Carles Puyol has spoken to Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat about several issues concerning the club, including their poor away form.
Carles Puyol returned to action at Levante after 3 months out through injury. And now he is playing in the unfamiliar right back position. Here he gives an in-depth interview about various occurrences relating to himself and the team in general.

- You were injured for 3 months and missed the pre-season. How have you felt in these first games back?

“It’s been tough. I missed my holidays, when you get news like that it’s hard to take in. You have to find the right mentality and start working from day one. I think we’ve worked well and once you start playing again you feel much better.”

- Are you 100% or is there more to do?

“I feel fine but there are still things to do. That’s logical after not playing for 3 months, but by working on the pitch, little by little I am getting back into my rhythm.”

- Milito, Thuram, Márquez and Oleguer all covered for you well. Do you think it will be harder to hold down a first team place this season?

“Competition for places is good. I have enjoyed watching the games from the sidelines and all of the players want to get a game, and have done a good job. We have some top quality players and they will all be important. There are lots of games, we don’t get any rest and we will all get chances and because there is competition everybody has to give it 100% and you can’t afford to relax.”

- In Glasgow, Barça used four centre backs in defence (you, Thuram, Milito and Abidal). How do you enjoy playing at right back?

“I enjoy it. I haven’t played there for a long time and I didn’t have a winger to mark. I was free to move up, especially in the first half.”

- Rijkaard has said he might repeat that option, especially in away games. Do you like the idea?

“Whatever the coach says. It’s logical, I know my role. I am a defender and full backs are more attack minded. I can do it but it comes more naturally to other players.”

- Are you more comfortable at centre back?

“I like both positions. I have usually played centre back so I am best adapted to playing there, but I have no problem with playing at full back.”

- Who is your favourite partner?

“Anybody. I feel fine with any of them. I have not had long to get to know some of them, like Milito, but he is a player who positions himself well, talks a lot and makes the job a lot easier.”

- Have players like Abidal, Touré and Milito made the team more solid?

“Yes they are very good players and are doing a good job. They have adapted quickly and will add to the team.”

- What about them one by one. We all knew about Milito from what he did at Zaragoza, but have Abidal and Touré surprised you?

“Yes. I have only had one game with Touré, but from outside I could tell he obviously does a good job. He has balanced the team in a position we had problems with. Abidal is a strong and hard worker. He was a very good signing.”

- Is the Barça style becoming too predictable?

“Yes. We haven’t played well. In Glasgow we tried to play football but the opposition has to try to do the same. In the second half we needed more aggression. But against Almería our football was anything but brilliant.”

- Howe does this change?

“We have to work, we have to learn to find space, move the ball around faster and we have quality players. We’ll find the answers”.

- There is a hard away game to come. Why are Barça not getting such good results away from the Camp Nou?

“I don’t understand it. We have a good team, prepare well but things aren’t working out for us. If we want to win titles we will have to improve.”

- Is it away form that needs to improve?

“You can’t always play the same way, our philosophy is attacking football but sometimes you need to change your ways. We need to be more careful away from home.”

- The internationals came at a bad time because the team was getting into its stride.

“They are long breaks. We have so many quality players that most of them play for their countries. You have the games, the travel, the lack of training together, while the opposition gets a rest. We can only hope that the next international break doesn’t affect us so badly.”

- Txiki says several players have hit their limit. Are you mentally and physically exhausted?

“I haven’t played many games so I’m fine, but you do get tired, especially in your head. But that is why we have the squad we have and that makes things easier.”

- As captain, do you think the team has the mentality not to make the mistakes made last season? Have you noted any positive changes?

“Yes, the experience taught us things, we are keen now to win and win again. You can tell from how we train. The team is ready to do important things.”

-Do the captains speak to the players about the internal code?

“We’ll be doing that shortly. The captains have discussed it and now we’ll speak to the rest of the team.”

- Apart from the code, do you feel you are being observed much more this season?

“Yes, but that’s because of last season. We let a lot of people down and we don’t want that to happen again. But I see no problem with it as long as people’s private lives are respected. We are young and want our freedom. Everything has its moment and there doesn’t have to be a problem.”

- We have started seeing stories in then news about the players’ private lives. Does this affect the players, and do they think people will now stop at nothing?

“It’s not only footballers. Watch TV and it seems they’ll stop at nothing. It’s disturbing and sad. But we are still human and what really matters is what we do on the pitch.”

- What about Ronaldinho?

“He’s fine. There is a debate about nothing. He is important for us and if we want to win things we need him. He can’t always play well, but he has the right attitude, is working hard and is an important player for us.”

- Is he happy at Barcelona?

“Yes, but when people keeping bringing the subject up, it gets to him. You say it doesn’t but it does. He has my support, I have spoken to him several times and he has the team’s support.”

- Will we ever see the Ronaldinho of past seasons again?

“He will contribute everything he has. Any team would want to have Ronaldinho. We have him. We enjoy him. That should be our attitude, for me it is honour to have him in the team.”

- Has Ronaldinho’s leadership been passed on to Messi?

“Messi is having a spectacular season, but he should not take all the pressure. We have some great players, and the pressure should be shared out, that makes it easier for everybody. But he is playing well, and scoring goals. The press and fans have a high opinion of him, but that doesn’t mean that Ronnie is less important and it is now Messi that counts. There are many others players with something to offer.”

- Do you think so much praise might be bad for Messi?

“It doesn’t seem to affect him. He is very quiet and just happy to be able to play football. He has his feet on the ground and he has us to help him, but he still has to grow and there is still a lot he has to improve. And with that kind of attitude he will get better and better.”

- Is the team Messi-dependent?

“No, but he is an important player who is on extraordinary form and we need to take advantage of that. He is the kind of player who can win matches for you.”

- Has Henry got over the pressure of needing to score at the Camp Nou?

“It’s always important. Forwards have to score, but Henry does more than that. He should not be judged on goals alone but on what he does for the team. He is always on the move, asking for the ball, creating spaces and if he can’t use them, he creates them for team mates. These things should also be evaluated. He has also just come back from a long injury. He is one of the best and we are enjoying having him here.”

- Does Henry need more time to get to know the team and for them to get to know him?

“Adaptation always takes time, and there is also the injury he had. You can’t get better overnight, it takes time. He’ll get better as he plays more matches.”

- Speaking about adaptation, what about Bojan and Giovani?

“They are two great players, who are working well and have a good attitude. They are making the most of their opportunities. With the squad we have, they are basic players and we will need them both.”

- Should Bojan get more chances to play?

“All players want to get minutes, but only eleven play plus three subs, so it’s not easy. They have to keen their heads up and keep working. They are young and learning every day, at their age they are lucky to be in a team like this. As long as their attitudes are right, they will improve and will start getting more chances. In fact, that is already happening. They won’t ever be happy to be dropped, but that’s the same for anybody…When they get their chances they will need to take them, but there will be good and bad days. Right now if Bojan plays twice and doesn’t score they’ll start saying he’s useless, so they need to be watched and protected.”

 
Today’s training session was tougher than yesterday’s. Abidal was absent, as he has an individual training plan to follow.
After Monday had focussed on recuperation from the 2-0 win against Almería, Tuesday’s session was more focused on Thursday’s trip to Valladolid. Frank Rijkaard put together an intense session at La Masia, although Abidal, who hurt his ankle on Sunday, was missing.

Plenty of ball

After the usual warm-up drills, the players practiced control and passing in pairs. They then divided into two groups, the defenders on one side of the pitch, the midfielders and forwards in the other. Both parties worked on combination moves starting from the wings and ending with shots on goal. This part over, Thierry Henry retired to the dressing rooms.

Goals for Giovani and Bojan

The session ended with a game on a scaled down pitch. The blue bibs were worn by Jorquera, Ezquerro, Giovani, Oleguer, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta, Thuram, Márquez and Bojan, who faced the bib-less Valdés, Sylvinho, Milito, Xavi, Puyol, Ronaldinho, Messi, Zambrotta and Touré Yaya. Youngsters Giovani and Bojan once again demonstrated their goalscoring skills with one each for the blue team.

 
Thierry Henry has told a press conference that he is gradually getting fitter, although his adaptation to his new club is proving long and difficult. He knows he has to adapt to the team and not the other way round.
Speaking to a packed conference, French striker Thierry Henry has spoken for more than half an hour about how he is settling in at FC Barcelona. Henry has said that we have seen the last of the “Henry of Arsenal”, as he is now playing for a different team and in a different system.

Recovery from injuries

“I am feeling fitter every day. We have played a lot of games in very few days but I am feeling much fitter. I have had a bit of bother with my Achilles heel in the last three games but I wanted to help the team. In the last few minutes of games I have been missing a bit of luck with my dribbling and speed, but I am feeling better all the time” he said. He added that he won’t know if he will be travelling to Valladolid until after tomorrow’s training session.

Henry’s arrival at Barça coincided with the final weeks of his recovery from a long term injury, and that leads him to believe that “It might have been better if I had been introduced to the team more gradually, given the injury and the later inclusion of some players, it meant I was still recovering from injury as I was playing games.”

Always hard to adapt

Henry doesn’t like comparisons being made between his current form and the kind of things he used to do at Arsenal. “The Henry of Arsenal was at Arsenal, now I am at Barça and the Henry of Arsenal will never be seen again. Barça is a different team, which plays a very different way and I also have to play a different way. Now I am the Henry of Barça. Perhaps I haven’t played as well as I have done but I have scored four goals and three assists. I try to help the team. Maybe I didn’t do that in Glasgow or Villarreal, but I always try to play my part in the team.”

Settling in

Henry may have struggled to adapt, but has few doubts that he can deliver the goods as long as people are patient with him. “They play a different way here to the way they do at Arsenal. Their game was more direct and balls got to me quickly. But I have to adapt to the club and team, not the team to me, and that takes time. Barça have played this way for years, it’s their trademark and it is me who needs to adapt”, he reasoned. He also pointed out that when he arrived in England he didn’t score in his first nine games and then went another month without scoring after that.

Ronaldinho offers hope

Henry also spoke about one of the hottest topics of debate at the club right now, Ronaldinho. “Ronaldinho has played at the highest level for some time but he is not a robot. I don’t think he’s playing as badly as they are saying, the problems is people expect so much of him… Whenever there is a drop in Ronaldinho’s form, people make a huge fuss, but that is a problem due to the huge expectations they make of him. Whatever happens, Ronnie is a very important member of the team and attracts the attention of defenders. He makes our game easier.”

 
The players had a light training session on Monday after the previous night’s win against Almería. Eric Abidal, who has a slight ankle problem, worked out in the gym and did not join the rest of the squad on the training grounds.
With the next match coming up on Thursday away to Valladolid in the league, there’s no time for a break. The senior squad trained this Monday morning at the Masía training grounds. The players began by warming up and then Ronaldinho and Zambrotta carried on with specific post match recovery exercises while the rest of the group took part in ball control exercises before doing some sprinting and practising long passes. Most of the players who took part in last night’s match then returned to the dressing rooms.

Ankle knock for Abidal

Eric Abidal was absent from training due to a heavy knock to his right ankle picked up against Almería. The French international defender stayed for special attention in the gym.

Intense work for Edmílson

Meanwhile, José Edmílson appeared on the training grounds for a demanding individual session of jogging and circuit training with obstacles.

Practice match

The players not used against Almería, together with Puyol – who has recovered from his stomach trouble -finished off with a 5-a-side practice game. One side was made up of Bojan, Ezquerro, Márquez, Sylvinho and Oleguer, and the other by Thuram, Puyol, Gudjohnsen, Messi and Crosas.

 
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Gianluca Zambrotta played down the effects of Ronaldinho’s substitution against Almería and assured reporters: “He’s relaxed and focussed”.
Speaking about the substitution of Ronaldinho in the 74th minute of this Sunday’s match (2-0), Zambrotta emphasised: “He’s relaxed and focussed. It can happen that sometimes a player isn’t at 100%. Ronaldinho is a great player and he’s very important for the team”.

Zambrotta was asked how he thought Ronaldinho would react to being relegated to the subs bench. The Italian assured reporters that all the players in the squad know that they might fail to make the starting line-up on occasions. In fact, with so many matches packed into a tight schedule, the occasional rest is welcome: “I don’t know how Ronaldinho would be affected by staying on the bench. There are a lot of players in the squad and none of us have a problem with that. We have to play a lot of matches this season and sometimes a rest can be a good thing”.

Milan and Ronaldinho

Zambrotta was also quick to play down persistent rumours of a possible move for Ronaldinho to AC Milan: “I think that Ronaldinho is very well here and I don’t believe he wants to move. Right now, there’s nothing in Ronaldinho moving to Milan”.

Time for Henry

Meanwhile, Zambrotta also had something to say about Thierry Henry, who scored his first home league goal against Almeria. The Italian revealed that the entire squad was delighted for Henry and stressed: “Henry, just like all the players that come to FC Barcelona and this league, need a bit more time to adjust to the football here”.

Puyol an option at right back

Carles Puyol had an excellent game against Glasgow Rangers at right back, the position normally occupied by Zambrotta. However, Zambrotta refused to be drawn on whether this would mean more competition for him: “That’s a decision for the coach. I just limit myself to doing my job”.

Code of behaviour

Finally, Zambrotta had the following to say about the Club’s internal code of behaviour: “I don’t believe it’s so important as to justify all the talk. All the players know how we have to live as professionals, both on and off the pitch. Many players in the squad are internationals, with experience, and we’re grown up enough to know what we have to do. Barça is a great team where the more experienced players set an example to the younger players”.

 
FC Barcelona’s players have stressed the importance of the result against Almeria They recognise that they haven’t played their best, but reminded the press that the three points are important for staying near the top.
They praised Almeria’s pressure and defensive work, and recognised their good level of play, despite losing 2-0. The Blaugranas know that in games like this the most important is “getting three points and winning at home”, in the words of Márquez.

Here are some of their comments.

Valdés

“They are three vital points against a complicated team.”

“They pressurised us a lot in the first half. The first goal opened up the game a little.”

“I thought Henry had a complete game. He fought hard in attack and moved well. I’m happy for him, though he was calm about things. He just needed the goal to make him happier.”

“The penalty was important for us. I saw it from a long way off.”

Iniesta

“Touré played as a pivot, and I went back to my normal position.”

“It’s difficult when both teams are well-organised. But what was important today were the three points.”

“All games are important, but I really don’t think it’s worth laying blame. And we shouldn’t think about what Madrid are doing.”

“Above all, I think it was important for Henry to score a goal. But he was calm about it. He’s a really important player, he always looks for depth.”

Messi

“To be honest, it was the first move I played in.”

“It was a complicated game. They’re a great team, pressuring us all over the field.”

“I’d like to thank the fans. I’m happy to be here.”

“I have no problem taking penalties. I used to take them in the youth and reserve teams. And we’ve got Ronaldinho, who normally takes them.”

“It’s strange to come on for Ronaldinho. I prefer to play with him on the pitch. But even he needs to rest.”

“We’ve got a lot of games, but that’s how it is.”

Márquez

“I felt well in defence.”

“Once you’re on the pitch, you slowly forget about your injury. I’m happy to be back in the team.”

“It has been a difficult, complicated game.”

“In the changing room we were saying it has been an important victory.”

“Maybe we see football differently. From inside, we saw Almeria defended well, whilst we had some trouble at the back, but upfront we had quite a few goal chances.”

“Giovani continues to grow and he made defensive sacrifices. I’m happy things are going well for him.”

“The most important thing is getting three points and continuing to win at home.”

“Valladolid are not doing that well, but they tend to play better against big teams.”

Xavi

“It was a complicated game because that were strong in defence and pressurised a lot on all fronts.”

“Sometimes matches become complicated.”

“We were compact, and I’m happy with the result, but not with our game.”

“We found it difficult to form a defensive triangle and attain our usual fluidity, but then again they did defend well.”

“We settled down a little with Henry’s goal. I thought he had a good game. He makes great moves, and today we were finding him. I’m sure he’s happy.”

“We made a lot of deep passes to Henry and Giovani, but they closed themselves back. We still have to find them more.”

“We are at the end of October, and the team feels well physically. Because of injuries, we are always the same ones playing, and whether you want to or not, your body will start to feel this.”

“What matters is that we won and continue our good run.”

 
Frank Rijkaard accepts that his team didn’t play a great game against Almeria. He praised his team’s “fighting spirit” and believes the victory was fundamental to their league campaign.
Speaking at the press conference after Sunday’s game at Nou Camp, the Barça coach believed beating teams like Almeria is “fundamental, mainly because it wasn’t easy.” Rijkaard says he feels happier after seeing Barça “fight, hold their ground and achieve a victory”.

Praise for rival

On Almeria, Frank Rijkaard admitted that their rival had “made it difficult for us”. The Dutch coach claimed that the Andalucian team “had played a good game”.

A more vertical game

Leading up to the game, Frank Rijkaard had asked his players for “a more vertical game,” so as to make the most of Henry’s skills. The coach was satisfied with how his players had interpreted this. “They looked for Henry more, and they created more chances”.

Substituting Ronaldinho

When asked why he had brought off Ronaldinho for Messi, Frank Rijkaard was clear: “The team had worked hard, and sometimes you decide to make a change. I have great confidence in Ronaldinho. He’s very committed and has my full support. There are a lot of games left, and I’m very happy with him”.

Praise for Iniesta and Giovani

Whilst he doesn’t normally single out players for praise, Frank Rijkaard made an exception for Andrés Iniesta and Giovani Dos Santos. “They did a great job, and Giovani was involved in both goals”.

Messi comes on

Finally, Frank Rijkaard confirmed that Messi wasn’t in the starting line-up because he intended to rest him. “When it was 1-0, I made him warm up and then I brought him on and, luckily, it worked out well.”

 
The three players have been declared match fit, and have been called up by Frank Rijkaard for Sunday’s game against Almeria, whilst Crosas, Thuram and Ezquerro are out of the squad.
Three new faces

Zambrotta, Toure Yaya and Márquez are the three new additions to the squad for Sunday’s game. They have been out of the squad since suffering injuries in the games against Zaragoza, Levante and Stuttgart respectively.

Three absences

These three will replace Crosas, Thuram and Ezquerro , who have been pulled out for technical reasons.

The complete list

Valdés, Jorquera, Sylvinho, Abidal, Zambrotta, Puyol, Milito, Oleguer, Touré Yaya, Iniesta, Xavi, Márquez, Ronaldinho, Giovani, Messi, Gudjohnsen, Bojan and Henry.

 
They were three key players in Frank Rijkaard’s first eleven, until they became injured. Gianlucca Zambrotta, Touré Yayá and Rafa Márquez have all been declared match fit, and could be called on for tomorrow’s game against Almeria.
Rafa Màrquez has shortened his recovery period. With 25 days, Màrquez has had sufficient time to recover from the soleus muscle injury in his right leg he suffered during the first few minutes of the Stuttgart-Barça game in the Champions League. This injury obliged Carles Puyol to come on without having time to warm up. Márquez had been on great form before the injury.
Touré Yayá was also playing well.

Touré and Zambrotta

The Ivory Coast midfielder’s presence in a game guaranteed power, aggression and struggle. Touré injured his femoral biceps in his left leg near the end of the Levante-Barça match four weeks ago today.

Finally, Zambrotta was the second player after Samuel Eto’o to suffer a muscular injury. On the 26th of September, the Italian got a right leg calf injury in the 20th minute of the 4-1 victory over Zaragoza, which has kept him out of the team for 32 days.

 
The Dutch coach has been singing the praise of the team trained by Unai Emery. “They work with humility and they’ve got some good results. They’re doing a great job”, said Rijkaard.
With 11 points from 8 games, they are currently 9th in their first season in the top flight. Almeria has been a revelation during the opening phase, and Rijkaard has been praising the Andalucians’ game. “In a lot of games they have dominated the play, and they have some good individual players. What’s more, they work with humility and they’ve got some good results”. And the team trained by Unai Emery really is doing a good job in the Primera.

Thuram to be rested

Having played in the Champions League clash against Rangers, the technical staff has decided to rest Thuram this weekend. Rijkaard believes that with the recovery of the three injured players, now is a good moment: “It’s not a problem of fitness. It’s just that I can only call 18 players, and with Touré, Márquez and Zambrotta back in the squad, it’s a good moment to rest Lilian”. Messi, however, is back in the squad. The Barça coach says the Argentinean is fine, and could be playing tomorrow against Almeria.

Puyol versatile

He returned to his origins in Glasgow and was one of the best Barça players on the Ibrox Park turf. Carles Puyol played on the right wing in Scotland, but it’s not his only possible position for games in Camp Nou. Rijkaard explained that “in away games it’s logical that he can play on the wing, but normally I see him as a central defender. He’s the heart of the team”.

Henry’s qualities

“He’s a great footballer, and he shouldn’t be criticised. We have to be aware of his qualities and make the most of them. His attacking movements are dangerous to the opponent’s defence, which sometimes we don’t realise. This is how Frank Rijkaard has closed the debate on Henry’s performances for Barça. The coach added that “our game is one of position and touch. It’s been successful, but we need to know that we have a player with speed and depth who can help us”.

Ronaldinho to stay on

Questioned once again about Ronaldinho’s future, Rijkaard was clear. “It’s just a hypothesis, it’s not a reality. I feel Ronaldinho is happy in Barcelona”.

 
Frank Rijkaard was busy man on Friday as he constantly stopped the practice match to put his ideas across to the players in the final training session before the Blaugrana take on Almería on Sunday.
After the easy session on Thursday, the intensity returned as the first team took to the pitch in front of La Masia as they continued their preparations for the visit of Almería on Sunday (19:00 CET, Barça TV and PPV). Rijkaard was keen to work on tactics and was heavily involved as he ensured that the players understood how he wanted them to play during a practice encounter. Lionel Messi was not present as he continued on a personal recovery programme.

Positional sense

After the warm-up exercises, the Blaugrana players divided into groups that depended on their positions and were put through a circuit with the ball. Eidur Gudjohnsen joined the midfielders' group, while Touré Yaya and Rafa Márquez switched between the midfield and defence.

Tactical match|party

Rijkaard was also keen to try certain players in different positions as he looks for ways to cover for the injured stars, although Touré, Márquez and Gianluca Zambrotta are close to being declared fully fit again.

The squad then played a ten-a-side match with Valdés, Puyol, Thuram, Milito, Abidal, Touré, Xavi, Iniesta, Henry and Giovani on one team and Jorquera, Sylvinho, Márquez, Oleguer, Zambrotta, Crosas, Gudjohnsen, Ronaldinho, Ezquerro and Bojan on the other.

Changing sides

Throughout the game, Rijkaard switched players from one team to the other to try out new ideas, like when Ronaldinho and Giovani Dos Santos changed sides. Touré and Márquez were also asked to change as the coach continued to explain why he was doing this and what he wanted to achieve.

Henry stretches out

Thierry Henry did not take part in the usual warm-up games as the French international continued to stretch and exercise with one of the physical coaches.

 
Xavi Hernández has not doubts that Thierry Henry will rediscover his best form with FC Barcelona and stated that he has been impressed with the way the midfield has operated in the absence of the injured players.
The Catalan playmaker explained that he was a fan of Henry when he played for Arsenal and still sees him as one of the best forwards in world football. "Henry is a great player, an extraordinary talent," he said. "It is normal that while he is adapting that he is not at the level he showed for Arsenal yet. But it is only a matter of time."

A fan of Henry

The arrival of Henry has added great depth to the squad and given coach Frank Rijkaard more options, according to Xavi. "He is very quick and has a fifth or a sixth gear," he continued. "Maybe we should make more use of that, which is one of his strengths. He is player that can do anything and it is important that we help him. The team is working towards playing more directly at certain stages in games. We have to improve those things tactically and are working on thm in training."

Messi, Gudjohnsen and Touré

Reflecting on the possibility that Lionel Messi may miss Sunday's game against Almería, as he continues to work on a specific fitness programme, Xavi believes that all the forwards are important, although he had special praise for the Argentinian. "He is a complete player, one of those that has everything and it is not longer potential, it is reality," he explained.

On Eidur Gudjohnsen's return to the team, Xavi stated: "He is a player that operate in midfield and has great technique." With Touré Yaya set to return, Xavi stated: "He allows us to do other things, to dedicate ourselves to more creative tasks."

Almería outlook

Looking ahead to the game against Almería, Xavi believes that the visitors to Camp Nou will not play in the same manner as Rangers did in midweek. "I do not think that they will have the same approach," he said. "They are a daring team, who like to pass the ball and in the Bernabéu they played very well. They go out to play attacking football and that could be good for us."

 
The Ivory Coast midfielder is in the final stages of his recovery from the muscle injury that has sideline him for the past few weeks. He assured us: “It would be good to make my reappearance against Almería”.
Almost four weeks after he was injured in the away match against Levante, Touré Yaya can see the light at the end of the tunnel. He’s itching to get back to the action and he has been following the team very closely while he’s been out. Now that’s he’s nearly ready to return, he reveals in this interview: “I wouldn’t like to be in the trainer’s shoes, with so many top class players”.

How are you feeling?

"I feel great. I’m really keen to play again as soon as possible".

What stage are you at in your recovery?

"It’s true I’ve made a quick recovery but when you’re keen to return you can overcome many things".

When do you think you can play again?

"I’m really keen to play as soon as possible. I think it wouldn’t be bad to play this Sunday. I think that this Thursday or Friday I’ll get the green light from the doctor to play".

Are you ready?

"When people ask me this I always say I’m ready. I believe the important thing is to give your best".

And what about Barça?

"At the moment we’re playing a lot of games one after the other and physically that’s complicated. I sympathise with my teammates called up by the national teams. With the travelling and the matches it’s physically difficult but I think that with the players we’ve got, there’s a serious and professional group that can achieve everything".

Are you happy here?

"Yes, very happy. I’ve been received very well. Everything’s gone marvellously and I believe it will continue that way".

What do you think of the team in the last few weeks?

"They look good. The players are tired and you could see that in the match against Villarreal. A lot of the players had just come back after playing with the national sides and we had to play against a good team. I believe you can’t always be at the same level but I think it’s only a question of tiredness. Apart from that, I think my teammates area doing a good job".

You bring a lot of balance to the team. Do you think that balance has been maintained in your absence?

"There are two players per position. This year’s Barça is at an international level and, for example, there are Márquez and Iniesta to cover my position. Iniesta, a player I value very highly, has done a very good job. There are also Xavi and Deco. But at that moment it was physically difficult because they’d all come back from playing international matches".

What’s your analysis of the last two matches?

"Villarreal are a good team. They had the advantage of not having too many players away on international duty and so were able to prepare the game whereas FC Barcelona had the majority of our players with the national squads and that definitely had an influence. The match against Rangers was very difficult because they closed down at the back. But looking ahead I think there’ll be more freshness in our play in the game against Almería and we’ll regain our confidence".

 
Xavi Hernández highlighted the lengthy injury list at FC Barcelona as a problem for the team and also reflected on the goalless draw against Rangers in the Champions League in midweek.
The Catalan playmaker spoke to Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat and explained why he thought that the Blaugrana were suffering due to the number of absentees there currently are in midfield and outlined how the coach and the players were doing their best to overcome this. "Yes, we have had some misfortune as there are quite a few injured player, both in midfield and in defence," he said.

"People are talking about the midfielders more, like Deco and Touré Yaya, because there are not so many to replace them in the squad. The coach is trying to build a team despite these injuries though. We have just drawn with Rangers in Glasgow and now we hope that they can return as soon as possible. It appears that Touré could be available again this weekend."

We deserved to win

Loking back on the Champions League encounter with Rangers, Xavi recognised that Barça were not happy with the result: "At first it may not appear such a bad result, but we deserved to win," he explained. "We did not have many clear chances, maybe two or three. Maybe Ronaldinho should have had a penalty, but they were a very difficult team to play against. They allowed us to have possession and then defended in numbers. It was a very tough game. Despite that, in the Champions League a draw is not a bad result."

Looking ahead to the game against Almería, Xavi thinks winning is paramount. "Although they are having a good season, we have to take the three points," he concluded.

 
After a well-deserved day’s rest, the senior squad trained on Thursday evening at the Masia training grounds. The entire squad, with the exceptions of the injured trio of Eto'o, Deco and Edmílson, was present at the session.
The training session started at 6 pm accompanied by rain. Only Eto'o, Deco and Edmílson were missing due to injury.

Individual training plan for Messi

However, a number of players, such as Leo Messi, worked apart from the group. The Argentine striker spent the first few minutes on the pitch before heading back to the dressing room. Messi, who has played three matches in the last ten days, followed an individual programme.

Henry and Thuram also trained apart from the group under the supervision of one of the fitness coaches. Henry then continued in the gym.

Back from injury

One of the highlights of the session was the return of Rafa Márquez, who was able to take a full part in training. Meanwhile, Touré and Zambrotta, who had already trained with the squad on Sunday, also trained as normal. All three players are now nearing the end of their recovery programmes.

Lighter session

The Barça players who started the match against Rangers were treated to a lighter session lasting 45 minutes. The substitutes, together with goalkeepers Valdés and Jorquera, plus Márquez, Zambrotta and Touré, stayed longer to practice positional play.

 
Eidur Gudjohnsen has insisted that he has never thought about leaving FC Barcelona and was pleased with his performance in the Champions League encounter with Rangers in Glasgow on Tuesday evening.
The Icelandic international told a press conference that he has no intention of changing clubs when the winter transfer window opens at the end of the year and is only thinking about maintaining his readiness to play for Barça when required. "I am a very positive person and this season I have prepared for every type of situation," he said. "January is still a long way off and I am only thinking about the next game. Will I go to another team? I am staying here. That is easy."

The best is yet to come

After suffering an injury during pre-season, Gudjohnsen admitted that he was still not fully fit. "I could not do pre-season with the squad because of that and it did hold me back," he continued. "You have not seen the real Gudjohnsen yet this season, but I intend to make use of every minute in games and training. The truth is that I felt very comfortable against Rangers playing in midfield. I think that I played well, but I do not know if I will have more opportunities to play in that position again. It will depend on the coach."

Highly motivated

With an optimistic air, Gudjohnsen believes that Barça will be successful again this season after missing out o a trophy last term. "I think the team is highly motivated and has the desire to win everything," he continued. "Last year has been completely forgotten and the team now only wants to look forward."

 
While the first team squad enjoy a day off after playing Rangers in the Champions League, there was still plenty of activity at Camp Nou as the injured players reported for duty to continue their recovery programmes.
Rafa Márquez, Gianluca Zambrotta and Touré Yaya took to the pitch in front of La Masia, just like they did yesterday, as they all battle back from injuries that have kept them out of action in recent weeks.

Márquez is first out

Márquez was the first to appear and he set about his warm-up exercises under the watchful eye of the coaching staff. The Mexican defender has been out of action since tearing as muscle in his leg during the Champions League game against VfB Stuttgart at the start of October and was told that he would be out of action for four weeks.

Zambrotta and Touré

Zambrotta and Touré then joined their team-mate as the Italian stretched away from the others before going through to a routine of controlling and passing the ball. He then underwent two physical circuits before concluding with some shooting practice.

Touré also worked alone, despite being on the same recovery programme as the Italian, because he endured his muscle injury three days later.

 
FC Barcelona maintained their excellent defensive start to the Champions League on Tuesday as they kept another clean sheet to ensure that they have yet to concede in the competition this season.
Frank Rijkaard's side also maintained their unbeaten opening to Group E as they prevented Rangers from registering a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes at Ibrox. With Carles Puyol operating on the right, while Lilian Thuram partnered Gaby Milito in the middle and Éric Abidal played on the left, the Blaugrana against showed how strong they are at the back.

Only one other

The only other side in the Champions League not to have conceded a goal yet is Premiership outfit Arsenal. The rest of the teams in the tournament have let in at least one goal.

Conceding very few goals has always been a key to success in Europe and when Barça swept to the Champions League trophy in 2006, they went through the entire season conceding just five goals. While conceding just two goals in the six group matches, they then let in two in the first knockout round against Chelsea, kept clean sheets int he games against Benfica and Milan and only let another goal during the final in Paris.

A quiet night

Víctor Valdés had a quiet evening on the pitch in Ibrox on Tuesday as he was not called upon to make one save. Against Lyon in the first Champions League match he only had one stop to make, but against VfB Stuttgart he showed how good he can be by repelling the German side with seven saves.

The Catalan custodian's best stops in the Daimler-Gottlien earlier this month came when the scoreline was still goalless and Mario Gomez had two chances to make the breakthrough, only to be denied on both occasions.

 
Carles Puyol was asked to step into a familiar role against Rangers on Wednesdayas the FC Barcelona defender was employed at right-back, five years after moving into the centre of defence.
The Blaugrana captain produced an outstanding performance in Ibrox on Wednesday evening after being surprisingly named on the right side of the defence. With his marauding runs up the flank, Puyol looked at home in the role and could well have snatched a winner if he had been able to convert one of two good chances he latched on to.

Previous form

In his nine season in the Barça first team, Puyol has been employed as a central defender for the previous five, but he played at right-back for his first four campaigns at the highest level and made his debut there.

On October 2, 1999, Louis Van Gaal gave Puyol his first official game for the club against Valladolid and he was not asked to switch positions until the middle of the 2002-03 season when Raddy Antic tried him in the middle. The Serbian coach was the first to test Puyol in the central position and he impressed so much that he stayed there.

 
Records, precedents, statistics... We’ve brought together here a fascinating collection of facts surrounding tonight’s Glasgow Rangers v Barça.
- Glasgow Rangers and Barça have never met before in a competitive European match.

- Rangers and Barça are part of a select group of six teams that have won both of their opening two group matches in the Champions League. The others are Olympique Marseille, Shakhtar Donetsk, Manchester United and Arsenal.

- Rangers’ 0-3 win away to Lyon was the first time a Scottish club had won an away match in the Champions League since the 2000/01 season.

- No player from either Barça or Rangers is suspended for this match. However, Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson is just one yellow card away from a suspension. If he receives one in this match, he will miss the game in the Camp Nou.

- If he plays, it will be Carles Puyol’s 80th European match. It will also be Frank Rijkaard’s 40th match as Barça coach.

- The Rangers squad includes 2 Spanish players, Nacho Novo and Carlos Cuéllar. Novo began his career with Huesca, before signing for Raith Rovers, Dundee United and, finally, Glasgow Rangers. Cuéllar has played for Calahorra, Numancia and Osasuna, from where he moved to Rangers this summer.

- Five Rangers players have played in all 6 of their team’s matches in the Champions League so far, including the qualifying phase: McGregor, Weir, Cuéllar, Ferguson and Hemdani.

- Both teams have scored 5 goals in their 2 Champions League matches, and in both cases 4 of the 5 goals have come in the second half.

 
The Dutch manager has left Glasgow pleased with the team’s performance and said “I am sorry we couldn’t score a goal to make the difference.” Rijkaard believes “a draw was not such a bad result.”
Frank Rijkaard has a sweet and sour taste in his mouth as he returns to Barcelona after a game his side dominated but in which they failed to convert their chances into goals. “A draw in the Champions league is not a bad result” he commented.

“An improved side”

After losing in Villarreal, Rijkaard felt today’s performance symbolised a reaction. “The group has worked well, they fought and improved physically. We are only sorry we couldn’t get the goal to make the difference and that’s why we suffered until the last minute.” He added that the draw “gives us confidence. We have to keep working because everything will come in time.”

Holding on

Frank Rijkaard was asked to defend his decision to play for a draw rather than push forward for the three points in the dying moments of the game. He replied that “the team played to win the match but when there are only two or three minutes left it is better to hold on for the draw.” He added that there is still the return to come at the Camp Nou, where “we are stronger”.

Recognition for Gudjohnsen

Against Rangers, Eidur Gudjohnsen played his first game of the season, and did so in an unfamiliar position, midfield. Rijkaard was impressed with his performance, saying “he was a very important player for us both because of his physical effort and the way he plays.”

At Ibrox Park, Rijkaard made another odd move in playing Carles Puyol at right back, where “he functioned well.” He also mentioned the excellent work put in by central defenders Thuram and Milito. Videos and comments by the players available on Barça TV Online .

 
The FC Barcelona captain returned to the right back slot against Rangers, and feels the draw was a good result although it was shame they couldn’t turn their chances into goals.
The main surprise in the Barça line up at Ibrox Park was Carles Puyol playing at right back for the first time in several years. After the game he said “I still remember my time on the wing, but all positions are more or less the same. Today we attacked and I helped out up front”.

Valuable point

Puyol feels a draw away from home was a good result. He said “although we didn’t score, the point will do us good. We went looking for the win at all times, we worked very hard. I liked our attitude… It was a game in which we had a lot of the ball because the opposition played it tight at the back, we were just missing a goal.” Thoughts now turn to the home match against Almería, “at home we hope we can get three points, I hope it is a similar game to this one” he said.

Andrés Iniesta:

“If we win at home it will be a good point. In European competition it is important to draw away from home”.

“In games like this, if you are lucky enough to score you can do more, but we were unlucky in front of goal”.

“It is important that we are still leaders, but especially considering the first half, we get the feeling we have dropped two points”

Víctor Valdés:

“Barça looked impressive against a very physical team and the only thing we didn’t do was score”.

“We get the feeling that we can make this draw count in the next game at home”.

Leo Messi:

“We have to find a solution so we can score goals when the opposition plays it tight at the back”.

Gaby Milito:

“We need to keep collecting points and stay top”.

“We are calm because we did all we could”.


Videos and comments by the players available on Barça TV Online.

 
Just before leaving for Glasgow, Barça’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, assured us that the game against Rangers will be “a high pressure game”.
Begiristain told reporters: “Our aim is to end up being top of the group”. Therefore, a win against Glasgow Rangers - who currently share first place with Barça with six points – would be an important step forward. However, Begiristain knows this will no easy task: “Glasgow Rangers will try and make it physical game and we hope to be up to the task”.

Deco injury blow

Deco has joined the already uncomfortably long list of players sidelined by injury after picking up a leg injury against Villarreal. Initial estimates suggest he will be out about five weeks. Begiristain told us: “He was in form, very motivated and is a greater recoverer of the ball in midfield (however) we’ve got cover for his place”.

Confidence in the squad

Continuing with the subject of the number of injuries, Begiristain admitted the technical staff were a little worried: “We want the squad to be at full strength as soon as possible. With more players getting injured and others still recovering, right now we’re a bit short. But there’s confidence in the players we have available – they’re also very good”.

As for whether Gudjohnsen will start Tuesday night’s game, Begiristain limited himself to saying: That’s a decision for Frank Rijkaard”. However, he went on to describe the Icelandic striker as “a great professional with a very interesting profile for Barça”.

Injuries and the calendar

Asked if the muscle injuries being suffered by the players are due to the busy schedule of matches, Txiki Begiristain was absolutely clear: “Obviously. It’s a question of effort, of high pressure and demanding matches coming one on top of the other. Apart from the friendlies, they’re playing some really important qualifying matches with the national teams. In short, they’re demanding matches and the players are suffering from this”.

Performance the main thing

Finally, Begiristain referred to recent comments made by Joan Laporta calling for people to respect Ronaldinho’s private life: “People are really on top of the players’ private lives when what they should be evaluating are their performances, not just in the matches, but also in training. There are players that are performing really well and then one night out tarnishes their image”.

 
Bojan Krkic's goal against Villarreal last weekend ensured that the striker became the youngest player to ever score in the league for FC Barcelona.
The starlet took the mantle from his close friend, Lionel Messi, who became the previous youngest when he scored in 2005. Krkic netted the goal aged 17 years, one month and 22 days, to beat his Argentinian team-mate by almost eight-and-a-half months. The game against the Yellow Submarine was also the first time that Krkic had started an official game for the Blaugrana first team.

Old friends

Krkic and Messi have known each for some time as both players came up through the youth ranks at Camp Nou. In April 2004, when they were both still plying their trade for the young teams, Barça TV met the pair. Among other things, the pair discussed how they came to join the club and revealed that they both dreamed of playing for the first team one day.

 
Frank Rijkaard has predicted that Tuesday night’s Champions League clash between Rangers and Barça will, more than anything, be a clash of styles. He believes Barça need to make sure theirs is the one that prevails.
Physical football against the possession game. That is the way Frank Rijkaard views tonight’s crunch encounter between Glasgow Rangers and FC Barcelona. Frank Rijkaard told the pre-match conference that “we have to find a way of imposing our game” he said. “There are two teams on the pitch and it will be a clash of different styles.”

Possession football

He believes that Barça’s chances will improve the more they can keep control of the ball. “We have no chance of winning a game based on physical force, but if we keep the ball, if we are aggressive, if we don’t leave spaces and if we maintain our order, we will”, said Frank Rijkaard.

That said, he is also aware that they have to make sure they turn that possession into goals, because “having the ball is not enough, what’s most important is to win.”

Rangers no surprise

The excellent start by Rangers comes as no surprise to the Barça boss, who is aware that “the level in the Champions League is high.” He also believes they can maintain that form throughout the group, although Barça will be expecting to extend their winning run. Tonight there can only be one winner.

Always ready to learn

Asked about the way his team played in Villarreal, Rijkaard said “we started weakly, we gave them the ball, and Villarreal were more aggressive.” But he is optimistic that things can improve this Tuesday. “You learn something from all games, whether you win or lose”, he concluded.

 
Andrés Iniesta has highlighted the importance of Tuesday’s game with Rangers, in which a win for Barça would see them almost through to the next round of the Champions League. “It’s a key game”, he said.
Iniesta believes a win for Frank Rijkaard’s side at Ibrox tonight “would be a major step towards being in the next round of the competition”. He added that “right now both sides have six points” so this game will be important in deciding the outcome of the group.

Important to concentrate

Iniesta, convinced that Rangers “will fight as hard as they can” has said that Tuesday’s match “will be intense and difficult” and is aware of just how much Rangers are likely to keep it tight from start to finish. He agrees that Barcelona are, on paper, the favourites, but that anything could happen out there on the pitch. So it is important for Barça to maintain their full concentration. “If we don’t play intensely we’ll have a bad time of it” he said. “We have to make a difference with certain things. We have to try to play our game and play a good game.”

Possible chance for Gudjohnsen

With the midfield struggling with injuries, Gudjohnsen may get a chance tonight and Iniesta is aware that “it is not a new position for him. He played there for Chelsea and is one the options we have right now. Unfortunately, we don’t have many players in that position.” He added that Gudjohnsen “is a player that knows how to hold the ball up and can bolster the team’s strength in the air.”

If Gudjohnsen does come in, Iniesta may play in a more central playmaking role while Xavi moves out wide. “We can’t discuss these possibilities because it all depends on the manager’s decisions” said Iniesta, who concluded by describing the blight of injuries being suffered by the team as “a shame for the players that suffer them but no reason for us to feel afraid when we go out onto the pitch.”

 
Bojan Krkic became the youngest player in the history of FC Barcelona to score a goal in the league for the club when he netted against Villarreal last weekend.
At 17 years, one month and 22 days, the striker etched his name into the record books and took the mantle from Lionel Messi, who was nearly eight-and-a-half months older when he scored on May 1, 2005 against Albacete. The Argentinian was 17 years, 10 months and seven days old when he hit his first league goal for the team, but has now been moved into second spot.

Fine move

It was Messi, in fact, who provided the pass for Krkic to break his record when, in th 24th minute, he slotted a pass between the Villrreal defence where his team-mate beat Javi Venta to the ball before guiding in off the near post.

Growing in stature

The goal showed why Krkic is thought of as such a great young talent. He was awarded the player of the tournament at the Under-17 World Championships in Korea over the summer and has proved his goalscoring ability throughout his time in the Barça youth ranks. His first ever goal for Frank Rijkaard's side came in a friendly against Al-Ahly in Egypt in April and he went on to gain valuable experience on the pre-season trip to Scotland, where he played against Dundee United and Hearts.

Early start

Krkic was born in Linyola on August 28, 1990 and joined FC Barcelona's Benjamí A side at the age of nine. Since then he has grown in stature as he rose through the Barça youth teams and last season became the B team's top goalscorer with ten goals.

 
Ronaldinho has been named in the squad to travel to Glasgow Rangers for the Champions League encounter this week. He took part in Sunday morning training, at which Touré and Zambrotta also trained as normal.
The defeat to Villarreal behind them, Barça trained this morning at La Masia, with all thoughts on the Champions league game in Scotland. After the session, Frank Rijkaard announced his squad for the game in Glasgow, in which Ronaldinho comes in for the injured Deco.

Missing players

The first league defeat of the season has brought further bad news for Barça with Deco out injured. The Portuguese player spent the morning doing tests with the medical services. Not only Deco, but also Messi, Henry and Milito were missing, as they were instead working out in the gym with Márquez, all concentrating on physical problems.

Touré and Zambrotta back to normal

The positive note were the returns of both Touré Yaya and Gianluca Zambrotta to normal training. The players that played on Saturday evening only did a gentle warm-down routine, while the other players including Touré and Zambrotta, did a series of circuits and ended up taking shots at Jorquera.

 
An echography performed on Deco this morning has confirmed a myotendinous injury in the middle abductor of his left leg. He is expected to be out of action for five weeks.
He sustained the injury in the 71st minute of the game with Villarreal (3-1), when contesting a ball in the centre of the park. He was immediately substituted by Gudjohnsen.

Misses eight games

He will not be available for the next eight games, at least, five of which are in the league (Almería, Valladolid, Betis, Getafe and Recreativo) and 3 in the Champions League (the two with Rangers and one with Lyon).

 
“We are football players and we enjoy competition, so the general state of fatigue is no excuse”, said the French defender in a press conference in which the game in Glasgow was the hot topic. “Barça have to play their own game” he said.
After the last training session before flying up to Scotland, Éric Abidal told the media why he felt Barça had slipped up against Villarreal and made it clear that “general tiredness is no excuse, we should have approached the game differently but we played our usual game despite missing several players. Perhaps we should have done what Villarreal did and stay in our own half and play on the counter attack. Abidal also said that more than fatigue it is was the psychological factor of having to come back from two goals down that affected the team.

The Scottish play

Abidal went on to speak of the game with Glasgow Rangers, and observed that “I have played against Scotland for France and we have lost twice. They play very aggressive football, it is much more physical.” His method for beating Rangers involves “Barça playing their own game and not falling into the trap of playing like the opposition in one on one situations and physical duels.”

Injuries to overcome

With Deco the latest player to go out through injury, Abidal considers some players are overdoing things. “I am no doctor” he rightly said, “but when we put in a lot of effort and play lots of games you reach the point where your body has hit its limit and that’s when injuries occur…from the very start we are all giving all we have got for the team.”

Mentality is the key for Abidal. “It would be fantastic if there weren’t so many injuries, but not all seasons are like this, the other players just have to compensate for this situation and that is achieved with the right mentality.”

Not a midfielder

What these injuries could mean is Rijkaard having to shuffle his pack. Touré Yaya’s absence could be particularly important and Abidal said of this that “we have got some good results with Touré and without him, we certainly don’t want to miss players through injury but we have to remember that in this team we have the players to cover for injuries if necessary.”
But Abidal laughed off suggestions that he could be a useful option to bolster the midfield. “I am a defender, not a midfielder, I am not used to playing in midfield” he said. “To be honest, it’s not a position I fancy very much. There are players that can cover that area and it is up to the boss to decide which of us will have to do that.”

 
Six FC Barcelona players are in the 50 man shortlist for the Balon d’Or award: Abidal, Deco, Eto’o, Henry, Messi and Ronaldinho. Only AC Milan can match Barça in terms of the number of nominees.
France Football has announced the names of the 50 players shortlisted for the Balon d’Or award that is voted for by the prestigious magazine’s correspondents. FC Barcelona and Milan both have six players in the list, with Abidal, Deco, Eto’o, Henry, Messi and Ronaldinho of Barcelona competing with the European champion’s Gatusso, Inzaghi, Maldini, Pirlo, Seedorf and Kaká, the latter being the bookies favourite to take the accolade, along with Leo Messi. Arsenal’s in form Cesc Fábregas, a product of the Barça youth system, has also been named in the list.

Three Barça repeats

Messi, Eto’o and Ronaldinho were all named in last year’s list (as was Henry, but as an Arsenal player), while Abidal and Deco were not. The name of the winner will be announced on December 2 on TF 1’s programme “Telefoot”. The biggest change this year has been the inclusion of players that do not compete in European leagues, which this year are Rogerio Ceni (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Younis Mahmoud (Algharafa, Iraq) and Guillermo Ochoa (América, Mexico).

 
Ronaldinho reported to the Camp Nou on Saturday morning for training, firstly on the La Masía training grounds and then later in the gym.
Ronaldinho arrived just after 11 am for a light session to help him recover from the long trip back from Brazil. He did some jogging for 20 minutes before going to the gym.

Injured players

The five Barça players that are currently recovering from injury were also present at the Camp Nou. Touré, Zambrotta and Márquez exercised on the La Masía pitch while Eto'o and Edmilson worked out in the gym.

 
Frank Rijkaard recognised that FC Barcelona's first defeat of the season in the league came against a Villarreal side that he believes were better than the Blaugrana in every position on the night.
"Villarreal have played very well and were better than us," he said. "Their players showed more aggression we did. We have not done our jobs well and everything was too easy for them." Despite that, the Dutchman added: "We showed a good attitude, but we cannot leave so much space for the other team." Barça were beaten 3-1 thanks to two penalties from Marcos Senna and an early strike from Santi Cazorla.

Lack of freshness

Reflecting on the way the game developed, Rijkaard said that he regretted that his team were missing some "freshness" after the international break and believes that was why his players made a slow start to the encounter. "In the opening stages the disputed balls were always going to Villarreal," he continued. "We knew that at 2-0 we would have to work very hard and the team reacted in a bid to change the result, but in the end it was not possible."

Unity and quality

The Barça boss then stated that teamwork was crucial in encounters such as this. "In games like this we have work as a unit, contain them at the back and then use our quality to achieve something," he explained. "It was not like that tonight and I think that Villarreal were stronger than us in very position on the pitch. It is because of that reason that Villarreal were able to win the game."

Rijkaard is not usually one to look for excuses after a defeat and he was not keen to start after this match. "It is a reality that throughout the past two weeks we have practically been unable to train as a squad," he added. "Besides, we have come up against a side that were well prepared to play against us."

Deco’s injury

Away from the defeat, the injury to Deco was another negative note from the evening. The Portuguese star suffered a tear to a muscle in his left thigh and could be out of action for four or five weeks. "The injury to Deco is a shame," Rijkaard said. "He is a very important player for us. I expect him to be back playing again soon."

 
The Barça players agreed that Villarreal had been good value for their win as they expresssed their opinions after the 3-1 defeat in El Madrigal. Bojan scored for the visitors, but Senna netted twice after Cazorla had put the hosts ahead early on.
Krkic's goal made him the youngest player in the history of Barça to score in the league, but it was not enough to help the team to victory.

Bojan Krkic:

"I am pleased with the goal, but I have a bad taste in the mouth as we were unable to take all three points."

"Messi is a great player and I have a great understanding with him. I will keep the shirt I wore today as a souvenir."

Xavi Hernández:

In the end we lacked freshness, but the match was determined by the first goal. Villarreal played well on the counter-attack. It is a day when everything that normally happens to us was in reverse."

"We said in the dressing room that we know we have to keep our chins up. It is the first defeat of the season at a difficult stadium and in a week when many of us had international commitments."

"This ground has not been good to us. We started the game badly. They played on the counter against us and it was very difficult to find space. We have to congratulate them because they played a great game."

"It is true that Villarreal are a direct rival, but there is still a long way to go in the league and until now we have been playing well."

Deco:

"It hurt a little at the beginning of the game, but at the break I had a massage and it improved. I did not think that I was injured."

Eidur Gudjohnsen:

"It is never good to go on because a team-mate has been injured, but I am pleased to have played my first minutes of the season. It would have been better if we had won though."

"Villarreal is a strong team with a lot of quality. We have played well after going 2-0 behind, but they scored the third and it was very difficult for us after that."

"I felt fine, but I am still lacking minutes."

"Midfield is my best position. I am comfortable there and played there for the last two years at Chelsea and it is not a problem for me. I am prepared to play there."

 
Ronaldinho has not been named in Frank Rijkaard’s squad for Saturday’s game at Villarreal. The Brazilian has been replaced by Santi Ezquerro.
Ronaldinho will not be joining the squad on its trip to Castellón. He took part in his country’s midweek success against Ecuador (0-5), and was not back in time to take part in the final preparatory session before the journey south. Frank Rijkaard decided it would be wise to leave him out of the team this weekend.
Ezquerro returns

That means there is a place for Santi Ezquerro, who was dropped for the last league match against Atlético Madrid (3-0). In fact, this is his first call-up since September 26, when he was named in the squad that faced Zaragoza at the Camp Nou.

Giovani eased back in

As is normal on days before matches, the players trained behind closed doors at the Camp Nou. Giovani dos Santos was involved after seeing his Mexican national side lose this week to Guatemala. He returned to Barcelona this morning and recuperated from his exertions in isolation.

 
The FC Barcelona coach appreciates the importance of winning all three points in Villarreal and considers the need to perform on the back of a heavy international schedule offers added motivation.
“It is true that after international matches we have not presented the image of ourselves we would have liked. So tomorrow will be a test and we have to do our best.” Those were Frank Rijkaard’s words shortly before the trip down to Villarreal. Both matches played after internationals this season have ended in draws, and this is something that needs to change. “The team is full of enthusiasm. We cannot simply say we are tired. That should be an added motivator.” Villarreal, the last defeat Barça have not lost a league match since April 22 and that was against Pellegrini’s side. Villarreal have always proved a hard side for Barça to beat, and as Rijkaard says “El Madrigal has always been a difficult ground. It is important to get the points and that should provide added motivation to the group.” Speaking about the absent Riquelme he said “he is a great player. He has shown that with Argentina and has always played great games against us.” Possibility of Bojan Bojan has been in Barcelona all week, and may get to start on Saturday. The coach said “the whole squad is important and Bojan could start at any time. They are all ready. Him too.” Giovani Dos Santos only returned to the city this morning after a long journey back from Los Angeles. The Dutchman is pleased to see the youngster getting a taste of international football, and said “he is a bit tired but he has a strong mentality and is able to help the team at any time.” The internal code Rijkaard spoke with surprise about the Internal Code, saying “it’s odd. A lot is being said. But the name says it all: Internal Code. It is for the squad, the players. But it doesn’t affect me much because the players all work hard and are disciplined.”

 
The eighth round of league matches sees the two longest serving managers in the Spanish top flight go head to head, Frank Rijkaard and Manuel Pellegrini.
Frank Rijkaard and Manuel Pellegrini have managed their respective sides longer than any other coaches in La Liga. The Dutchman is in his fifth season at Barça, while Chilean manager Pellegrini is serving his fourth term in Castellón.

Rijkaard, five seasons at Barça

There was much expectation when Rijkaard arrived at Barça in 2003, and he has managed to live up to those hopes. In his time at the club, he has collected two Spanish championships (2004/2005 and 2005/2006) and one Champions League.

Four seasons for Pellegrini

Manuel Pellegrini signed for Villarreal a year after Rijkaard took charge of Barça, in 2004, and led the team to its highest ever league finish, third and a semi final appearance in the Champions league, where they narrowly lost out on a final place to Henry’s Arsenal. Since then, Villarreal have been a regular feature of the top half of the Spanish table.

Duel of veterans in Madrigal

With so many years behind them, these two managers are now familiar faces as they come together once again at El Madrigal on Saturday evening. Rijkaard is on top as it stands, having won three of the meetings between the sides, with there also having been one draw and two defeats.

 
Ronaldinho had an excellent game and scored the second goal in Brazil’s 5-0 demolition of Ecuador in their World Cup qualifier in the Maracaná.
Brazil recovered from their poor performance against Colombia last Sunday to beat Ecuador 5-0 in the second matchday of the qualifying phase for the 2010 World Cup. Ronaldinho played the full 90 minutes in Rio de Janeiro’s legendary Maracaná stadium, scored a goal, and delighted the 80,000 strong crowd with his trademark brand of footballing magic.

Second half goal feast

Brazil took an 18th minute lead thanks to Vágner Love but lacked real punch throughout the first half. However, things changed after the break, with Ronaldinho creating plenty of danger with his penetrating runs and free kicks. In the 76th minute he cleverly deflected a Kaká shot past Ecuador keeper Viteri for Brazil’s second. Ecuador immediately fell to pieces and Kaká added two more and Elano another to give Brazil an easy win. They now have 4 points and sit in second place behind Argentina, who have 6 points.

 
Barça have not lost a match since 22nd April 2007, when they went down 2-0 against this Saturday’s opponent, Villarreal, in the Madrigal stadium.
FC Barcelona have gone almost five months without losing a match since they were beaten 2-0 away to Villarreal last season. Since then they chalked up 10 wins and 4 draws in the league.

The last meeting

Barça went to the Madrigal in April as league leaders with 59 points and the best goal record of 60 scored and 27 conceded. At the time, Villarreal languished in 12th place, having scored just 29 goals and conceded 39. That day, however, the forecasts didn’t work out.

After an evenly balanced and goalless first half, Villarreal started the second half strongly and went on to score twice through Pires (55th m.) and Marcos (84th m.), making Villarreal the last side to defeat Barça in the league in 2007.

Saturday’s rival

The side managed by Manuel Pellegrini is currently third in the table just two points behind Barça. They have only lost one match at home this season (0-5 against Real Madrid) in the second matchday. Barça go into the match in second place and on the back of a 14-match unbeaten run, including consecutive wins in the last four games.

 
FC Barcelona will meet CD Alcoyano in the round of 32 of the Spanish Cup. The first leg will be played on 13th November or 19th December, and the return leg on 2nd January.
The draw for the round of 32 of the Spanish Cup was held at midday on Thursday in Madrid. FC Barcelona have drawn CD Alcoyano, who currently play in group 3 of Second Division B of the Spanish league. The first leg will be played in the town of Alcoy (halfway between Valencia and Alicante) on either 13th November or 19th December with the return leg in the Camp Nou on 2nd January.

The uncertainty as to the date of the first leg is due to the fact that the first choice – 13th November – coincides with the next batch of international matches. Teams such as Barça that have players travelling outside of Europe may request that the first leg be postponed to 19th December.

A difficult time

CD Alcoyano have started the season badly and have taken only 6 points from a possible 24, leaving them in 18th place in the table. This week they sacked their coach Pepe Soler and replaced him with José Bordalàs.

League history

Barça and CD Alcoyano have never met in the Cup but they have played eight times in the league. In the 1945/46, 47/48, 48/49 and 50/51 seasons, Alcoyano were in the First Division. Barça won seven of the eight encounters, conceding a 3-3 away draw in the 45/46 season. In the eight matches, Barça scored 23 goals and conceded 4.

Last season against Barça B

Last season, Alcoyano played Barça B twice in Second Division B, both matches ending in victories for Alcoyano. They won the first match in the El Collao stadium 1-0 and then won 1-2 in the Miniestadi.

 
This weekend’s match against Villarreal will be the first time Pires and Henry have been on opposites sides for 10 years. The two players shared six seasons with Arsenal and many years with the France international side.
You have to go back to the 1997/98 season to find the last time these two players faced each other on a football pitch. However, that’s exactly what will happen when they line up against each other at the weekend in the match between Barça and Villarreal. After many seasons together at Arsenal and France, the link between the two goes far beyond football.

Metz v Monaco

The last time they were on opposite sides on a football pitch, Henry was playing for Monaco and Pires for Metz. The following season Henry signed for Juventus and Pires for Olympique Marseille. Then in the 2000/01 season they joined forces at Arsenal.

With France

Pires and Henry have also formed part of the recent golden age of French international football. They were both in the squad that won the 1998 World Cup in Paris and since then have won the European Championships (2000) and the Confederations Cup (2003).

Medals with Arsenal

Together they won 2 Premier Leagues titles and 3 FA Cups with Arsenal. They shared many great moments at Arsenal including an attempt to emulate the famous Cruyff penalty of 1984. In a match between Arsenal and Manchester City, and with the score at 1-0, Pires tried to pass the ball to Henry but was so unlucky the ball barely moved.

 
On Thursday evening, Frank Rijkaard conducted the first training session to include the majority of the international players ahead of the weekend’s match against Villarreal. Giovani and Ronaldinho were the only players not to make it back in time.
Today’s session was the first time most of the senior players had been able to train at the La Masía training grounds since their return from their international commitments. Frank Rijkaard can now begin preparations for Saturday’s Villarreal game in earnest (20.00 h, Barça TV and PPV).

However, the manager was without Ronaldinho and Giovani Dos Santos, who will arrive in Barcelona on Friday after playing in the early hours of this morning (Spanish time).

Injured players

Gianluca Zambrotta began the session with the rest of the group, taking part in the warm-up and the ball-control exercises. The Italian defender is still recovering from the leg injury he picked up against Sevilla.

Meanwhile, Touré Yaya exercised before the others appeared. For his part, Rafa Márquez trained alone, but with rather more intensity than over the last few days.

Circuit training

The three French internationals, Abidal, Thuram and Henry, plus Milito, did not take part in the usual ball-control exercises and instead did some jogging and circuit training. The rest of the players went through the same routine later after which the internationals – apart from Puyol - returned to the dressing rooms. The Barça captain stayed behind to work out with the rest of his team-mates.

 
Gaby Milito believes the international matches will not affect the team’s performance in Villarreal. He also claimed that certain comments about the internal club code simply are not true.
Gaby Milito is optimistic about the weekend, saying “We are all back together and we are all fine. Most of the internationals have done well for our countries and that’s important because we are in a good mood going into the Villarreal game and very keen to play. They are a good team but I hope that if we can play like we have done in recent games that we will get the three points.”

Internal code

He was also asked about comments made in the press this week concerning the club’s internal code. “As far as I understand it, there are things we can’t stop going public but that doesn’t mean they are true” he said. “The club has assured the captains that this information is wrong and that we the players should not worry. When all the captains are here they will tell us about the internal code.”

Well adapted to the team

Milito added that he his delighted to have settled in so well at his new club, saying “I was excited to come to Barça and wanted to progress quickly. The truth is that I have managed that due to the group’s human and footballing qualities. My colleagues have helped me a lot.”

 
Diego Milito and Lionel Messi scored the goals to give Argentina victory in their World Cup qualifier against Venezuela.
The Albiceleste chalked up a comfortable victory in Maracaibo, that was played in the early hours of Wednesday morning (European time). The match was Argentina's second in the qualifying stages for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa and they maintained their 100 percent start having already beaten CHile at the weekend.

Milito heads home

Venezuela dominated the opening stages of the match and created chances to take the lead, but it was Argentina that showed a clinical touch in front of goal as they scored with their first opportunity. In the 16th minute former Barça midfielder Juan Román Riquelme sent the ball into the area and Gabi Milito nodded the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Going behind clearly affected the Venezuelans and they almost went further behind Messi took aim soon after.

Messi makes amends

The Blaugrana forward did not fail with his next decisive shot as Messi scored three minutes before half-time as he fired home from the left hand side of the area. In the second period Argentina controlled the game, but were unable to add to their tally. Both Messi and Gabi Milito completed the match and came through without any physical problems.

 
Tests have been carried out on a section of the Camp Nou pitch with machines being used to increase the temperature and the amount of light the grass receives at a time of adverse weather conditions.
Taking advantage of the fact that the pitch will be unused for around three weeks, the Camp Nou has seen these machines placed on the playing surface since last Saturday. The four devices are carrying out tests in the stadium, with the objective to discover the vegetative and radicular growth of the grass in order to be able to maintain the same conditions all year round.

More heat and light

It is hoped that by doing this the quality of the lawn can be maintained and still be in the best condition possible until spring. For that reason the company, Royal Verd, have placed the four devices, each containing six low energy lamps to create photosynthesis of the grass to see if it is possible to keep the pitch in superb condition for much longer than normal.

End result

At the moment the tests are being concentrated on the centre of the pitch and will continue throughout the entire season. The machines are on for 12 hours a day (from 6pm until 6am) and the difference in growth and quality between the test area and the rest of the pitch will be measured to see if it has any great affect. Once the results are in it will be decided if this method will be extended to cover the entire pitch.

 
Santi Ezquerro was the star of a practice match during a lively training session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper complex that saw all the players not on international duty participate in.
In the last session of the week where the first team mixes with the B side, the players took part in a game after a quick warm up.The players were split into two sides and even included substitutes.

The line-ups

The team without bibs consisted of Jorquera, Córcoles, Oleguer, Jeffrey (Mauri), Sylvinho, Crosas, Busquets, Dimas, Bojan, Eneko and William (Ezquerro), while the opposition was made up of Pau, Fali, Botía (Bolaños), Víctor Sánchez, Espasandín, Xavi Torres (Rueda), Toribio, Abraham, Pedrito, Gay and Guerra (William)(Tiago), who wore orange bibs. Goalkeepers Víctor Valdés and Oier did not play as they worked separately with Juan Carlos Unzué. Víctor Vázquez was also unable to join in after receiving a knock.

Ezquerro’s brace

The match was split into three periods and Gay drew first blood as he put the orange bibs ahead, before Santi Ezquerro scored twice to put the other team into the lead thanks to two great assists from Bojan Krkic. There were no goals in the third period, which the B team used to prepare for their encounter with Vilanova at the weekend.

Rijkaard on the bench

On the sidelines, Johan Neeskens, Eusebio Sacristán, Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova gave the orders while Frank Rijkaard watched from benches alongside Txiki Begiristain and José Ramón Alexanko.

 
Bojan Krkic has revealed how pleased he is with his first few months as a member of the FC Barcelona first team squad and insisted that he has never had any intention of leaving to join another club on loan.
After being promoted from the B side before the start of the current campaign, the 17-year-old has been rewarded with several appearances as a substitute in order to gain valuable experience. "I ahve played in the majority of games and Rijkaard has shown a lot of confidence in me," Krkic said. "I did not hope to play so much as I thought I would not be given a lot of minutes. I never thought about going out on loan to another team though. I am a young player that is training with a great team and is already a great deal. I am sure that bit-by-bit I will improve."

Helping hands

Since beginning to train with the first team, Krkic has benefitted greatly from the experience. "During the last few months with the squad I have learned many things, especially how to behave in a dressing room as professional as the one here at Barça," he continued. "Everyone is helping me a lot. Henry has supported me since the first day and also Eto'o. The players who have come from the youth team have also helped. The truth is that ther is a great group in the dressing room." Krkic then reflected on the great form of team-mate Lionel Messi, in whose footsteps he is following. "Leo is in great form," the youngster stated. "He has showjn us things that only he cold do. He is a fine player who deserves all the trophies and awards."

Not obsessed

Krkic has appeared in six games this season, but has yet to score a goal for the first team. Despite that, the striker is refusing to panic. "I have scored at every level since I joined Barça and I am not obsessed with it now," he said. "I had a really god chance against Stuttgart, but I know that if I keep playing the goals will come." Krkic does admit, however, that when he returned from the Under-17 World Championships in the summer he was very keen to find the net. "It is true that I trued too many things in a short space of time when I came back," he explained. "I returned when the team was playing official games, after leaving them following the tour of Scotland. Although things went well for me in the World Championships, I now know that in the first team games the number of chances is reduced and you have to take advantage of them when they come."

 
Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o has completed the formalities for taking on Spanish nationality and will now be registered as an EU player.
Samuel Eto'o now has the same status as a Spanish player after completing his nationalisation process at the Civil Registry in Barcelona on Thursday.

In the next few hours, FC Barcelona will officially notify the Spanish FA and the Spanish League of the change.

Ivory Coast international Touré Yayá is now the only non EU player in the squad after the recent nationalisations of Ronaldinho, Giovani Dos Santos and, of course, Eto’o.

 
Leo Messi has shot to fame in a remarkably short period of time. In 1095 days, or three years, since he debuted with the first team, the Argentinian has consolidated his position and is now one of the hottest tips for the Balon d’Or.
It is now three years since Messi made his debut with the Barça first team. That was on October 16, 2004, at Montjuïc, his first game under Rijkaard’s orders. He was aged just 17 years, 3 months and 22 days, and that made him the youngest player ever to play an official match in a Barça shirt.

Debut in the derby

Ever since he arrived in Barcelona, Leo Messi demonstrated the kind of qualities that would eventually lead him to become one of the best players in the world and become a firm candidate to win this year’s Balon d’Or.

He is a fast, daring and efficient player, and that is what caught Rijkaard’s eye when, with several first team players out through injury, he looked to the B team for reinforcements. Messi’s first game was against Espanyol in a tightly matched derby encounter decided by a Deco goal in the 82nd minute.

From Barça B to the first team

Leo Messi went on to play 7 games for the first team that season, and his first goal came against Albacete at the Camp Nou. That made him the youngest player ever to score for FC Barcelona, and in the 2004-05 season, the young striker also got his first run out in the Champions League.

He became a full member of the first team in the 2005-2006 season, playing 17 league matches and scoring 6 goals, as well as 6 Champions League, including one against Panathinaikos when he scored his first goal in European football.

And what a debut season it was for Leo Messi, what with the conquest of the League and Champions League double.

Consecrated as a footballer

Last season he became a fully established member of the starting eleven, although he was sidelined through injury for 3 unfortunate months. He started 26 league matches, scoring 14 goals, and made 5 Champions League appearances, scoring one goal. He impressed so much that he was also called up for international duty, and although he was controversially kept on the bench for most of the 2006 World Cup, he has since gone on to become a regular feature of the Argentina national side.

 
Oleguer’s return to first team training was the biggest news at Tuesday’s training session. He has been following an individual programme since last Wednesday. Jorquera also exercised as normal after working in isolation on Monday.
Valdés, Sylvinho, Ezquerro, Bojan were joined by the returning Oleguer and Jorquera for Tuesday morning training at Sant Joan Despí as they await the return of the internationals on Thursday.

Reserves boost numbers

Rijkaard’s squad, which includes Bojan after the youngster returned from Under 21 duty for Spain, trained once again in the company of the members of Pep Guardiola’s Barça B team. Dutch reserve player Jeffrey, however, trained in isolation after the initial warm-up stage.

Attacking superiority

One of the main exercises involved attacking moves in which the strikers outnumbered the defenders. Work began with two on one situations, which was later modified to three on two.

Once past the defenders, the players had to get a shot in on goal, with the posts defended by the goalkeepers of the first and second teams in turn.

End game

The teams were then divided into three teams for a mini seven-a-side tournament. It was played using a one goal wins and winner stays on system.

 
Work goes on at the Camp Nou. While the first and B teams were training at the Ciutat Esportiva, the players still recovering from injury worked out in the stadium facilities.
Márquez and Touré Yaya were the players that trained on Tuesday on the Masia pitch. The Mexican needs to build up muscle tissue, and worked both with and without the ball, while the Ivorian also had elements of an individual programme to deal with. Meanwhile, Zambrotta, who has been working our daily since last week was given special permission to miss today’s morning session, although he is due back later this afternoon.

Monday at the Ciutat Esportiva

On Monday, Márquez and Touré both travelled up to the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper for echography tests on their respective injuries. Márquez took that opportunity to get out on the pitch and do a series of exercises with and without the ball.

 
Oleguer Presas has told a press conference that he has trained alone for a week due to some minor but niggling injuries he has had for some time.