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

Manchester United Road To Glory UEFA Champions League 1998/1999

I talked about being a Man United fan before the departure of David Beckham to Real Madrid. To flash back, read it here: I was a fan of Manchester United. Manchester United team of the 1998/1999 season is probably the best team in Man United history. Their never say die attitude can be seen from the great comebacks in the semifinal and final of UEFA Champions League.

Losing 0-1 for 90 minutes to Bayern Munich in the final, Man United scored two goals in the stoppage time of three minutes, through Terry Sheringham in the first minute and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the 3rd minute. The crowds are simply phenomenal. If i were there, I would have lose my voice after the match ended.

Here's the video. Enjoy!

I was a fan of Manchester United

I was a fan of MU during the era of Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane and David Beckham. Eric Cantona is great but I still have yet to know him well at that time. The most memorable experience was when the Red Devils completed the treble in 1999. Losing 0-1 to Bayern Munich during most of the match time, MU made a great comeback with two goals in the last two minutes to seal a remarkable victory over Munich.

The atmosphere in the coffee shop where i watched the game is still fresh in my mind. Though the match started around 2.45am, MU die hard fans will never miss it. Its like a responsibility for them to follow every match involving MU. Anyone care to share whats the reason/s?

I still remember an Indian friend became too excited with the win and tears apart the plastic chair with his head! He just spontaneously held the chair high and slammed the chair (the area where you rest ur bottom) into his head. As a result, he had to compensate which I dont think he care much. He is too happy and order more Guinness to celebrate the magical win for his beloved team.



MU is still my favorite team in the EPL. They have their own style of play which I believe is hard for other teams to emulate. Since following Messi few years ago, and with the departure of David Beckham to Real Madrid, my attention turns to Barcelona. I do think that the departure of Beckham is a great loss to MU. He is without doubt the best freekick taker and crosser in the world. For me, MU greatest no.7, since Eric Cantona era, belongs to David Beckham though many will prefer Ronaldo.



Why Messi? Simply because there isnt anyone like Messi.

He's great with dribbling...

Cool when scoring...



and simple when celebrating



Messi is a gifted player. You wont see another one like him in a long, long time.

Barcelona Is Ready To Win With Beautiful Football!

Barcelona attack at full strength vs. Man United
ROME (AP) - Barcelona's formidable attack should be at its best with Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta likely to return for the Champions League final against Manchester United.

Henry and Iniesta were traveling with the team to Rome on Tuesday, a day after taking part in their first full training session since picking up separate leg injuries earlier this month.

The puzzle is coming together for the Spanish champions in time for Wednesday's match between two of the world's best clubs.

"They are two basic footballing pieces in our scheme," Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said. "We know they're going to play, that they'll be 100 percent, and to have them is a privilege because with them we're better."

Both players have been key to the offensive juggernaut that has scored 151 goals in collecting two trophies this season.

Iniesta's injury-time goal against a staunch Chelsea side earned Barca its sixth trip to the final; it has won the cup twice. The Spain midfielder, recovering from a thigh injury, abandoned his usual reserved nature when it came to deciphering the final.

"United are the defending champions, one of the best, but they don't scare me. I have the same respect for them as they have for us," Iniesta said. "It's a chance to go down in history. I'd accept winning on penalties."

Based on their training methods, that's something Barcelona is not exactly ready for.

"We haven't practiced them," Xavi said. "I think to do that is ridiculous because you can't emulate the tension of a game in a training session."

Henry has combined with Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o to net a league-record 71 goals by a trio. But Iniesta provides an integral midfield piece to rookie coach Josep Guardiola's philosophy: attacking, possession soccer borne out by midfielders Xavi and Iniesta.

The two players are straight out of the mold of Guardiola, a former midfielder who orchestrated Barcelona to 10 major titles from that role, including in the Champions League in 1992.

"This is special for us because we played the best football," Xavi said after the club secured its 19th league title. "I have never seen (a team) play at this level, I have never played in a better team. We have individuals but, above all, we've won as a team. I'm proud."

But the absence of several defenders has left Barcelona's defense exposed against a team that knocked it out at the semifinal stage last year.

With fullbacks Daniel Alves and Eric Abidal suspended and center back Rafael Marquez injured, midfielder Yaya Toure will likely partner with former United player Gerard Pique in the middle as he did against Chelsea, then against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Cup final. Captain Carles Puyol and 35-year-old Silvinho are likely to fill in on the wings.

With forwards Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov to contend with, goalkeeper Victor Valdes again may be called upon to make big saves in pressure moments.

"What I must value is how Rooney, Tevez, (Paul) Scholes, etc., work," Iniesta said. "Rooney played left back against us. To win a final against United you can't make any mistakes."

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Ronaldo vs. Messi could decide 'best player' award (But one game doesnt make the difference. Messi has been outstanding throughout the year, from Spanish League to Champions League. Fair enough. Messi is undeniably the best this year!!!)

While Manchester United and Barcelona play for the Champions League trophy, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi may well be squaring off for the right to call himself the world's best player.

Ronaldo, however, doesn't seem too concerned about that.

"Now to decide (who the best player is), who cares about that? What I want more is to win the Champions League and that's it," Ronaldo said Tuesday from the Stadio Olimpico. "I respect Barcelona very much, Messi is special also.

"Sincerely, I'm not worried about that. I would rather win the Champions League final. I want it very much."

Ronaldo is the reigning FIFA world player of the year after his 42 goals last season guided United to both the Premier League and Champions League trophies. Messi was second in the voting, despite Barcelona enduring a second straight season without a trophy.

This season, however, Messi has already collected two trophies and netted more goals than Ronaldo, and the result of Wednesday's final could be the deciding factor when votes are cast for next year's award. (I dont think so.)

"Both are huge, huge players," Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said. "For me, never mind who is going to win the Champions League or who is better - both are marvelous players. For Manchester, Ronaldo is very important, and for us Messi is very important."

United coach Alex Ferguson said picking one over the other was difficult because of their different styles - Ronaldo's speedy stepovers and long-range shooting vs. Messi's darting runs and imagination inside the area.

"Both have the ability and courage to attack defenders all the time. No matter how many times they are tackled they get up and they want the ball, and that's the kind of courage we want to see in footballers. And both have it," Ferguson said. "Both have different types of qualities, both are different types of players but at end of the day, how can you divide it? They're separate."

If Man United defends its European trophy, that will provide a fourth piece of silverware after league, League Cup and Club World Cup triumphs.

Messi can add a Champions League title to Barcelona's league and cup double, and see the Catalans become only the fifth Spanish team to win three trophies in a season.

"Messi will play a good game if we get our tactics right," Guardiola said.

Ronaldo has never scored against Spanish opposition while Messi, who leads the competition with eight goals, has never netted against a Premier League opponent.

Ronaldo said the buildup to the their individual showdown was not proving a distraction.

"I'm 100 percent focused on the game. I know the people want to know something about me but I'm very focused," Ronaldo said. "I try to score a goal and win the game, that's it."

Source:
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9613070/Barcelona-attack-at-full-strength-vs.-Man-United
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9613418/Ronaldo-vs.-Messi-could-decide-'best-player'-award