Talks between LFP and AFE Break Down, Light Recovery Training for Players

 

Talks break up between league and players
However, the league (LFP) said it had now been forced to halt talks in the face of what it described as AFE "intransigence". "After months of talks, the LFP yesterday felt obliged to break off negotiations over a Collective Accord for professional football given the intransigence of the AFE's position at the table," an LFP statement said.

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell hopeful Pep Guardiola will sign contract extension
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell remains hopeful that coach Pep Guardiola will imminently extend his contract with the club. Guardiola's current deal expires at the end of the season and the former B team coach has yet to give any indication as to whether he intends to remain at Camp Nou beyond the summer.

Count on Barcelona at the end of the season

 

Gerard Piqué was upbeat when he talked to the press after the team’s training session at the Ciutat Esportiva: “If someone told me we’d be here at the beginning of the season, I’d sign on the dotted line. We’ve won the three competitions we’ve played in, we have a fourth final secured, we’re alive in the Liga and we’re about to play in the last 16 in the Champions League. We give it our all every weekend and that’s the most important thing. Count on us at the end of the season ... There’s a lot of Liga left and we’ll give it our all. Other teams will have to win, perhaps the competition will prove a bit too long for them. People need to have confidence in us.”

Piqué called on his team to keep up their form ahead of this weekend’s match and he also said that there is no need for the Barça first team to prove itself: “I don’t think we have to prove ourselves. I believe that we always want to do the best job possible. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t, but the desire is always there.” After a very demanding January schedule, Piqué said: “the load is brutal. You have to be very strong both physically and mentally. We have all participated and we all feel important [within the team]. We feel as though the load is a bit lighter after getting into the Cup final, our schedule isn’t as demanding now.”

FC Barcelona beat Valencia thanks to goals from Cesc and Xavi

Barça midfielder Cesc Fàbregas talked about the post-match atmosphere: “We’re happy, very happy. The objective was to reach the final and we achieved that. I’m enjoying the moment.”

Isaac Cuenca

“I’ve always enjoyed getting to a final and this one all the more, it’s a special match, plus it’s with Barça.”

Alexis

“I always want to play. I’m never satisfied with what I do, I always want to keep on winning." 

Moment of truth....

It's still only early February, but what Barça face today is one of the most decisive games of the whole season. It's the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi final. 

 

This is just one of a tough series of matches ahead for FC Barcelona. In the league they have trips to Osasuna and Atlético Madrid this month, as well as welcoming back Valencia, this time in the league, and travelling to Leverkusen in six days time for the first Champions League match of the new year.

One of the most positive notes is the return of players from injury. Xavi, Alexis, Busquets, Pedro and Iniesta are all working their way back into the team.

FC Barcelona wins Laureus World Team of the Year Award

FC Barcelona was adjudged the World Team of the Year by the Laueres Award comittee, in a grand ceremony held in London. This is the first time FC Barcelona is winning the prestigous award, which in some circles is called "The Osacr of Sporting World". Club president Sandro Rosell received the award for Barca. Two Barcelona players who were in contention for individual honours in the night unfortunately lost out. Lionel Messi, lost out to Novan Djokovic in the World Sportsman of the Year category. The Serbian Tennis No.1, Novan Djokovic now join an esteemed list of Sportsmen, Roger Federer , Tiger Woods, Michael Schumacher, Usain Bolt, Lance Armstrong and Rafael Nadal who all have previously won this award. Many Barca fans believed that Messi will win it this year and seems to have been disappointed big time. But I have predicted this earlier - The Farce called Laueres Award, it was clear from the start that Messi will not win this one. We football fans will be lucky if we see atleast one from the footballing world win this award in our life time.
Eric Abidal, also was nominated for the Best Comeback of the Year category but lost out to Golf start, Darren Clarke. The complete list of awards presented are as follows:

World Sportsman of the Year: Novak Djokovic (tennis)

World Sportswoman of the Year: Vivian Cheruiyot (athletics)

World Team of the Year: Barcelona (football)

World Breakthrough of the Year: Rory McIlroy (golf)

World Comeback of the Year: Darren Clarke (golf)

World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability: Oscar Pistorius (athletics)

World Action Sportsperson of the Year: Kelly Slater (surfing)

Lifetime Achievement: Sir Bobby Charlton (football)

Sport for Good Award: Rai (football)