Last season Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona thrilled Europe with their fluid, vivacious, irrepressible brand of football. Led by the combined talents of Xavi, Iniesta, Henry, Messi and Eto’o, Barca surged to an exceptional treble which established the Catalan club as the most formidable on the planet.

With the start of the new campaign just a fortnight away, Barca will be keen to continue their good form of 2008/09 and dominate La Liga for a second consecutive campaign. Hot on their heels will be a reinvigorated Real Madrid, their squad replenished with a new generation of galacticos keen to win the trophies their talents are surely capable of challenging for. This could be one of the most fascinating campaigns Spain, or indeed the whole of Europe, has seen for a long while.

La Liga for dummies

La Liga, the top-flight of Spanish football, is home to a number of world football’s most glamorous, most attractive sides and is generally considered, along with the English Premier League, to be one of the highest-calibre competitions the game has to offer. Barcelona and Real Madrid, two of the game’s most successful clubs, traditionally battle it out for the title, with the likes of Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal forming a highly competitive chasing pack.

Real Madrid’s recent decision to revive their famous (or infamous, depending on your viewpoint) galactico transfer policy has ensured that a substantial number of the world’s finest footballers – including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema amongst others – will be plying their trade in La Liga for the foreseeable future.

Last season in a Tweet

Barca dominate in Pep’s first season. Real struggle under Schuster, improve under Ramos. Valencia short on cash. Betis, Numancia, Recre relegated.

If La Liga was a footballer…

Socrates. A cultured, skillful footballer in possession of an incredible natural gift and  an intelligent and political nature.

Title contenders

Having so thoroughly dominated La Liga last season, Barcelona will start the new campaign as favourites to secure a second consecutive domestic title. In terms of personnel the Catalans have retained the vast majority of last season’s squad, Samuel Eto’o being the only regular starter to have moved on during the summer.

The Cameroonian striker, one of La Liga’s top scorers in 2008/09, has been replaced at the Camp Nou by the immensely talented Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Swede having proved his goal scoring capabilities for Inter Milan in recent years. If Ibrahimovic can integrate into his new team and important players such as Xavi, Iniesta and the superb Lionel Messi can continue their rich veins of form, then Barca will be well on their way to securing yet more silverware.

Real Madrid, not used to being so comprehensively outplayed by their Catalan rivals, will look upon the 2009/10 season as a chance to reassert themselves as the primary force in Spanish football.

A new manager in the shape of Manuel Pellegrini and the arrival of some of the world’s best players over the summer have certainly signaled Los Blancos’ intent for the coming campaign. Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso and Raul Albiol are just some of the players Madrid have signed in an attempt to revisit the triumphs brought about by the first wave of galacticos in the early part of the decade.

Much rests on the ability of this collection of superstars to gel and learn to play alongside one another. If they can integrate quickly and Pellegrini can find a system to accommodate such an embarrassment of footballing riches, then Madrid will have an excellent chance of claiming the title and, perhaps, honours on the European stage. If not, then Los Merengues might have to wait a little while for their investment in talent to see a significant return.

European hopefuls

Such is the high quality of La Liga, there are a number of clubs capable of vying for places in the various European competitions. Last season it was Sevilla and Atletico Madrid who finished third and fourth to claim the remaining Champions League places, with Villarreal and a cash-strapped Valencia qualifying for the Europa League.

Sevilla have bolstered their midfield with the signing of Tottenham’s Didier Zokora and, despite being set to lose Luis Fabiano, if young players like Jesus Navas and Diego Capel can fulfill their burgeoning potential, Los Palanganas will almost certainly be in and around the top four come the end of the season.

Atletico, one of the league’s most attractive teams in 2008/09, have added more defensive guile to their undoubted attacking prowess, signing Real Betis’ Juanito on a free and snapping up the talented goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo from Real Valladolid. If the prolific pairing of Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero can continue their scintillating form then Atletico might just improve upon their 4th place of last season.

Villarreal will also be looking to improve upon last year’s 5th place, although with manager Manuel Pellegrini, the architect of the club’s recent success, having moved to Madrid, the coming campaign might prove more difficult than anticipated for El Submarino Amarillo.

Similarly, Valencia, who have endured a catalogue of financial disasters in recent times, may have to lower their expectations for the coming season. Although it was widely presumed that Los Che would be forced into selling their best players this summer (and they still might be), thus far they have managed to keep hold of David Silva and David Villa and retained a competitive squad.

If Unai Emery, the club’s talented young manager, can keep his squad together, Valencia will no doubt be one of the best sides in La Liga. However, if his hand is forced by the club’s prevailing financial conditions, then Valencia’s fans may have to gear themselves up for several seasons of mid-table mediocrity and financial survival. It could go either way.

Outside bet

Espanyol. Barcelona’s “other” team endured a terrible start to the 2008/09 season, finding themselves rooted to the bottom of the table for much of the first half of the campaign. However, the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino in January acted as a catalyst for an upturn in the club’s fortunes, an improvement in form which eventually saw the Periquitos finish in 10th.

Espanyol are undoubtedly a strong side, their triumph in the 2006 Copa Del Rey and appearance in the 2006/07 UEFA Cup final is testament to that, and they are well capable of European qualification. The death of captain Daniel Jarque this summer was a devastating blow to all involved with the club, but if they play to their potential this season there is no reason why Espanyol can’t compete at the top end of the league table and do their old captain proud.  

Relegation candidates

Xerez, Real Zaragoza and Tenerife have all been promoted from the Segunda Division and may struggle, but Zaragoza in particular have a squad more than capable of competing at the top level, so I’m going to stick my neck out and predict that the Aragonese side will survive relatively comfortably this season.

Getafe struggled last season, staying up only by virtue of their head-to-head record with Real Betis, and will need to fulfill their sizeable potential if they’re to avoid a similar situation this season.

Osasuna, Real Valladolid and Sporting Gijon also laboured towards the foot of the table last term and will have to keep their relatively fragile squads in tact to ensure survival this time around.

Joker in the pack

It’s hard to know what you’re going to get with Malaga. After promotion back to the top-flight in 2007/08, the Andalusian side exceeded all expectations last season to finish in 8th place, just seven points shy of a place in the Europa League.

Astute signings such as Milan Stepanov and Albert Luque should serve to improve an already industrious side and, with Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz back at the helm, Malaga might just be looking to challenge at the top end of the league yet again. The side’s development will be watched with great interest.

Solid gold gaffer

When Pep Guardiola took over at the Camp Nou at the beginning of last season, a newcomer to the business of management (albeit with the status of a club legend), there were doubts over his ability to guide Barca to any sort of success. Guardiola quickly silenced his critics and, in the space of just nine months, turned himself into one of the hottest properties in management, inspiring his side to a treble whilst playing some truly wonderful football along the way.

Frighteningly, the Catalan icon is still learning his trade as a manager and, if it’s possible to imagine, there might be even better things to come this season.

The man with the golden boot

Diego Forlan, who scored 32 league goals last season, was the 2008/09 Pichichi winner and the Uruguayan will again be amongst the favourites to claim the golden boot, as will his Atletico Madrid striker partner Sergio Aguero.

With Samuel Eto’o having moved to Inter there will be pressure on his replacement at Barca, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, to do his fair share of goal scoring, with his teammates Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry also likely to finish the season with sizeable hauls.

Several of Real Madrid’s stellar signings, not least Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, are also likely to challenge Forlan for his place at the top of the scoring charts, as will some of La Liga’s usual suspects such as David Villa and the evergreen Fredi Kanoute.

In short, there might just be a few goals this season.

Three to watch

Nilmar (Villarreal)

Long considered one of Brazilian domestic football’s finest players, Nilmar has consistently shown himself to be a great creative attacking talent for both Internacional and Corinthians. A two-season spell at Lyon five years ago yielded little, a move which dented his reputation in Europe somewhat, but his recent form for Internacional has done much to restore belief in his talent. Still only 25, Villarreal have signed Nilmar in the hope that he can provide the sort of creative spark which was the trademark of the now departed Nihat. It could be one of the transfers of the season.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

Whilst at Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo established himself as one of the best, if not the best, player in the world. With an £80m transfer to justify, Real Madrid fans will be expecting their club’s marquee signing to reproduce a similar level of performance to that which he displayed at Old Trafford. If he can, Madrid’s chances of winning silverware will be massively enhanced and that transfer fee will seem a veritable bargain.

Diego Capel (Sevilla)

Last season Diego Capel began to show the level of ability everyone has known the young Spaniard to be capable of for a long time. Giving Sevilla an added attacking dimension down the left flank, Capel’s pace and aggression has made the 21 year-old one of La Liga’s best young players. His form will be crucial to Sevilla’s success this season and, if he continues to develop at his current astronomical rate, he could well become a key player for Spain at next summer’s World Cup and in the years to come.

At first glance man’s best friend has little relevance to football. I mean let’s face it, if you’re sitting on the psychiatrists couch and he/she is doing that word association thing and comes up with the word dog are you likely to answer football (or vice versa)?

I didn’t .. err.. I mean… I think not! But scratch the surface a little and you’ll find that the canine world has infiltrated deeply into the football psyche whether you’re a fan, a player, a commentator or a manager and there are obvious links with WAGs.

Have I gone completely barking I hear you ask? Well hopefully not, although regular readers of this column may assure you that that happened some time ago. But read on and I’ll guarantee you a ‘treat’.

Dog Language

The world of the commentator is littered with clichés, facts and sometimes inane musings but on closer inspection you’ll find that they can’t leave the family pet out of things.

“Hanging on doggedly” is seamlessly interchanged with “dogged defending”, both feats generally carried out by “the underdog” while “what a howler!” is offered every time a decent chance goes begging.

Then there’s the pacey young substitute who’s “let off the leash” and defensive midfielders who are regularly “snapping at heels” or “like a terrier”; defenders can be “rottweilers” while wingers are far too often “as lean as (or fast as) a whippet”.

Or if you’re Joey Barton (amongst others) you’re regularly in the “doghouse”. Those whose careers have gone south may have “gone to the dogs” and the Champions are always “Top Dogs”. If you’re English you’ll want the national team to approach every match with the “British bulldog spirit” (works every time, as we’ve witnessed!).

Players like Michael Owen are the “fox in the box”, while referees need a “guide dog” according to most fans and managers stand on the sidelines and “bark instructions”, unless they’re incensed by a bad refereeing decision in which case they are “like a dog with a bone”, which inevitably leads to having a “bone to pick” with the ref at the end of the game!

Dogs on the Pitch!

In years gone by it was a regular feature of the football season to see some of our canine friends invade the pitch and display their skills. Unfortunately, ground changes and regulation has seen the decline of such cameos in recent years. These pitch invasions always added excitement to the occasion when they occurred, the referee having to stop the game as players attempted to coax the doggy visitor into their arms.

But how did dogs get on the field in the first place? According to Roger Titford, who has written on the subject:

“One suspects that men sometimes said they were taking the dog out for a walk as an excuse, when in fact they were off to the match. (Ah, the good old days!) This was much easier in the days of walking to a nearby ground and standing on half-empty terraces than it is nowadays. The dog got bored, startled by the noise or something, and escaped through a pitch-side gate or by leaping a low wall and ran for freedom all over the pitch, usually round in circles until rounded up by the referee or, for some reason, the goalie.”

And there was a famous incident during the 1962 World Cup in Chile in a quarter-final tie between England and Brazil. A stray dog avoided several players until Jimmy Greaves sunk to all fours and captured it. According to some reports, Greaves barked. This counterintuitive approach to calming the dog unfortunately (for Greavesy) sprung a leak, as the frightened animal pissed on Greaves’ England jersey. The dog, later named Bi (I assume because he was willing to play both ways!), is apparently, to this day, the envy of all German football fans!

“I smelled bad,” said Greaves, “but at least it meant the Brazilian defenders stayed clear of me.” Brazil’s Garrincha enjoyed the display so much that he adopted the dog after the tournament! (England lost and Garrincha scored 2!) A dark subtext to this anecdote is that both Greaves and Garrincha developed alcoholism in later life. I have it on good authority though that Bi was a teetotaler.

Jimmy Greaves does it doggy style

However, the pitch intrusion of our canine friends is not always as benign as the above. Check out this report and it may have you looking over your shoulder when next playing in the park on a Sunday morning!

Police Dog Feasts on Footballers

Deputy Dawg

Of all the sporting events in which dogs have interceded, few top the exploits of Pickles. The mixed-breed Scottish Border Collie became an overnight hero while out for walk with his owner, a Thames barge worker, one evening in South-East London’s Beulah Hill on March 27, 1966, as he drew the man’s attention to a package wrapped in newspaper.

Pickles’ owner David Corbett picks-up the story:

“I picked it up and tore some paper and saw a woman holding a dish over her head (you gotta think that it was a stroke of luck that he wasn’t down the pub all night as he could easily have mistaken that for the missus and run for his life, leaving the trophy forever lost!) and disks with the words Germany, Uruguay, Brazil. I rushed inside to my wife. She was one of those anti-sport wives. But I said, ‘I’ve found the World Cup! I’ve found the World Cup!’”

Unfortunately, it does not report what her response was but as an ‘anti-sport wife’ the potential is enormous! All suggestions welcomed!

One week earlier, the Jules Rimet trophy had been stolen from its glass display case at an exhibition hall in Westminster. The English FA consulted Scotland Yard and started ransom negotiations with the thieves. The FA also surreptitiously commissioned a replacement trophy in case the £30,000 (big money in those days!) solid-gold statuette could not be recovered in time

But Pickles saved the authorities from greater embarrassment. The theft, remembers Corbett, gained such attention that it “knocked [Prime Minister] Harold Wilson off the front pages.” Now there’s a bit of history! I thought only Posh Spice or Paris Hilton could do that….who would have thought that the tale [tail] of Pickles and WAGs [wags] could have such parallels in a single story?

Pickles was more newsworthy than Ronaldo at the time (he too could roll-over at will). He lived life as a celebrity dog, starring in a film, The Spy with the Cold Nose, earning medals from canine-advocacy groups and receiving a year’s food supply. The medals, attached to Pickles’ red collar, remain on view at the National Football Museum in Preston, England. But eventually enough was enough for Pickles and, like Ronaldo, he had to go to ground, sadly dying in 1973.

‘Pickles’… without him England would never have held the World Cup!

Dogs with Ability

Yes, there is no shortage of talented ball players out there in the canine world as Fernando Torres found out to his embarrassment. ‘Thou shalt not pass’ is the motto of this pooch!….Vidic at Old Trafford last season he is not!

And I’ll include this one on the condition that you promise not to show it to Florentino Perez at Real Madrid. This ‘youngster’ is better than Kaka or Ronaldo and could be bought for a daily walk and a bowl full of bones, leaving quite a bit of change from 80M! Note the body swerves, ball control, stamina, anticipation! He’s excellent with both feet and uses his head to good effect; get’s up and down all day, uses deceptive pull-backs, has a nose for reading the game and can sniff out a chance….and talk about pace…breathtaking!!

Of WAGS and Top Dogs

As already noted the term WAGs has a connotation directly related to our four legged friends but what is worrying in recent reports relating to some of our top players is the question as to whether the tail is wagging the dog a little too often (the WAG being the tail, so to speak.)

Rumour has it that Ribery won’t consider the PL because his wife prefers Spain. And Mascherano’s restlessness is supposedly linked to his girlfriend’s desire to move to a warmer climate where she can speak the language. Arshavin’s wife slagged-off London like it was the third world…and she from Russia for crying out loud! Am I losing the theme you ask?….no!…spoilt bitches all!

But stand-up the man who is certainly top dog in his relationship! Nemanja Vidic! While admitting that his wife has not settled in England he unceremoniously declared that he was going nowhere. Finally, the dog wagging the tail! A real man is Vidic.

Of course on the subject of WAGs I could milk it all day long. Some consider Posh Spice to be a bit of a dog, others think she’s a bitch but she certainly knows how to make Becks come to heel. Didn’t he stray once though?

And if Paris Hilton may be tentatively considered a WAG after her recent encounter with Ronaldo, one look at this lets you know what to expect if you get mixed-up in that relationship!

Dog Lookalikes

And of course no article on dogs and football is complete without the lookalikes. Here are some of the current top players and their canine equivalents, with 1 or 2 names from the past.

Fernando Torres

Cesc Fabregas

Lionel Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo

Bacary Sagna

Joey Barton

Rene Higuita

Liam Brady

Rio Ferdinand

Franck Ribery

Wayne Rooney

Diego Forlan

Kaka

Peter Schmeichel

Carlos Puyol

Karim Benzema

So hopefully I’ve made the case that dogs and footballers are inseparable. The next time you’re wandering down the street and the local mongrel approaches maybe you’ll stop to ask him has he been on any pitches lately, what are his skills like and who’s his favourite player (or WAG). He’ll look you in the eye knowingly, the neighbours on the other hand will assume that, like me, you’ve gone completely barking!

Who’s your favourite dog lookalike?

All we’ve been reading about these past few weeks is Messi this, Ronaldo that. The seemingly never ending debate on which player is the best has granted, been a whole load of fun, yet for me it’s also been tiresome in equal measure.

There can be no doubt that Lionel Messi won his individual battle with Cristiano Ronaldo in Rome but does that really make him the world’s greatest footballer?

My inclination is that Ronaldo and Messi are the two most ‘dangerous’ players on the planet. One with his power and technique is the perfect Premier League specimen, the other with his craft and skill, the epitome of Spanish football at its best. They are the ultimate match winners. But are they the best?

Personally, I think not.

For all their skill, speed and trickery both superstars have areas of their game that remain distinctly average. All-round footballers they are not.

I’d like to think that the world’s best player should excel in almost every way. They should be complete. They should be the most influential player on the pitch, almost every time they step onto the grass.

With that in mind, can you think of two players who can top Steven Gerrard and Andres Iniesta? They have power, pace, skill, vision, endeavour, defensive nous, leadership, craft, goals, creativity, temperament….they have the lot.

I nominate Iniesta as the best player in the world as of today. Who gets your vote?

This article was previously published on 4sportsake.com.

For nine minutes, I was smug and self-satisfied, as well as disappointed. My pre-match predictions were being played out in front of my eyes; the men in all-white were on top, and the Catalans were struggling to adapt to the intensity of their play.

Victor Valdes had taken just thirty seconds to nervously prod a backpass from Gerard Piqué out of play, and Cristiano Ronaldo had already hit three shots at goal, one of which had drawn a less than authoritative stop from Valdes’ legs, with only Piqué preventing Park from burying the rebound.

Ronaldo, playing as he did against Arsenal in the semi-final as the focal point of Manchester United’s attack, seemed hell-bent on winning this game alone. Twice he shunned the option of Park on the right and went for glory- first with a speculative thirty yard strike that whistled well wide, and then with a driving run at goal which yielded a free kick for an untidy barge from Piqué.

When the Portuguese star had dragged another presentable chance past Valdes’ left hand post on eight minutes, United looked in almost total control, with Barcelona’s key men starved of possession and their makeshift defence–albeit one which contained more than a hundred international caps–was looking as porous as expected, with Valdes doing little to calm things down behind them.

And then, some possession for Barcelona. Andres Iniesta’s fitness was the topic of fevered debate in the run up to this final, and with one change of pace and crisp pass, he showed exactly why. His United contemporary, Anderson, had given the ball away with uncharacteristic haste in midfield, and Iniesta simply stepped through the gears to leave the Brazilian for dead, before slipping a simple pass to Samuel Eto’o in the inside right channel.

Nemanja Vidic appeared to have closed off the shooting angle but the Cameroonian striker, hopelessly out of sorts in front of goal of late, cut inside adroitly and poked low and hard inside Edwin Van der Sar’s near post as Carrick attempted to rescue the situation. Sucker punch.

The goal had a profound effect on the flow of the game. At no point from this moment on would United be in the ascendancy, even when controlled aggression was forced to turn to desperation in the second half. Wayne Rooney looked isolated and irritated stationed out wide, Park’s endeavour was matched by that of the former Arsenal left back, Sylvinho, limiting his influence hugely, whilst the midfield trio of Carrick, Anderson & Ryan Giggs, were simply starved of possession, meaning that when they did get the ball, often their only option was an ambitious pass for the pace of Ronaldo to chase.

Barcelona by contrast were slicking neatly into gear, Xavi & Iniesta, so quiet for the opening exchanges, began to run the game as if carrying a conductor’s baton, whilst the rookie Sergio Busquets alongside them displayed a maturity that belied his 20 years and 40 senior appearances to direct proceedings alongside them. In front of them Thierry Henry–another whose fitness had been a major issue in the Spanish (and English) press ahead of the game–was drifting all over the pitch, whilst Eto’o had switched from his starting position on the right, giving the imperious Lionel Messi freedom to roam infield at will.

It was from one of these increasingly-regular incursions that the Argentine almost doubled Barca’s lead with a 25 yarder of ferocious power that whistled inches over the crossbar. Xavi would go similarly close soon after with a free kick aimed for the postage stamp space of Van der Sar’s top right hand corner, which drifted wide.

For United, it looked as if only Ronaldo could provide any kind of spark, although it is also arguable that his determination to do things alone and constant demands for possession may well have affected the (in)efficiency of some of his colleagues. He was given plenty of space in the penalty area to meet Giggs’ left wing corner, but headed well over, before sending another effort wide of Valdes’ post with Rooney screaming for a ball inside.

Sir Alex Ferguson is not usually a man to emit fear with his tactical alterations, yet he opted to thrust Carlos Tevez into the action at half time for the ineffective, and perhaps overwrought, Anderson. Ferguson would have been hoping that the Argentine’s introduction may have sparked the kind of revival seen at Old Trafford last month when a two-goal first half deficit against Tottenham was wiped out with five goals in twenty second half minutes, but with Barcelona in buoyant mood such an episode was unlikely. Tevez joined Rooney in the anonymous corner within minutes of his entrance, and rarely ventured into enemy territory throughout a palpably flat second half.

Barcelona on the other hand were full of life, their passing was as clean and varied as we had come to expect, and they found gaps in United’s defensive setup almost at will. Henry gave Ferdinand twisted blood with one run down the left, which drew a smothering save from Van der Sar, whilst Iniesta’s carrying of the ball from deep worried Vidic sufficiently into the concession of a free kick which Xavi whipped against the base of the post.

It was one way stuff, Giggs & Carrick unable to get anywhere close enough to Barca’s midfield trio to impose any sort of authority on the game, whilst the raids of Puyol and even Sylvinho from full back were increasing in regularity and threat as the minutes ticked on, with neither John O’Shea nor Patrice Evra able to a) cope with the danger they were presented with, nor b) offer any sort of counter-threat of their own. The introduction of Dimitar Berbatov for Park was needed, but failed to inject the required composure and quality into their play.

In the event, it was Evra’s snatched and unnecessary clearance which gave Barcelona the possession from which eventually Xavi would clip in a beautifully flighted cross from the right onto the forehead of Messi. The Argentine, having drifted effortlessly in behind Ferdinand to meet the ball, guided a superb header back across Van der Sar and into his top left hand corner from ten yards, to all but seal the win. Much has been made of the little man’s failure to score against English opposition; little will be heard in that respect from now on.

United did manage to muster a couple of openings, Ronaldo thwarted by a brave block from Valdes after Tevez’s cut back had rolled across the six yard box invitingly, and Berbatov volleying the resultant corner well over, but their late contributions were of a more frustrated ilk as first Ronaldo, after a running battle with Puyol in which the Barça skipper produced some play-acting of his own, and then Scholes, who was lucky to avoid dismissal for a knee-jarring challenge on Busquets, entered Massimo Busacca’s notebook. In between, Puyol had been given two chances to add some extra lustre to the scoreline, first heading Xavi’s free kick straight at Van der Sar, and then seeing the Dutchman block at his feet as Xavi, Messi & Iniesta had opened up an increasingly under-populated defence with ease.

It would have been the cherry on the icing on the cake for the skipper, as fierce a Catalan as imaginable, to have put the seal on the club’s third European Cup success, and an unprecedented treble-winning season (in Spain at least), but alas Barca’s supporters were forced to settle for the most cosy of two goal margins, with United’s attack stifled so comprehensively you could have filed missing persons reports for Rooney. Or Tevez. Or Berbatov.

For Pep Guardiola it was the vindication, if ever it were needed, that his footballing idealisms should be treasured and revered and passed down. Barcelona played United off the park last night, just as they had done to pretty much every team they had faced this season (Chelsea fans outside Tom-Henning Ovrebo’s door will of course contest this). Just as they had done Numancia & Racing Santander in the opening two weeks of the season when they had picked up just a single point and people were daring to question whether they needed to find an alternative way of playing.

In Xavi, Iniesta and Messi, they had not only three of the top ten players in world football–according to FIFA–but three players schooled exclusively at the iconic La Masia training complex next to the Camp Nou, and brought up drenched in the Barcelona way. Pass, move, pass, move, pass, move. When you consider that Puyol, Piqué, Valdes, Busquets and even late substitute Pedro Rodriguez and the unused Bojan Krkic & Marc Muniesa, as well as Guardiola himself, have all come through this way, it makes the accomplishments even more remarkable. A Catalan success in Europe, at the end of a season in which Guardiola’s men really have been THE dream team.

For United, it is important to keep things in some kind of perspective. Ferguson was right in that Barcelona’s first goal was a sucker punch at the end of a first ten minutes that United had bossed, but he was also right to concede that his side were beaten by a superior team on the night. Of his players, only Ronaldo could have any real claim to having even approached his best form last night and, for all the Portuguese’s brilliance, that was never going to be sufficient against a Barcelona side in top form. The absence of harrying midfielders in Darren Fletcher, and the forgotten man Owen Hargreaves, may have played some role, but to talk up such absentees is to detract from the quality of their replacements.

It is easy to criticise tactics in the aftermath of a defeat, and Ferguson had used the same system to great effect against another pass and move side in the semi final, but Ronaldo may have had a point when he noted after the game that “our tactics were wrong”. In particular, the way in which Wayne Rooney was denied the chance to influence proceedings throughout. Marginalised almost from minute one last night, the natural move would have been to shift him infield, even to the head of the midfield trio perhaps, in order to get him on the ball. Instead he was left isolated out wide, caught offside when he attempted to get into the box, and sufficiently frustrated to have perhaps his most ineffectual European night in a United shirt. It was a sad sight to see.

Back to perspective however, it should not be lost that no side has managed to successfully defend the trophy since the inception of the Champions League format in 1992, and that United are the new owners of the record for most games undefeated in the competition (25), as well as being World Club champions, League Cup winners, and, of course, Champions of England for the eighteenth (grr) time. One defeat does not call for wholesale changes, those calling for the head of Berbatov, writing obituaries for Giggs & Scholes, and dissecting the praise handed out to the defence, would do well to remember this. And anyway, is there really any shame in losing to a side which played the way Barcelona have played this season?

Like a butterfly floating around the pitch, Lionel Messi has an uncanny ability for making things look easy.

With the ball at his feet and a pair of defenders flanking him on both sides, what seemed like a lost cause only seconds before turns into an opportunity to make the opposition pay. And with the flick of the foot and a quick shimmy, Lionel Messi does what he’s done so many times before: he turns nothing into something in the blink of an eye.

Barcelona’s best player–and possibly the greatest player on the planet–has a knack for the spectacular. Since making his debut for the club in 2004, Messi has gone on to scoop up almost every individual award while leading Barcelona to the brink of an unprecedented triple this season.

On the verge of his showdown with Manchester United, Barcelona’s biggest hope for Champions League glory sat down for an exclusive interview to discuss everything from his opinion of Sir Alex Ferguson, his showdown with Cristiano Ronaldo in Rome, the loss of Dani Alves, Eric Abidal and Rafael Marquez and the key to beating Manchester United.

Read the Soccerlens exclusive, after the jump.

FC Barcelona versus Manchester United FC, is it the perfect final?

I don’t know if it is perfect but it is a really nice match up. Both teams play very good football and they always play each game to win it. Playing the final against Manchester United is something that we dreamed of earlier this season because they, just like us, always try to play great football.

What’s the key to beating Manchester United?

It’s clear that there is not only one way of winning a game. The key will be to focus on our way of playing and to be the main protagonists. We will have to play as we usually do, without leaving aside our natural style just because it is a final. I think Pep Guardiola is going to tell us that and a lot more. We may talk about specific things related to Manchester United, but Barcelona will impose its style. I am positive.

How is Pep Guardiola’s team different from Frank Rijkaard’s line-up that lost 1-0 to Manchester United last season

Well, I don’t know if Guardiola’s Barca is that different from the Rijkaard team. The thing is that players usually have ups and downs, and today many of Barca’s players are going through a very good spell of form. This team always tries to play well and to score as many goals as possible. It was the same last season.

Andres Iniesta and Xavi Fernandez were excellent against Chelsea FC. Are they the best midfield pairing in the world?

Playing next to Iniesta and Xavi makes everything easy for the rest of us. People often talk about Samuel Eto’o, Thierry Henry and me, but they are great players too and were amazing against Chelsea. They maintain the team balance and tell us how to proceed according to what is going on in the game.

How much will the team miss Dani Alves, Eric Abidal and Rafael Marquez?

Of course we’ll miss the three of them, but Puyol is coming back and that is a good thing. This team is very complete, and if we want to be champions we will have to work together. We cannot worry about the absence of one team-mate, instead we have to think that the player that takes his place will be a great substitute.

Chelsea did a very good job in stopping Barcelona score for 180 minutes. Do you fear United will use similar defensive tactics?

Maybe, as it is only going to be one match but Manchester United will play the same way as Barcelona I think and they won’t wait to see what we do. It’s going to be a great match. Besides, I think Manchester United is usually more offensive than Chelsea.

What is your view of Sir Alex Ferguson as a boss?

I think he is very smart. He probably gives a lot of freedom to his players, allowing them to do whatever is necessary on the pitch, and that is very good.

Have you ever spoken to Sir Alex Ferguson?

I have only seen him a few times in person and that’s it. We haven’t spoken much, we just congratulated each other at an awards ceremony. He is a great coach. It is not common for a coach to stay as long at a club as important as Manchester United. If he managed to stay that long it is because he is very, very good at his job.

How difficult will it be to stop Cristiano Ronaldo in Rome?

Cristiano Ronaldo is a brilliant player. If he is having a good day, marking him is very difficult, but I hope our defence can stop him on the night. He is very fast and hard to mark – and he also has very good shots from outside the area as we’ve all seen!

Aside from Cristiano, which of United’s players do you have the most respect for?

Carlos Tevez has an amazing style and he is very devoted to the game. Nemanja Vidic is a great defender, Wayne Rooney is an incredible scorer, and Paul Scholes is a very good midfielder. Manchester United is full of great players, I cannot pick just one.

What is it you admire most about Wayne Rooney?

Rooney is amazing. He is a scorer of great goals and he always gives his best for the team. He is a real team player: he is not selfish and always does everything unselfishly for the team.

Finally…what would it mean to you personally to influence this final and win it for Barcelona?

Winning the Champions League would be the best. It is the most important title in the world as regards to club football. I hope we win it, we deserve it. Manchester United is a great team but I have faith in Barcelona. I really hope we can win it. In the last match against Chelsea we were lucky in a way because the game seemed lost and we finally won it, so maybe that was a sign to show us that good things will happen to us in Rome.

Messi and his Barcelona team-mates will have the chance to stop United’s dream quadruple at the Stadio Olimpico tomorrow night in what is being billed as an highly anticipated final. Catch all of the action and commentary on the Soccerlens Champions League final live blog starting at 18.45 GMT.

Update: In case you’re wondering, this is how we scored the interview.

Follow Manchester United v Barcelona live on Soccerlens!

The stage is set for one truly wonderful team to ascend to heights attained never before. No Spanish side has ever done the treble in history. No side in the history of the Champions league has managed to successfully defend it.

Manchester United and Barcelona stand at the brink of imposing greatness. And while one will lift the trophy aloft amid a 73,000 capacity Stadio Olympico, the other will be inconsolable, despite winning the domestic league and a domestic cup. The stakes are high, but the anticipation and excitement in the air this time is much, much higher.

And who can blame the footballing world for it? Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Henry, Eto’o, Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov, Giggs, and Tevez—the list sounds more like a who’s who of European attacking talent.

And they will all be on display (for at least sometime, presumably) this Wednesday night on your television screen. Unless, of course, you are among the “chosen” few at the scene of action!

On the one side are a side who have scored more goals this season than many top clubs might have scored in three full seasons; a side with enchanting abilities and a newly found stomach for a fight. And on the other side are, well, Manchester United.

Barcelona Preview

From a Barcelona viewpoint, it is probably more simple to work out a strategy. Choose a holding midfield player to partner Xavi and Iniesta, as they try and feed Eto’o, Henry, and Messi. And then, alongside Yaya Toure and Pique at the heart of defence will be the experienced pair of Puyol and Sylvinho playing as makeshift wingbacks.

Looking more closely, most of Barcelona’s phenomenal attacking flair is expected to start. However, the lack of match practice for Henry and Iniesta might just be a factor to keep a lookout for. That said, these are two colossal players who might just find the electric, big match atmosphere invigorating.

Among the others, Eto’o may need to make better use of the chances on offer than as has been his want recently. However, a goal here and his manager will say he was saving his best for the big night.

Talking of the best, Lionel Messi may just look at this night as the night to silence all critics of his big match temperament. A magnificent dribbler with excellent vision, the little Argentine has definitely been the player of the season so far. A relative late season dip can be set right on the night he calls his “biggest ever.”

At the heart of midfield, you encounter Euro 2008’s Player of the Tournament, Xavi. Expect him to pull the strings delicately all night, and also look out for his dilligent ball winning. With his creativity and energy, he is Barcelona’s engine and should stand them in good stead on the night.

And owing to suspension and injury troubles, either Sergio Busquets or Seydou Keita will start alongside the “Fab Five.” Though neither is expected to hog the next day’s headlines, the fact that they just miss out on a place in this Barca lineup speaks about their quality.

Defense, however, seems to be the sole source of trepidation for the Catalans. Gerard Pique lacks big match experience, Sylvinho (who might have to take on Cristiano Ronaldo) is 35 years old and both Puyol and Yaya Toure will probably be playing out of position.

As a right back, Puyol may not have Dani Alves’ attacking velocity, but he is probably a safer and more conservative bet for the position. Winner of UEFA’s “Best European Right-back” award in 2002, the 31-year-old Barca captain will be pivotal to his side’s defensive success.

With his energy, expect him to support Messi whenever required.

Though neither is an experienced centre back, both Toure and Pique are tall and imposing center-backs with good defensive attributes. This being a one-off game, they are not the worst combination you will see in big match football.

However, if United are in inspired mood, there are other central defenders (even in this Barcelona squad) you’d rather have.

Sylvinho is clearly the man Sir Alex will look to target.

With his wealth of experience, he will still need to pray that United don’t see too much of the ball. He is neither a legendary tackler nor the possessor of electrifying pace. However, if he can be tidy and avoid errors, Barca’s excellent work rate may just cover his limitations. Or better still, he may not be required.

Manchester United Preview

Facing Barcelona, will be the defending champions.

If Rio Ferdinand is 100 percent fit for the clash (don’t read too much into the gaffer’s comments on this; he will play), then one of the meanest defences in world football should prepare itself for the acid test. John O’Shea will be tidy as long as he isn’t left one on one with Iniesta, Messi, Henry et al.

United’s central defensive partnership remain the key to glory in Rome for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men. They have had another fabulous season on the whole, but both Ferdinand and Vidic will know that they will have to play their A-game, come Wednesday night.

Expect them to have a very busy night with lots of crosses to head away, many blocks to be made and some last ditch tackling having to be timed to perfection.

Patrice Evra, who has overcome an uncharacteristic spell of poor form this season (into which too much was read), will have to be at his inspired best against Lionel Messi. He has the pace, but positioning and guts will also be required against the maroon and red army.

The selection of the rest of the side, however, remains open to the manager’s fancy. Though a strategy of preventing a Barcelona goal for as long as possible, and hoping for a quick break or set piece to win United their goal and trophy may appeal to a lot of people, I am not one of them.

I would instead go in with a conventional 4-4-2 with Wayne Rooney upfront. If Barca go ahead, playing two strikers helps. And if United go ahead, looking for the game breaking second goal still helps (as Chelsea realized against a ten man Barcelona side at the Bridge).

With a central midfield of Carrick and Anderson, the defence gets adequate protection with these tough tackling midfielders playing in front of them. And with the ball, they have the ability to anchor the attacking ship efficiently.

If Anderson is told to play a restricted role without too much longitudinal scope, and Carrick plays his usual deep role to perfection, then United may not need to play another thirty year old central midfielder (one of Giggs and Scholes) to help out. What with Rooney and (yes!) Tevez also helping out centrally.

On the wings, I’d have Ronaldo and Park. With Anderson helping out Evra whenever needed, I’d have Park on the right to help O’Shea. However, Ronaldo may fancy his chances against Sylvinho and Messi may start to run rings around Evra; so the option of interchanging flanks is always there.

Expect Park to make use of all three of his lungs during this contest, but it is Ronaldo who will need to have a good outing. Against a makeshift Barcelona side, you will expect him to do well but a lack of possession may just frustrate him. If he keeps his calm and also a high morale, he might still just keep his Ballon D’Or too.

Upfront, and literally all over the park, I’d have Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney.

To a Barcelona defence structured only for this game, the duo’s zest and quality should prove a stern test. Both quick and lethal on the counter, United should go in with both of them and take Barcelona by surprise just as they did Avram Grant’s Chelsea a year ago. Both extremely willing to help back, their work rates will be a huge fillip.

And when you need to make full use of the chances that come your way, playing two strikers doesn’t really hurt.

Playing Rooney out wide may seem tempting to Sir Alex and if he is convinced by that, then the No. 10 should swap roles with Ronaldo. Playing Giggs or Scholes instead of Tevez may be the expected roll of the dice, but expect the unexpected from Sir Alex.

Prediction

Finally, one hopes both sides are at their best and the deserving European Champion prevails. My heart says it will be United, but my instinct points to Barcelona.

And my brain is all fuzzy…

On episode nine of the Soccerlens Podcast, Stephen Darwin is joined by FourFourTwo’s man in Madrid, Tim Stannard, to talk about Spanish football and La Liga.

The show will be looking specifically at Valencia and their financial woes, Tim rips into Chelsea and their negative tactics at the Nou Camp and of course there’s just the small matter of El Clasico to deal with too.

Among the points of discussion raised with Tim Stannard were:

• The UEFA Champions League semi-final ties
• Sevilla,Valencia and Villarreal, the race for third place
• Barcelona’s quest for the treble
• Transfer speculation aplenty
• El Clasico and the title race
• Plus more on top of that!

Show Details
Date: Friday 1st May 2009
Host: Stephen Darwin
Co-Host: Tim Stannard

You can listen to the show below:
Download link (mp3, 29mb, 32 mins)

Subscribe to the Soccerlens Podcast

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Remember to leave your feedback on the show in the comments section underneath this post or alternatively e-mail the show at: podcast@soccerlens.com. If you want to make your views heard on the podcast, make sure you email us at the above email address.

As I picked up a newspaper on Sunday, I was faced with the spotty adolescent face of Manchester United’s latest teenage ‘sensation’, Federico Macheda. After making a cameo appearance from the Old Trafford bench (cushioned armchairs in actuality), the 17-year-old Italian showed a neat touch and a curling shot to clinch the game for his team against Aston Villa. Six days later, on he came again, to send United supporters into raptures with another screamer — albeit deflected — goal within a minute of stepping on the pitch.

The youngster had arrived.

So there it was, the latest Old Trafford prodigy, the latest homegrown talent (kind of). Cue the press exaggeration and the comparisons with the greats of the game. In this case, he was dubbed the ‘new Cristiano Ronaldo’, a comparison inspired by comments from former Lazio youth coach, Volfango Patarca. A rather far fetched link in many respects, the youth coach pointing out that the players are both “tall and languid, speedy too”.

The young star doesn’t seem to possess any visible lack of confidence either, a cocksure swagger that undeniably draws resemblance to the World Player of the Year. Two goals and less than 45 minutes on the pitch, this 17-year-old is being compared to the best player in the world over the past few seasons. Pressure indeed. Hyperbole indeed.

It is a mark of the current euphoric footballing climate. As every new gem appears on to the footballing screens, they are so often dubbed as having the patent characteristics of a past legend. Be it Maradona, Pele, Cruyff, or a more recent star, Ronaldo, Cantona, Inzaghi. There have been some contemptible, some disturbing, and some valid claims on up and coming players, made by both media and by supporters. It is a nostalgic yearning to see the legends reappear — a brief glimpse of a newbie that invokes visions of a past or current favourite — the same angle of flair, the same drop of the shoulder, an aura or temperament.

The comparisons carry great burdens, and here are some the chains that have been slung round the necks of some of the up and coming world stars. Likened to greats old and current, hailed as the equivalent of legends gone by (and even those still going by).

Lionel Messi – “The New Diego Maradona”

This one had to come first. More or less every small, swift, talented Argentinean forward that arrives onto the footballing scene is likened to the national legend. Saviola, Tevez, Pablo Aimar, Sergio Aguero, all proposed to be the new ‘Maradona’. But none has come as close to Diego’s perfection in technique, vision, flair and style than Lionel Messi.

The mazy run against Getafe where he left six players in ignominy before slotting to the ball into the empty net, really set the comparisons in full swing, being almost identical to that stunning goal scored by Maradona against England in the 1986 World Cup (the second one, settle down). The press in Spain labeled him “Messidona”, his celebration, his rounding of the keeper and defenders, his chic movement, all almost indistinguishable from one of the best players ever to grace the world game.

When Messi collects the ball and sets off on one of his balletic dribbles, it is as though the ball is glued to his boot, and it is merely a game of playground ‘tig’. Defender just trying to get a touch to him as he weaves around them. A game of ‘tig’ with a remarkably rapid little youngster sporting a boyish grin. One where even if you do catch him, it is pretty unlikely that you will be able to dispossess him, or even knock him over with his incredibly low centre of gravity. Add to that the accuracy of his shooting and then his passing, as well his weighted through balls that drift perfectly into the path of his teammates and you end up with one of the most complete players in the world today.

Still only 21 years of age, the little magician still has many enchanting years of ahead of him to add to his Ballon D’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year tally. He certainly has the trademark skills once exuded by his national coach. The up and coming World Cup in South Africa may be where he really stakes a position as the unprecedented best in the world.

Abou Diaby – The new Patrick Viera

Having seen both of these players on a number of occasions, the resemblance is scarliy similar. Those marauding runs from midfield, the incredible presence in the centre of the park. They share comparable appearance, size and brio. One was an Arsenal great; the other sure has the potential. Abou Diaby has played all over the park for Arsene Wenger, however it is in that role once governed by Viera, that has seen his best form. After storming forward powerfully against Newcastle this year, smashing the ball into the roof of the net, even his manager was quick to point out the similarities, with “the same stature, the same size”.

Diaby does not yet have the positional command that his predecessor displayed in such abundance, something Wenger again pointed out, stating that “Abou is only 22 and there is still a lot of room for him to get where Patrick was as a player”. However, under the guidance of Arsene Wenger, many believe he has the potential to be reach the levels of this member of ‘invincibles’, and play a dominate role in the team like the former club captain.

Lassana Diarra – The new Claude Makelele

This contrast has been around for a while, first made when Diarra first hit the scene as a Chelsea youngster, Makelele was still safeguarding the club’s defense with experience and assurance, but with growing age. The fact that they looked remarkably similar, played in the same position, and were both French, meant the link was inevitable. Diarra often discarded the association, insisting that despite being flattered by the class of his mentor, he had his own unique playing style and talent.

He was sure to his word, and his start to world football has been an eventful, but so far fruitful one. With a spell at Arsenal which had little involvement in the first team, there were doubts over his potential instigated by Wenger’s decision to let him go. It is not often the judicious Frenchman releases a young star of the future. The likes of Aliadiere and Pennant left the club and have done little to nothing since.

After impressing heavily in the South Coast at Portsmouth, January saw a multi million Euro switch to Real Madrid for the French midfielder. A club where, ironically, Makelele enjoyed some of the best of his footballing years. His position provides cover to the back line, just like Makeleles, but he appears to be more creative with the ball, willing to play himself out of trouble and attempt more ventures into attack. He is also a more versatile player, having played at fullback for club and country in the past.

For the moment at least, he looks well on course to have a career as rewarding as that enjoyed by his former teammate.

Wayne Rooney – The new Paul Gascoigne

If the chants that rain down from the Old Trafford terraces are to be believed (well, ok, drizzle down; it is Old Trafford after all), then someone has seen the white Pele plying his trade in Manchester red. A much less poetic, but far more common comparison is marking the Scouse hothead as today’s Paul Gascoigne.

Wazza is the new Gazza, at least that is the view of many of the nations’ tabloids. Partly due to a rather bulky physique, and their roles as lovable rogues, the player’s parallel in class and power is incontestable. Wayne torments opposing defenders and midfielders in the same way that Gascoigne did as his best, almost impossible to derail at full flow, and with technique superior to his peers.

One key difference however, one that has undoubtedly shaped the careers of both superstars, is that Wayne Rooney decided to sign for Sir Alex. In a move that Gascoigne marks as his greatest regret, the Geordie famously went back on his word to the Manchester United gaffer to sign for rivals, Spurs. Under Alex’s tenure, Rooney has thrived.

Despite still possessing his bullish rage, the England International Player of the Year has grown and grown since signing for the club. From pinpoint long range passes that split Premiership and Champions League back lines, to remarkable composure and speed, Rooney is starting to make the most of his rich potential. Something Gascoigne never quite managed with his off the field troubles and some questionable career decisions.

As Rooney frequently appears in the defenders’ nightmares, Gascoigne makes his appearances in the North East clinics. The likenesses are there, but Gascoigne may simply be a constant reminder to the young Manchester United forward, in keeping his career on the right track.

Rafael Da Silva – The new Cafu

A predictable comparison, one many made before they even saw him pull on a Manchester United shirt.

Right back, Brazilian, he was always going to be compared with Cafu. So were Maicon, Dani Alves and Kleber, so why not him? Having played a handful of games for the first team this campaign, it does look as though this particular twin has what it takes to be a top player. His position seemed unknown at first, yet Sir Alex described him as a “natural fullback” after some impressive displays at the back. He looks an excellent prospect. His effervescent performances and roadrunner sprints down the touchline really do spark memories of the veteran Milan star’s early days. He has pace and energy to burn, and an eye for goal, shown by his stunning strike against Arsenal earlier in the campaign.

Questions have been posed in terms of his defensive awareness, very similar to Cafu in his early days at Roma. Cafu grew into the mindset of the Italian game, becoming a solid yet marauding fullback and a crux in many a league, Champions League and World Cup campaign. In Sir Alex’s words, the veteran has the “engine to get up and down the pitch”. He also feels that Da Silva has what it takes to be a world class player, pinpointing his “great enthusiasm and stamina” as key ingredients. He will stand a great chance of developing under the watchful gaze of Sir Alex, and growing into a top wingback.

The comparisons look promising for now, but there is a long way to go for the diminutive Brazilian before he can amount the accolades to contest his compatriot.

An Expectant Arena

These are just a pick of the most widespread comparisons amidst the current crop of talent. There are many developing and gifted wonderkids in the world of football, all watched scrupulously by the millions of supporters around the globe. Many won’t make it. Giovanni Dos Santos was tipped as the new Ronaldinho, yet is now struggling to break into the Ipswich Town team. Michael Johnson of Manchester City was also citing recollections of the great Colin Bell earlier last season, before enjoying not a single appearance in the current campaign.

It is a tough road and a competitive one for the footballers out there. The media and fans are desperate to see a new legend from the current generation. Is there a new Pele just learning the joys of shaving in Brasilia, or a new Raul scrapping in the streets of Malaga? Who knows for sure. One thing is certain, the media, the supporters, and a brand new string of comparisons will be waiting eagerly around the corner.

Average bookie probabilities, Getafe vs. FC Barcelona: 13 / 23 / 64

The focus is back on the league for the next 3 games. The first of these are against Getafe, who has made it their speciality to get points against the big teams. Getafe are currently 14th in the league just 4 points shy of the relegation zone. Last week, however, they took a big victory as they won 1-0 away against Sevilla. And that’s not the only great result they’ve produced this season. They drew 1-1 at the Camp Nou and they won 3-1 at home against Real Madrid.

Last year they won at the Bernabeu and two seasons ago, they knocked out Barca in the semi-final of the Copa del Rey after a 4-0 victory at home. All this points in one direction: Getafe plays their best when they play the best.

As mentioned, Getafe got a point in the first encounter at the Camp Nou. That is not the whole story, however, as they were close to getting all three. They played Barca in their best period. In the last 3 home games before the Getafe game, Barca had won 6-1, 5-0 and 6-0 against Atletico Madrid, Almeria and Malaga respectively. In other words – Barca were steamrolling everybody. Unfortunately, Getafe was able to stop the Barca machine and they were leading until Keita equalized in the 71st minute saving one point for the Blaugrana.

For the game in Madrid, Guardiola is expected to make heavy rotations and we won’t try to predict the starting line-up as we did for the match against Bayern, as the line-up is pretty much a toss-up. Barca are playing 6, yes six, extremely important games in 18 days that will probably decide the league and the Champions League following the game against Getafe. For these games we will need everybody to be rested and alert and even though Getafe is a good team they just aren’t as good as the other teams Barca is going to play so it’ll be one of the few games, where the likes of Messi can get a rest.

The game kicks off at 8 PM local time on Saturday.

Real Madrid will have to travel to Huelva, who put up a good fight last weekend at the Camp Nou. Madrid’s plan is to keep winning until they play Barca and they want to take another step against Recreativo. In the first encounter in the league Real won 1-0. The game kicks off at 10 PM local time so by midnight we will know if Barca was given a helping hand.

Our cross town rivals from Espanyol welcomes Racing Santander at home on Sunday at 5 PM. Espanyol are 7 points below 17th placed Sporting Gijon so they desperately need a win. Santander are currently in 10th with 36 points. In their first encounter of the season Santander easily beat Espanyol 3-0.

Sunday at 7 PM the Spanish have prepared a real treat for us. Valencia and Sevilla kick off their Mount Everest schedule as Valencia welcomes Sevilla at Mestella. Valencia need in order to cling on their 4th place giving Champions League qualification giving spot, while Seville will all but secure their 3rd place spot with a draw or better.

Steffen Risager is the editor of www.elbarca.net

On the nights that testimonials are played for AC Milan’s Paolo Maldini and Real Madrid’s Raúl Gonzalez, those sitting and the stands and watching on television will be seeing the final curtain coming down on a phenomenon that appears to be on the verge of extinction: the one-club footballer (if such a term even exists).

The day in which a footballer could devote his entire career to one club is surely passing. Weeks ago, FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi declared that his allegiances would remain with los blaugranas for the duration of his playing days.

Those were bold words issued by the 22 year old Argentine who appears to have another ten plus years ahead of him (twenty years if he lasts as long as Maldini) and who will no doubt court the attention of Europe’s highest bidders for his prized services.

Granted, when you are a player of Messi’s capabilities and hold the status as the fulcrum of one of Europe’s top clubs, you can say with some measure of confidence that you will end your career at Barcelona.

However that sentiment, as much as it now endears Messi to the Barça socios and cules, might not be reciprocated when Messi is nearing the twilight of his career.

The one club kings

Being a part of this exclusive club of players boasting to have donned the shirt of one club in their career depends on many factors, often outside the control of the footballer himself. Years back when Raúl was a precocious 17 year old striker for Real Madrid in the 1994-95 season, I remember an incident that potentially could have ended his career with Madrid as fast as it started.

Then manager Jorge Valdano had substituted Raúl off during a league match which led to a brief spat between the two. Stories of Raúl slapping Valdano emerged although I am not certain of its veracity. Yet at the least, heated words were exchanged.

Imagine Manchester United’s Jonny Evans trotting to the sidelines to be substituted screaming a litany of sailor like language in Sir Alex Ferguson’s direction. The lad would not even be allowed to carry on as a ball boy under Ferguson’s watch.

Yet Raúl’s status with the club remained intact, perhaps because his talent was so obvious for everyone to see, including Valdano. Or perhaps because on the heels of four consecutive Spanish league titles monopolized by their eternal rivals from Catalunya, Real Madrid could not afford to lose a player of Raúl’s promise.

Just to give a story a proper ending Real Madrid pried away the league title from Barcelona in Raúl’s debut season. That he has remained a Merengue even in the lean years when Real Madrid failed to win titles is a testament to both his ability to play football, score goals (we should not overlook the fact that his 312 goals makes him Real Madrid’s all time leading scorer) and his devotion to the club.

That’s strange for a man who started off in cross-town rival Atletico Madrid’s youth system only to find his new club when the academy was scrapped by then president Jesús Gil (in hindsight this was as wise as Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a mere bowl of porridge).

The future of Messi

Seeing how it worked for Raúl, and given the fact that Messi has come up into Barça’s first team through the ranks of the cantera (Barça’s youth system), why is Messi’s prognostication of finishing his career at Camp Nou less possible?

If I were a betting man, I would applaud Messi for verbalizing his love and devotion to the club but my money would be on a bet that Messi ends his career wearing the shirt of another club. That’s not what I personally wish, to set the record clear. Certainly even if Messi were to leave, what Barça fan would dare express any type of disdain (save if he followed Luis Figo’s footsteps)?

Remembering the rest

However, the history of FC Barcelona makes it abundantly clear that the club is never one that dwells on past glories contributed by any footballer and this in itself contributes drastically to the dwindling possibility of “one club for life.”

Case in point: Ronaldihno. One would be hard pressed to remember a time when he was the World Player of the Year, the linchpin of Barça’s attack and the engine that helped them win consecutive league titles after a barren and fallow spell given the way he was shown the back door to AC Milan last summer. And certainly there was a time when another Brazilian whose name also started with the letter “R” was the talk of Spain when Barça had won consecutive league titles back in 1997-98 and 1998-99.

Yet Rivaldo’s name has all but disappeared from the subconscious of Barça fans and even trying to remember breath taking goals, like the one he scored against Valencia while riding the proverbial “bicycle” outside the penalty area, takes a lot of effort. Even a homegrown talent like current Barça manager, Josep “Pep” Guardiola, the midfield genius that he was, ended his career in the equivalent of a football wilderness: Brescia (no offense intended but surely felt if you’re a Brescia fan).

Hristo Stoichkov? Winner of the 1992 European Cup and those legendary four consecutive league titles in addition to other honors at his time with Barça: his was a two-part departure where he first found himself in the yellow strip of Parma only to return to Barça and then leave to embark a journeyman’s end to an illustrious career at Camp Nou.

Even the legendary Johann Cruijff (or Cruyff, whichever way you prefer), with everything he had done at the club as a player and manager, found out that his employment as manager was terminated after reading one of the Barcelona dailies near the end of the 1995-96 season. Jimmy Burns, in his authoritative history of the club, “Barca: A People’s Passion,” described Cruyff’s firing poetically: as if he had been a janitor discovered sleeping while cleaning the latrines.

Just more examples that players who arrive at the Camp Nou, by way of the sensational signing by a newly elected president, or up through the ranks of the cantera, can be discarded when their expiration dates have passed. In fact, only one player comes to mind who can be considered as a player who played his entire career with Barcelona: Carles Rexach (ironically the man who was responsible for bringing Messi to the cantera). Yet his career spanned a time when multi-million dollar (or multi-billion peseta) transfers were non-existent and the notion of playing for one club your entire career was not as foreign or rare.

Should I stay or should I go?

The list of Barça’s hall of fame, other than Rexach, surely puts to the sword any hope that Messi has in remaining true to his declaration in this day and age. Part of the reason is the internal politics that is part and parcel of FC Barcelona.

With the leadership and direction of the club subjected to “democratic” elections, a new president brings in a new agenda along with a list of scapegoats for past failures. Hence with current president Joan Laporta’s election in 2003, the purging of players brought in under the horribly failed Gaspart presidency and the heralding of the new savior, Ronaldinho.

Distant memories now that can be all too contemporary when the cycle makes a full turn in Messi’s eleventh hour. Much of the engine that drives the politics of the club is attributed to the somewhat fickleness of Barça fans (self included). Today’s hero goes to zero tomorrow on the turn of a missed penalty, an unmerited red card or one off form match. The fact is that the turnstiles at FC Barcelona revolve much quicker for the sake of titles and silverware.

The same can be said of Real Madrid and those who disagree with me (hopefully respectfully) will point to Raúl’s ability to survive numerous regime changes in Madrid as well as remaining an influential figure despite the ups and downs of the club over the years.

Perhaps Raúl’s declaration that he would never play for another team in Spain won enough hearts, not only among the fans but with the board as well. Whether Messi was aiming to do the same with his statement is one left for speculation. However, if there is a player who has the credentials to break this vicious cycle employed by FC Barcelona of discarding players near their expiration date, surely it can be Lionel Messi.

However, my bet is that when we witness the testimonials for Maldini and Raúl, this rarity of “one club for life” will come to an end, with perhaps the exception of Steven Gerrard for Liverpool. Mind you, despite the dirty laundry in Barcelona’s closets, a player of Messi’s talent will be honored with a testimonial at Camp Nou.

The question is what other shirt will he be donning in the first half before he puts back on Barça’s shirt for one last time in the second half?