Thursday 1 December 2011
Tuesday 29 November 2011
WE ARE CONFIDENT AREN'T YOU?
'Barcelona are the best team in history' - Catalans still believing in Liga success on anniversary of 5-0 Clasico win over Real Madrid
Pep Guardiola's side are currently six points behind their fiercest foes in the Primera Division, but figures associated with the club are optimistic on a very special anniversary
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor
November 29, 2010 is a very special day in the history of FC Barcelona.The Catalan club celebrated its 111th birthday and did so in sumptuous style, with an incredible 5-0 win at home to RealMadrid in a Monday-night Clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid had travelled to Catalunya with renewed optimism following their impressive early-season form under Jose Mourinho, and even held a one-point lead going into the fixture.
But goals from Xavi, Pedro, David Villa [two] and Jeffren Suarez inflicted upon the Portuguese his worst-ever defeat. Indeed, in the second half, the Madrid coach didn't even bother to leave the bench.
"The defeat is easy to digest," Mourinho claimed afterwards, in what was one of his shortest press conferences since moving to Spain. For Madrid fans, though, it will have been hard to swallow.
The season ended with four more Clasico clashes in the space of 17 days and although Barcelona got the better of their rivals overall, by claiming La Liga and winning the sides' Champions League duel, Madrid claimed the Copa del Rey with a 1-0 extra-time win over Barca at Mestalla.
Five of the best | The Camp Nou scoreboard on the night of November 29, 2010
One year on, however, Los Blancos boast a six-point lead over the Catalans, after Pep Guardiola's side lost 1-0 at Getafe on Saturday night.Optimism is sky-high in the capital, but with 25 games still remaining in La Liga and a mouth-watering Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu to come in two weeks, Barca have reasons to believe, too, on their special anniversary.
"Many would hand the league over to Real Madrid now and they are letting off fireworks," Dani Alves said at a press conference on Sunday.
"But the challenge is exciting and it fascinates us. And luckily for us there is still a long way to go."
And Barca icon Johan Cruyff added at an event on the same day: "League titles are not decided in December. There are [still] five titles that the club [Barca] can win."
Barcelona vice-president, Josep Bartomeu, added: "We are the best team in history and we will keep working to improve, and demand even more from ourselves."
Guardiola, meanwhile, simply stated: "We will pick ourselves up. We have done well, but we have to do even better."
Barca will show a video montage of the 5-0 win ahead of tonight's rearranged Liga match at home to another capital club, Rayo Vallecano, which kicks off at 21.00CET.
Pep Guardiola: Barcelona have to improve, or we will lose the title to Real Madrid
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has indicated his side need to improve in order to retain their La Liga title.
The Camp Nou outfit are currently six points adrift of leaders Real Madrid following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Getafe.
Guardiola admitted his side are currently not at the same level as their capital arch-rivals but noted they will strive to see off Jose Mourinho's men in the upcoming Clasico on December 10.
"You cannot always be at the top, but the truth is that this is the first time we are below another side," he told reporters at a press conference. "This can happen, also because we are competing against Madrid.
"We know we have a very strong rival above us and we are ready to try [to beat them].
"We will have to improve, or we will not reach them. We are at a good level, but it is not enough to be first in the table.
"We will try hard until the last day of the season. I do not know if it will be enough to be champions, but we will try."
The 40-year-old went on to reject the suggestion of a crisis at the club and stressed he cannot explain the team's sub-par displays on the road this season.
"I do not think that this is the team's most delicate moment since I arrived," he noted.
"There is not just one factor, because every [away] match is different. We did not play poorly in any match, we always had more chances than our opponent."
The Camp Nou outfit are currently six points adrift of leaders Real Madrid following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Getafe.
Guardiola admitted his side are currently not at the same level as their capital arch-rivals but noted they will strive to see off Jose Mourinho's men in the upcoming Clasico on December 10.
"You cannot always be at the top, but the truth is that this is the first time we are below another side," he told reporters at a press conference. "This can happen, also because we are competing against Madrid.
"We know we have a very strong rival above us and we are ready to try [to beat them].
"We will have to improve, or we will not reach them. We are at a good level, but it is not enough to be first in the table.
"We will try hard until the last day of the season. I do not know if it will be enough to be champions, but we will try."
The 40-year-old went on to reject the suggestion of a crisis at the club and stressed he cannot explain the team's sub-par displays on the road this season.
"I do not think that this is the team's most delicate moment since I arrived," he noted.
"There is not just one factor, because every [away] match is different. We did not play poorly in any match, we always had more chances than our opponent."
Thursday 24 November 2011
Wednesday 23 November 2011
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