with the Spanish and European champions by one year to the end of next season, president Joan Laporta said yesterday.

“We had a meeting last night and Pep Guardiola told me he was committed to staying for at least one more season,” Laporta said at a news conference with Guardiola and sporting director Txiki Begiristain.

Guardiola would sign his new contract on July 1st after elections for a new president had been held, Laporta added.

“What we are announcing today is the guarantee and compromise that Guardiola is prepared to stay on,” he said.

Guardiola, who turned 39 on Monday, led Barca to an unprecedented six trophies in 2009, including the Spanish league, the Champions League and the Club World Cup. — Reuters

Barcelona is the King of World Football

Barcelona - The Phenomenal Team of 2008/2009

In what looks like a one-sided football match, Barcelona failed to capitalise on its attacking strength to beat Estudiantes by a big margin. Instead, Estudiantes scored a goal to take the lead from probably the only scoring chance for the underdog in the entire 90+15 minutes. That's football. Its not only superior team game that matters, but luck plays a part too. If not for the equaliser goal by Pedro in the last few minutes, Barca could have fly home greatly disappointed by the only loss in six finals.

The match ended 1-1 for the normal playing time. Barca again dominated the extra-time game with some good chances to score but suffered from poor finishing. In the second half of extra time, Barca finally takes the lead for the first time. Alves delivered a superb cross from the right and Messi surged forward and chested the ball into the net with the goalkeeper watching in awe!

It was once more a great goal scored by Messi. He had scored with the usual legs and head, plus the unusual hand and now chest. Next on would be his ass I jokingly guess. With the victory, Barca has set new record in the world football with six titles in all competitions they have competed for - King's Cup, Spanish Super Cup, La Liga, Champions League, European Super Cup and World Club Cup!

Guardiola burst into tears at the end. Its unbelievable for him, so as to Barcelona players as well as for many football fans around the world including me. To set the record straight after only in his first year managing Barcelona, the young coach deserved to get the highest accolade from his country and also his football club. And now I can proclaim that Barcelona is the "King of World Football"!

A little suggestion: Malaysia football team which won the gold medal in Laos - SEA Games - should be rewarded with a friendly football match with Barcelona next year. And I most probably wouldnt turn down the chance to watch the game.

Another thing: Lionel Messi is going to become a football legend in the next few hours. FIFA World Footballer of the Year 2009, probably the best ever, is...




Confirmed! FIFA World Footballer of the Year 2009 is Lionel Messi! - click to view

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News recap:
Messi the hero in Barca’s first Club W-Cup triumph

“We played formidably, it was a victory we deserved. Six titles in a year is unequalled,” coach Pep Guardiola told a news conference, referring to his team’s Champions League, La Liga, King’s Cup, Spanish Super Cup and European Super Cup wins.

Guardiola Tactical Plan Sinks Manchester United; Messi is the Best Player in the World

ROME: Barcelona did a lot more than beat Manchester United to capture the Champions League alongside their domestic League and Cup double.

The Spanish club swung the pendulum of European power away from the Premier League.

Last season’s final in Moscow between United and Chelsea suggested that the wealth of the English game was threatening to take over.

But Pep Guardiola’s team outplayed United to such an extent at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday it was clear that the real quality is a long way from Manchester or London.

“We’re aware we’ve done something magnificent,” Guardiola said after his team’s 2-0 victory after goals by Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi. “We’re approaching mythical terms.”

The 38-year-old Barca coach, who completed a perfect season of three titles at his first attempt, said he believed Messi had proved without doubt he was the best player on the planet.

“Even if we had lost I wouldn’t have changed my opinion about him. Lionel Messi is the best player in the world, absolutely” Guardiola said. “I think right now he is adding his name to the Golden Ball.

“When the going gets tough, he really gets going.”

Guardiola’s tactical plan to switch winger Messi inside also outfoxed United’s defenders.

“I saw last year that Leo Messi had problems with (Man United leftback Patrice) Evra and so I decided to take him out of the right side and put in the middle,” Guardiola said.

“Messi, with Xavi (Hernandez) and (Andres) Inestia, I tried to have one more man in the midfield.”

Messi even came up with a rare header goal to take his Champions League tally to nine – two better than anyone else – and his season total to 38.

“This is the most important victory of my life,” Messi said. “When the second goal came that calmed us down a lot.”

His goals tally put Man United star Cristiano Ronaldo in the shade after his 18 league goals and four in the Champions League and the head-to-head to measure which player is the best was one-sided in this final.

“This is one of the biggest disappointments of my career. We were always confident before the game but unfortunately we couldn’t do it,” Ronaldo said, who said after the game wasn’t sure whether he would be staying at United.

“It is always bad when you lose a final. But we didn’t play well. We did OK in the first 10 minutes but you have to say Barcelona deserved to win.”

Man United manager Alex Ferguson admitted his team was beaten by a better side.

“The disappointment was the use of the ball when we got possession,” Ferguson said. “You have to wait minutes to get it back off them. Could be it was an off night. Could be it was a mountain too big to climb.

“We knew what a good football team they were. We had difficulty in defending against them. Messi dropped into midfield and they kept possession and made it difficult for us.”

The 67-year-old Man United manager, who remains on 25 titles in 23 years at Old Trafford, praised the much younger Guardiola for his achievement for winning three in his first season.

“It is a great achievement as a coach in his first year. Well done. Fantastic,” Ferguson said. “Everybody enjoys their football and it is great credit to him.”

“You have to give credit to a very good Barcelona team. If they get in front of you they are very difficult to beat,” Ferguson said. “They kept possession of the ball and made it very difficult to get back.

“When we did get possession we didn’t do well with it. Credit to them, the better team won.” — AP

Source: http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2009/5/29/sports/4002100&sec=sports

UEFA Champions League 2009 Winner Is... Barcelona!!!

Barcelona beats Man United 2-0 in final

ROME (AP) - A rare headed goal by Lionel Messi (indeed a very rare header by probably the shortest player on field - even one of the tallest goalkeeper cant touch the ball! What a GOAL!!!) helped Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Champions League final on Wednesday, giving the Spanish side its third European Cup title and third trophy in a magical season.

Samuel Eto'o put the Spanish champions ahead in the 10th minute and Messi's 70th-minute goal - his ninth in the Champions League this season - sealed the victory over the defending champions at the Stadio Olimpico.

The triumph completed a sweep of titles for 38-year-old Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola in his first season, after wins in the Spanish league and cup. The former Barcelona star, who started as a ball boy at Camp Nou, now joins the ranks of those who have won the title both as a player and a coach.

Guardiola became the youngest coach to win European soccer's top club competition since the European Cup became the Champions League in 1993. Barcelona also won the trophy in 1992 and 2006.

"No team has ever done the treble in Spain, and we'll be remembered as the first team to do it," Barcelona striker Thierry Henry said. "That's amazing." (For record, Barcelona won the Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey), then the Spanish League, and now the Champions League in 2009! Undisputedly The Team of the Year - Barcelona)

United had been chasing its fourth European Cup title, and fourth trophy this season after winning the Premier League, FIFA Club World Cup and League Cup.

But United was thoroughly outplayed by the Spanish side as Messi scored his 38th goal of an amazing year for Barcelona, which has 53 league and cup goals this season. (FIFA World Player of the Year 2009 - Lionel MESSI)

Xavi floated a diagonal ball into the United area to find Messi unmarked, and the 5-fooot-7 (1.69 m) Argentina striker - renowned for his deft dribbling and shooting - used his head to loop the ball over United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar and into the net.

Messi set off colorful celebrations at one end of the stadium, filled with 62,467 fans, and left English fans in silence.

The loss left Man United manager Alex Ferguson at 25 titles in 23 seasons. He failed to match Liverpool's Bob Paisley's three titles in the competition.

"We started the game brightly. We were confident and we could have been in front," Ferguson said. "We had the ball but didn't use it very well. ... We defended fantastically all season but they were two shoddy goals.

"We didn't play as well as we can, but they are a good team. We have to give them credit. Xavi (Hernandez) and (Andres) Iniesta can keep the ball all night. They made it very difficult."

South Korean winger Park Ji-sung became the first Asian to play in a Champions League final. He almost scored for United in the opening minute but his shot was deflected wide after Cristiano Ronaldo's free kick had been blocked by the goalkeeper. It was the nearest United came to scoring all night.

The victory also marked the first Champions League title for Henry, the French striker who was on the losing side when Arsenal lost to Barcelona in 2006.

"Finally, I've been waiting for so long to get this title and now finally today," said Henry, who had been doubtful for the final because of a knee injury. "The last five minutes were the longest of my life."

United almost went ahead in the opening minute when a needless foul by Yaya Toure on Anderson handed Ronaldo an early free kick. His powerful drive was blocked by the hands of goalkeeper Victor Valdes and Park's rebound was deflected for a corner by Gerard Pique.

With Barcelona's dangerous forwards barely getting a touch of the ball in the early stages, there was little danger at the other end until the Spanish champions went ahead with their first attack of the game.

Iniesta started the move with a break through midfield and found Eto'o on the right. The striker cut inside a weak tackle by Nemanja Vidic and poked a low angled shot past Van de Sar.

The goal changed the pattern of the play with Barcelona's stars settling into their confident style of interpassing. United, now chasing the game, was unable to create any real danger. Ronaldo wanted to shoot at every opportunity, but fired wide and headed over.

Seeing his title slipping away, Ferguson reshaped his attack for the second half.

The 67-year-old Scot took off midfielder Anderson and sent on Carlos Tevez, the Argentina striker who is convinced he's leaving the club because United won't turn his loan deal into a full term transfer.

That left United undermanned in midfield and Barcelona continued to create openings.

Ferguson made another change when he took off Park and sent on Dimitar Berbatov.

Barcelona could have added more but Van der Sar saved twice from Carles Puyol and Ronaldo was shown the yellow card for some petulant late challenges on the Barcelona captain.

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2009/5/28/sports/20090528063317&sec=sports