FC BARCELONA IN CRISIS? WINNING WILL SOLVE THINGS

In Sport the defeat accentuates & distorts reality & also the emotional states of those who follow. Football is an emotionally charged Sport that runs smoothly with victory & goes off the "reality rails" with defeats. Spanish Football Club FC Barcelona has entered this week a "parallel Universe" of blackness, pessimism & doom. If three
weeks ago the Club was steaming ahead for titles & record breaking events, & their Coach Luis Enrique was the correct man to Captain the ship, today there is doubt, unease & Coach Luis Enrique is questioned. So what happened? What is going on?

There is no doubt that winning is the glue that keeps everything together & in order; it is the essence of tolerance, confidence & faith. The two straight loses, the first in Liga at the hands of arch rival Real Madrid, has disrupted things, set the Barça ship of course & worst, let loose a chain reaction of criticism from media, & apparently from the dressing room. This last is the most concerning, the most worrying as it exhibits a possible malfunction in the main engine. Spanish Sports media has today published some disturbing news about internal dressing room problems between Coach Luis Enrique & his players. To add credibility, it is not just Madrid based press, like "AS", but also the Barcelona based press like "Sport" & "Mundo Deportivo" which collaborates published events. 

To summarize, it is reported that:

• there is a "riff" between Football Director Zubizarreta & Coach Luis Enrique. The former does not understand the line-ups & team on-field attitude, while the latter reminds the former that he has not the players he asked for pre-season,
• there is a "situation" between Coach Luis Enrique & defender Gerard Pique. This is a political power play situation that could have serious consequences if not managed right. The defender had issues with Guardiola, & his off field profile does not help while his current form is below expected. All this has both “trains” on a collision course,
• dressing room conversations have been filtered to the press. The "informer" comments that the players do not understand their Coach on-field set up, that they went into the Real Madrid Liga match unprepared & that Luis Enrique does not speak to his squad. The news published in "AS" says that the players believe that their Coach may have a personal grudge with some players,
• Luis Suarez starting in the line-ups has upset some, his spot leaves out players like Pedro & young sensation Munir loved by fans. Some believe Suarez has not the form or physical rhythm to be a starter. Added to this the Ratikic today, Xavi tomorrow line-ups has some bewildered,  
• some see - Club Directives - the hard hand attitude from Luis Enrique as counter-productive, while others think that his authority was discredited after he asked Messi to be substituted & Messi told him no, he continued to play forcing Luis Enrique to change plans,

The list could go on with more points, but I have only highlighted the most significant. The string of defeats has opened up a can of worms, & there has only been two losses (not counting the PSG loss in Champions) & still its relatively early on in the season. Just highlights & reinforces how things quickly change in Football & how everyone see things that were not there or important before.

However, said this, it is important that Luis Enrique manage things correctly this week, & most importantly win in next Wednesdays Champions League game against Ajax. The above "conflicts" if true are to worrying about, especially if there is an "insider" filtering to the press (worst if a player), something to root out as soon as possible. Lastly, the apparent power struggles & conflicts in the dressing room could "destroy" the Barça season if not solved. The last similar example happened with rival Real Madrid in the last season with Jose Mourinho, the players-Coach riff, nearly ripped the Club. 

The remedy is simple & crystal clear, win games. Football operates in cycles & it is Barça´s turn now as it was the turn of Real Madrid 3 weeks back.  Winning will fix everything, it always does. Lets hope for FC Barcelona & supporters that there is not more behind the scenes that meets the eyes, no players plot in the Shakespearean sense to rid their Coach. It may sound theatre but it has happen before, it’s another power struggle solution for the good of the Club.   

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MANCHESTER UNITED TARGETS GERARD PIQUE ?

According to Spanish Sports daily "Sport", English Premier League Club Manchester United is firmly intent in making a bid for FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique. The English team managed & Coached by Louis Van Gaal wants to have the services of the Spanish International central defender, & from England the news is that the Club is willing to offer 25M € for the player.

The English paper the 'Daily Star' explains that the 'red devils' look at Pique as an ideal choice in the market because of his past experience at the Club & because the FC Barcelona player has not fully settled into Barça Coach Luis Enrique plans.

The defensive fragility that Manchester United is experiencing this season is the main argument. However, the signing by Manchester United of Gerard Pique is high unlikely at this stage. For starters, the offer price by Man Utd. is too low for FC Barcelona to accept, while the player is firmly embedded in the city & culture of Barcelona (Catalonia region) with his growing family. Said all this, Gerard Pique is a "volatile" personality with frequent "out of the norm" behaviour on & off the field. It may be that one of his peculiar events may encourage him to find a "new place", Manchester United could thus then be his better option.

Stay tuned!

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FC BARCELONA | VILANOVA - PIQUE DRESSING ROOM SPLIT | THE CLAN OF 1987

If you thought that the dressing room of Real Madrid is a ticking bomb with Mourinho vs Iker Casillas, Pepe & Ronaldo, FC Barcelona has its own internal bomb waiting to explode. According to Barcelona based journalist Carles Fité there is a split in the dressing room between Defender Gerard Pique & Coach Vilanova which has its cause in decisions which concern Cesc Fabregas & as always in these cases the important loses in Spanish Cup & Champions League matches. 

It seems Gerard Pique questions the capacity of Tito Vilanova as Coach of FC Barcelona & suggests that it maybe time to find alternatives. Lets get into the context.

There exists in the Barça dressing room "the clan of 1987", Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas & Lionel Messi, which began together at Barça in the junior levels. The bonds are very strong both in the personal & professional life.

The match AC Milan - Barça ( 2 - 0 to Milan ) & Spanish Cup Barça vs Real Madrid loss sees Cesc Fabregas substituted & pointed out by Coach Vilanova as a main cause in the losses. Later Cesc would spend time on the bench as a consequence. Cesc Fabragas upset & feeling he is a "scapegoat" questions his Coach & Pique intervenes in front of the whole Barça squad to defend his friend & seriously question the "abilities" of Vilanova as Barça Coach. This obviously stays in the dressing room until last week.

After the FC Barcelona Champions League elimination by Bayern Munich at Camp Nou, Pique in a TV interview makes the suggestion the "some difficult decisions will need to be made". This makes everyone think that he is referring to players. However on Saturday Coach Vilanova comments that "perhaps the players who made that comment does not realise he maybe one of those players"

Now with the suggestions of the Catalan journalist Carles Fité we have a new light & interpretation to what this is all about. The journalist in question adds that the players that lead the dressing room are the "the clan of 1987" with Puyol & Xavi Hernandez relegated due to their own physical ( injury ) problems etc.  The interpretation is now that Pique - leading the dressing room - calls for the exit of Coach Vilanova - who they consider not up to the standards of FC Barcelona.

This if true, it was all seen by ex-Coach Pep Guardiola. One of the main reasons that Guardiola left Barcelona was because he called for the exits of Pique, Cesc Fabregas & Dani Alves, to which the Club Direction refused to consider. The ex-Coach saw back then warning signs that these players were "difficult". Now it seems Vilanova has found out why this is so. 

Gerard Pique is a difficult case in that his family - grandfather & father - are influential Barça members ( ex Directives ) & integrated into the Catalan society in influential positions. He is seen as a symbol of "Catalan" & Barça values & is a "tough nut" to crack. The current Barça Directive team under President Rosell does not wish to rock the "political boat" & this gives Pique "strength" at the Club.  

In conclusion, the ground is set for an internal power struggle that we will need to see the results. The referee will be "the Club wins", victories keeps the "shit" clean of smell, while loses - serious losses - brings it all out in the public eye & in nearly 98% of the cases the Coach will lose. Something similar is occurring at Real Madrid with Jose Mourinho.

Stay tuned. 

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SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM | ARBELOA - PIQUE OPEN UP CLUB WOUNDS AGAINST FINLAND ?

It is the national Sport in Spain - not Football | Soccer - to forget the past & the achievements quickly & criticise the failures in the present. The draw 1 - 1 by Spain with Finland has been received as a defeat by some observers & of course has unleashed the wagging tongues of criticism.

My intention is not to participate, but will inform on stories coming out today that highlight the discussion between Spanish International defenders Alvaro Arbeloa & Gerard Pique after the Finnish equalizer by Pukki in the 78th min.

The TV images show conversation, but the press today expose a heated argument. Alvaro Arbeloa was certainly not at his best with his coverage or "coordinated" in the Finnish equalizer, this is visible. However, Pique reprimanded Alvaro & apparently placed the error & the cause of the goal on the shoulders of Arbeloa . The discussion is written was "heated". 

This has lead some to highlight that the "rivalry & wounds" of the Real Madrid & FC Barcelona "clasicos" are still open & there exists a delicate balance at the National Team. Past stories from media say that Arbeloa, along with Xabi Alonso, are not to well regarded by the FC Barcelona players, after the two mentioned - according to the Barça players - showed excessive physical play & words during the numerous head-to-head Real Madrid - Barça clashes.

If this is true Coach del Bosque will have some work to do. Although I do think that the "on field interchange of opinions" is an habitual exchange between defenders of any team & under the circumstances,  of seeing how a clear victory slipped through the Spanish fingers, perhaps emotional. Arbeloa could have done more, or should have been more alert, but looked at closely, it is a collective defensive & team relaxation.  Experience shows that the Spanish National Team suffers theses late match lapses, perhaps this is the area that needs a rethink & solution.

Now the objective is France next Tuesday. To achieve it, Club rivalries must be put aside for the good of the collective, or else, if what some highlight is true, there will be difficulties for Spain in Paris.

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SPANISH FOOTBALL TEAM | RAMOS - PIQUE "THE ODD COUPLE"

Today SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL Coach Vicente Del Bosque talked about something that is well known in Spanish Football circles. That the probable two Central Defenders, SERGIO RAMOS & GERARD PIQUE, do not get along off the field.

Del Bosque said "...Pique & Ramos do have their differences, but there will not be any problems, they will have to get along".

Ramos - Pique

We do not doubt the professionalism of both players & that they will do their best to keep off the field what they think of each other outside the field. Both have contrasting personalities & cultural identities that cause a "space" between them, a "space" which grew light years apart after the continuous head to head clashes the previous seasons with the Liga teams. The multiple "Clasico" encounters, with each defending their own colours, caused physical & psychological frictions that are still today warm.

They are the Spanish Team "Odd Couple", destined to at least understand each other for the good of the team, the group, the whole & the Nation. I believe the below video is very appropriate & could well be their theme:

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FC BARCELONA | GUARDIOLA WANTS GERARD PIQUE OUT ?

Spanish & Madrid regional TV , "Telemadrid", has added fuel to the ..."when will FC BARCELONA Coach Josep Guardiola renew his contract with Barça fire", claiming that one of the big reasons for the delay is defender GERARD PIQUE.

The TV, via its Sports programme, claims that Coach Guardiola does not wish to have the Barça & Spanish International defender continue next season at the Club ( remember how Guardiola got out Ronaldinho, Eto´o & Ibrahimovic? ). Are you surprised?

Model Pique

Some are not surprised at all, as there has been a persistent rumour that Guardiola & Pique have crossed some strong words. Apparently, Guardiola is "sick & tired" of the public life ( or private ) of Pique who has his head in everything else except Football of late. The player has a very frenetic social life & appears more on the pink & fashion magazines than time on the field lately. This & his continuous "attention grabbing" public antics & social media activities has coincided with a dramatic drop in the players Football performance which played a part in some Liga losses.

Josep Guardiola is a very strict Coach & has not bucked to get "thrown" out the door other "scared cows" who did not follow the team philosophy, professional attitude & keep their heads focused on Football.

According to this news source, Guardiola has voiced his desire to FC Barcelona President Sandro Rosell, to which the later has said categorical ( for now ) NO. The President considers Pique one of the "Best Defenders" in World Football & a future symbol of the Club. This & the fact the Pique father is an ex-Club Directive with influence still within the Clubs office.

If this news story is indeed true & Guardiola does not get his way, the Coach could well leave at the end of the season because not accepting his solicitation Guardiola would see his authority & credibility lessened within the dressing room.

However, although I am not saying this story is totally out of hand, it could be a Madrid-media based attempt to destabilize the Barcelona dressing room & even put the focus on a Guardiola - President Rosell "bad vibes" relationship.

In any case, stay tuned for further developments as enough fuel is being poured from all sides to keep this fire roaring for some time.

PS: Officials at Barça have commented that this news piece is totally incorrect, naturally!

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REAL MADRID - FC BARCELONA CLASHES TEARING APART THE SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM?

The below photo is the SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM that made history & won the FIFA World Cup 2010 with great play, but more importantly,  with a solid friendship base, team mentality & solidarity. The picture shows only 11 of the 23 Squad members, but one can clearly see a divide: most are either REAL MADRID or FC BARCELONA players. Missing from this picture are Albiol & Arbeloa (Real Madrid) plus Victor Valdes & Pedro (FC Barcelona) players.

Spain Football Team

The intense & very competitive Real Madrid - FC Barcelona clashes this season has contributed in intensifying rivalries & putting on edge "friendships" on & off the field. Spanish National Football Coach Vicente del Bosque has already voiced certain concern that the intensity of the Club clashes is breaking the fabric of the National Squad & the "inner harmony". Spanish online paper "elconfidencial" has written an article that has "sounded the alarms". The Spanish National Team has broken up into two blocks, the Real Madrid players & the FC Barcelona players, with elements in both camps more "radical" than others with the latter looking for a more balanced & calming attitude.

The first signs of "friction" occurred in South Africa during the World Cup in a leisure "poker game" that did not go to more thanks to Coach Del Bosque & Squad Director Fernando Hierro, plus the fact that the World Cup title was up for grabs was also the solidifying glue. 




This video of Spain celebrating their World Cup victory in Madrid shows Pique making faces of Ramos behind his back, to which press insiders already spoke about friction between theses two heavyweights.

The local Club competition this season has added fire to the already hot coals, as the 5-0 FC Barcelona drubbing of Real Madrid showed last November with very aggressive play, tackles & even violence ( verbal & physically) as shown when Ramos was sent off not before "brushing aside" Spanish squad team-mates Puyol, Pique & Xavi. Barça defender Pique then added fire with his uplifting hand of 5 fingers ( 5 goals) to stick the finger into the Real wounds.

The Pique - Ramos relations worsened in a Spanish Team press conference when Ramos "exploded" to a press person when speaking in Catalan to Pique & he advising that he did not understand. This incident was "cover" with a Twitter photo together & smiling. However, as later episodes would prove this is just make-up.

The return Real Madrid - FC Barcelona Liga match weeks back would open more wounds after finishing 1-1, when Pique in the dressing room tunnel shouted that they had already won their "little" Spanish Liga title ( negative comment from a Catalan angle), that they would win their (disrespectful) Kings Cup as well...causing all sorts of verbal abuse between all players. Pique denies this totally as false, but Real Madrid player & Spanish Team Captain Iker Casillas confirmed it indirectly as true in an interview dismissing it as a "heated moment".

The frictions continued in the Final of the Spanish Cup, this time with other Spanish National Team members showing signs of strains. Arbeloa & David Villa had a serious encounter which naturally brought in all the others.

Iker Casillas, Xavi, Xabi Alonso & to some extent Carles Puyol attempt to maintain the balance as much as possible with diplomacy & professionalism. Some already mentioned are life long friends from junior levels & this situation is complicated.

The Spanish press is now talking about the Pique - Ramos parting, the breaking up of the Spanish team in two blocks, the worries of National Coach Vicente del Bosque & the possible effects mid to long term to the National Team.

Tonight the first of two head to head clashes between Real Madrid - FC Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals takes place. The atmosphere is highly tense as both Coach Mourinho & Coach Guardiola have already had a heated exchange of harsh words that can only be transferred to there respective players & on the field.

The winner will obviously one - either Real Madrid or FC Barcelona - but the big loser could be Spanish Football & its National Team. Lets hope this is all part of competition, healthy rivalry & that common sense prevail in the long run.

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SPAIN FOOTBALL TEAM 2010 | SERGIO RAMOS

Just received this picture from Spanish Football Team International defender Sergio Ramos from his Cell Phone. He is next to FC Barcelona defender & Spain Team mate Gerard Pique. Here is Ramos twitter address if interested:

http://twitter.com/SergioRamos

Sergio Ramos with Pique from his mobile.

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FC BARCELONA : IBRAHIMOVIC PIQUE PHOTO

This is the private (& "stolen") photo that is on fire on the Web & in Sports media. FC Barcelona players Ibrahimovic & Gerard Pique caught on camara outside Camp Nou. I would ask that NO ONE jump to conclusions, it can be taken easily out of context, although "bad tongues" are hot at the moment.

Lets wait before jumping to any conclusions. This could be just plain old fashion team-mates stuff.

LATEST :
As thought, things are being taken out of all context. Ibrahimovic is very upset at the rumours spurred by these pictures & has reacted to a Spanish "pink-press" TV reporter saying "Vente con tu hermana a mi casa y miras si soy maricón" (translated ..."Come to my place with your sister & you will see if I´m a gay") . It is curious to note that all this comes out just before FC Barcelona plays their most important & biggest game against Sevilla FC tomorrow were the Spanish League title could be finally decided between Barça & Real Madrid. A loss tomorrow at Sevilla with Real Madrid victory could give Madrid the Liga. Tweet

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FC BARCELONA: GERARD PIQUE THE NEXT BEST DEFENDER IN THE WORLD

GERARD PIQUE was born 2nd of February 1987 in the city of Barcelona.
This 22 year old FC BARCELONA defender is already,along with AC
Milan Clarence Seedorf, the few who have won UEFA Champions
League titles back to back in different Clubs. However, the
achievements do not stop here, with such a young age the defender
has earned a permanent & important place in the Spanish National
Team. Everything indicates that we are witnessing a man & a Football
player destined for big things that could leave a mark in the history
of European & certainly World Football.

(photo: Gerard Pique_marca.com)

Pique is already an ex-Real Zaragoza & Manchester United player,
leaving the latter after having little opportunities to show his skills,
talent that includes midfield duties if needed & an uncanny goal scoring
ability for a player who specializes in his position. Already some
experts & veteran observers are comparing Pique to the mythical
German Captain & defender Franz Beckenbauer, a comparison that
just in itself already takes the player halfway to glory.

The people in the inside, those that live the FC Barcelona dressing
room have expressed the extraordinary leadership qualities of the
defender & are already predicting that Pique is destined to be Barça´s
next long-term Captain, something that will transfer itself with time
onto the Spanish National Squad. This added with his Football qualities
sets the path for legend status as long as the player wishes it to be &
he can avoid unlucky injuries.

The young man has already:
2 Champions League (2008 & 09)
1 Euro Super Cup (2009)
1 English League Cup (2006)
1 Community Shield (2007)
1 Premier League (2008)
1 Spanish Cup (2009)
1 Spanish League (2009)
1 Spanish Super Cup (2009)

With 22 years of age this is just the beginning, & we will be seeing
how this youngman continues evolving & getting better to possibly
become soon the “Best Defender in The World” & for sometime.

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