Affichage des articles dont le libellé est after. Afficher tous les articles
Affichage des articles dont le libellé est after. Afficher tous les articles

lundi 11 novembre 2013

Puyol back in Barca squad after seven months out

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has been cleared to make his return to action against Osasuna on Saturday after a seven-month absence following two knee operations.

The 35-year-old missed the final few months of last season after first going under the knife in March and his comeback was delayed by a second operation to remove a cyst from the same knee in June.

The Spanish international has been back training with his teammates for a number of weeks and his return to the squad is a welcome boost for Gerardo Martino with Barca facing seven games in the next 23 days.

Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano have also been passed fit after overcoming the muscular injuries that kept them out of Argentina's final two World Cup qualifiers last week.

However, Gerard Pique, Alexis Sanchez and Dani Alves have all been left out of Martino's 18-man squad for the trip to Pamplona after playing twice for their national sides in the past week.

jeudi 12 septembre 2013

Barca claim Super Cup on away goals after stalemate

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona lifted the first silverware of the Spanish season on away goals after a 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid in the second-leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday night.

Following the 1-1 draw in the first-leg, the Catalans were left to thank goalkeeper Victor Valdes for preserving their advantage as he pulled off incredible saves from Arda Turan and David Villa either side of half-time.

Barca should have then sealed victory on the night themselves as after Filipe Luis was sent off for Atleti, Lionel Messi fired a late penalty off the bar.

"Victor has always had this characteristic which makes a goalkeeper for a big team," Barca boss Gerardo Martino told a press conference afterwards.

"They had two shots on goal and he made the saves."

Martino had handed a first start to Neymar as the Brazilian and Lionel Messi lined up for the first time in a competitive match since the former's switch from Santos.

And he admitted that the South American duo have plenty to work on as a partnership.

"Separately they have played quite well. It is true that they didn't combine a lot and they didn't find each other.

"Neymar was a bit closed off on the wing and when Leo came deep he drifted to the other side. Sometimes they were too far apart to combine but they will manage to do so with time."

Having weathered an early Barca early storm though, Atleti started to gain a foothold and had the two best openings of the opening period.

Firstly Koke failed to connect properly when he was teed up at the edge of the box allowing Valdes to save easily before the Barca keeper made a stunning save to turn behind Arda's sweetly struck volley.

Valdes was called upon again after the break as he parried Villa's curling effort from the edge of the area as Atleti went in search of the away goal they needed to stay alive in the tie.

And Atleti boss Diego Simeone was left to rue his side's wasted opportunities.

"The match was how I imagined it on both sides," he said.

"They played as they have for many years and we continue to grow, with pride and knowing we can play.

"We had more chances but we couldn't take them."

The more the visitors pushed forward though, the more they were susceptible to the Barca counter-attack and the Catalans passed up a host of opportunities to put the tie to bed.

Neymar was the biggest culprit as he squared when he ought to have gone for goal himself at the back post from Dani Alves' cross midway through the second-half.

Atleti were then reduced to 10 men when Luis saw a straight red card after he clashed with Alves off the ball on 80 minutes.

And Simeone's men were further infuriated by referee David Fernandez Borbalan when he adjudged that Pedro had been felled by a combination of Juanfran and Miranda two minutes from time.

Messi smashed the resultant spot-kick off the bar to ensure the game finished goalless.

However, it mattered little as the hosts comfortably saw out the final few minutes to claim their fourth Super Cup in the past five years.

lundi 22 juillet 2013

Bookies slash odds on Hiddink to Barca after leaving Anzhi

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
According to sky sports news, in the last hour Guus Hiddink as resigned as Anzhi Makhachkala’s head coach.

Anzhi agreed to terminate Hiddink’s contract upon his request. Hiddink claimed that this job would be his last when he took on the challenge a year ago, but the bookmakers now have got Hiddink at 1/3 favourite for the Barcelona job. The odds have amazingly slashed from 33/1.

Now, it does look like the bookmakers know a little more than we do about this, so I would be expecting an announcement in the near future. The Dutch wizard is one of the most experienced coaches around, taking charge of some of the most high profile clubs such as Chelsea and Real Madrid as well as having vast experience managing international team’s such as, Russia and Turkey.

Guus Hiddink is without a doubt one of Europe's leading coaches, and would be seen as an ideal replacement for Tito Vilanova, who was sadly resigned as Barcelona head coach recently due to a further relapse of throat cancer.

It’s already been announced by sky sports that former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen will take over from Hiddink at Anzhi.

lundi 17 juin 2013

Puyol considering retirement after knee op

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona's talismanic defender Carles Puyol said on Friday he is considering retirement after a glittering career, but added he has never entertained the thought of playing for another club.

After a career in which he has won everything in both domestic and international football, Puyol has run into a spate of injury problems and at 35-years-old may decide to bring down the curtain on a glittering career.

But while he admits he has considered the possibility his playing days are up, he has not consider a move away from Catalonia, contrary to press rumours he might be heading to Italy.

"To go to AC Milan was something I never thought about. But did I think that I might not be able to continue, that yes," said the long-haired defender opponents would be happy to see the back off.

"I would like to go to the end of my three year contract and even extend it if possible. I always said I wanted to play until I am 40 but what would please me is to retire from the game at Barcelona."

A serious knee operation has kept the Spanish international out of action since Barcelona crushed AC Milan 4-0 in their Champions League second-leg to reach the semi-finals and he expects the recovery process could be a lengthy one.

"After the operation (March 15), the doctor told me I could play again in 45 weeks but he also told me to rest a lot longer maybe even four or five months. I realised after four to six weeks, I couldn't even walk." added Puyol.

"The idea is to continue to work hard and try to get back to 100 per cent so I'm ready for pre-season training.

lundi 10 juin 2013

Puyol considering retirement after knee op

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona's talismanic defender Carles Puyol said on Friday he is considering retirement after a glittering career, but added he has never entertained the thought of playing for another club.

After a career in which he has won everything in both domestic and international football, Puyol has run into a spate of injury problems and at 35-years-old may decide to bring down the curtain on a glittering career.

But while he admits he has considered the possibility his playing days are up, he has not consider a move away from Catalonia, contrary to press rumours he might be heading to Italy.

"To go to AC Milan was something I never thought about. But did I think that I might not be able to continue, that yes," said the long-haired defender opponents would be happy to see the back off.

"I would like to go to the end of my three year contract and even extend it if possible. I always said I wanted to play until I am 40 but what would please me is to retire from the game at Barcelona."

A serious knee operation has kept the Spanish international out of action since Barcelona crushed AC Milan 4-0 in their Champions League second-leg to reach the semi-finals and he expects the recovery process could be a lengthy one.

"After the operation (March 15), the doctor told me I could play again in 45 weeks but he also told me to rest a lot longer maybe even four or five months. I realised after four to six weeks, I couldn't even walk." added Puyol.

"The idea is to continue to work hard and try to get back to 100 per cent so I'm ready for pre-season training.

lundi 3 juin 2013

Puyol considering retirement after knee op

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona's talismanic defender Carles Puyol said on Friday he is considering retirement after a glittering career, but added he has never entertained the thought of playing for another club.

After a career in which he has won everything in both domestic and international football, Puyol has run into a spate of injury problems and at 35-years-old may decide to bring down the curtain on a glittering career.

But while he admits he has considered the possibility his playing days are up, he has not consider a move away from Catalonia, contrary to press rumours he might be heading to Italy.

"To go to AC Milan was something I never thought about. But did I think that I might not be able to continue, that yes," said the long-haired defender opponents would be happy to see the back off.

"I would like to go to the end of my three year contract and even extend it if possible. I always said I wanted to play until I am 40 but what would please me is to retire from the game at Barcelona."

A serious knee operation has kept the Spanish international out of action since Barcelona crushed AC Milan 4-0 in their Champions League second-leg to reach the semi-finals and he expects the recovery process could be a lengthy one.

"After the operation (March 15), the doctor told me I could play again in 45 weeks but he also told me to rest a lot longer maybe even four or five months. I realised after four to six weeks, I couldn't even walk." added Puyol.

"The idea is to continue to work hard and try to get back to 100 per cent so I'm ready for pre-season training.