Portuguese international Deco is not worried about his place in the starting eleven, saying “whenever I have played it has because I won my place by working hard” and claims that is what he intends to carry on doing.
The midfielder returned to training at La Masia on Monday and said “I have followed a training plan in Brazil and have managed to train hard to keep in shape”. Deco has politely rejected criticism that he had no right to spend so much time in Brazil, where his wife was giving birth to his fourth child. “There will always be criticism, and if I hadn’t gone they’d have criticised me for not being a good father.”
No fear
Deco doesn’t think the fact he missed the Asian tour should affect his condition in the team. “It will be more difficult but it is the boss who has to find the best team. I will play for my place”, he said, and added “there are a lot of people but there are also a lot of games and the most important thing is to be ready to help when needed”.
Motivated and keen to start
Does Deco think there is any chance of all four strikers playing together? He thinks the idea is at least feasible, because they “are great players”, but of course, the man to decide on that is Frank Rijkaard. Asked about his hopes for the team, Deco suggested that both the players and the fans will be hoping to achieve a lot more than they managed last season.
Staying put
Deco shunned any possible suggestion that he may not be staying at the Camp Nou for much longer. “The club does not want to sell me and the boss has me in his plans, so there is nothing to talk about” he said.
Mourinho, one of many good managers
Deco was asked to clarify his earlier comments about the Chelsea manager, and replied that he has always considered Mourinho to be a good coach, but “in much the same way as have been other managers I have played under, like Rijkaard for example.”
Juliano Belletti has said that “right now, I think I am going to stay at FC Barcelona”. However, he is open to other options “as long as they are good for me and for the club ".
Belletti was extraordinarily frank in his press conference on Tuesday, at which he discussed his future as the transfer deadline approaches. “I am happy at Barça and want to continue here. And the club has spoken to me to tell me that they want me to stay” he said. But if an offer comes his way that is of interest to both parties, he has not counted out the possibility of a move. “My brother is in Barcelona at the moment for that reason. He is the one who listens to the offers and tells me if there is anything interesting I should know. Some clubs have asked about my situation, but right now I understand that the club wants me and I want to stay here”.
Belletti did not enjoy much first team football last season, which has prompted other clubs to ask if he is interesting in exploring other options. “All players like to play football and the more, the better” he said. “But I still think I can play a lot of games here”.
Recovered from injury
He went on to explain that he is fully recovered from his recent injury, saying “yesterday I trained normally, I did some rapid movements and sensed that everything was working perfectly.” In training in China, the Brazilian tore cruciate ligaments in his right leg, and missed the rest of the tour, but has now been given the medical all clear.
Well attended training sessions
Today’s training session saw yet another huge crowd watching the players train, this time at the Miniestadi. Juliano Belletti has noticed that more people than ever seem to be interested in watching them train this summer. “I have been in this kind of situation a lot with the Brazil national team, but never at a club. It motivates us and gives us the strength to fight for titles”. But is it not a bit off-putting to always have people watching them when they are trying to work? “When it comes to working, I think it is better on our own behind closed doors, especially during the pre-season” said Belletti. “I like having crowds, but sometimes I think we are better off training alone
Messi, Milito and Márquez have all been picked for the game with Bayern Munich, but there are no places for Ezquerro, Motta, Maxi or the injured Sylvinho.
20 players have picked for the trip to Germany to face Bayern Munich in the Franz Beckenbauer Cup at the Allianz Arena. Messi, Milito, Márquez, Belletti and Deco, who all missed the Asian tour for different reasons, have been called up. But there are no places for Ezquerro, Motta, Maxi or the injured Sylvinho.
The players will leave the Camp Nou today at 4.45 pm and are due to take off an hour and a quarter later.
Futbol Club Barcelona is preparing a series of acts in honour of the recently deceased former vice president Nicolau Casaus. The first will be on August 29 on occasion of the Assembly and the Joan Gamper Trophy.
The Joan Gamper this year will be marked by events to honour the loss of one of the most important people in the club’s modern history. The agenda for the club Assembly on August 29 will, as announced by Alfons Godall, vice president of Futbol Club Barcelona and president of the Social Area “start with a special testimonial to Nicolau Casaus, which has yet to be decided, as part of the traditional minute’s silence in honour of members that have passed away”.
Then, before the game between Futbol Club Barcelona and Inter Milan “there will be a series of events in the form of an audiovisual presentation and the presence of the Barça supporters clubs that he loved so much and that loved him back”, said Godall. It is likely that some of the supporters clubs will parade in the stadium before the Gamper match is played.
Permanent tribute
As well as events on August 29, the club is also looking into ways of making a permanent tribute to the former vice president. Alfons Godall explained that “we are speaking with representatives of the supporters clubs about the subject. We’re putting ideas together and there is nothing definite yet. We would probably like to include his name in some kind of emblematic event, which could be, for example, the Nicolau Casaus World Meeting of Supporters Clubs”. These and other details will be looked into over the next few weeks, always in close collaboration with the representatives of the supporters clubs.”
Bojan Krkic left for South Korea on Monday, where there are high hopes for what he can do at the Under 17 World Cup. Three other Barça players, Bolaños, David Giménez and Iago, will also be involved.
The Spanish Under 17 squad will be one of the favourites at the World Cup, which starts on August 18. Bojan Krkic will be one of the star attractions after his excellent performances with the first team in Scotland. Barça’s centre back Àlex Bolaños, playmaker David Giménez and wide player Iago Falqué.
A prodigy
An articleon the World Cup’s official website has described Bojan as the “latest footballing prodigy to roll off the Spanish production line.” In the same article, national team boss Juan Santisteban is quoted as saying “he's a player with tremendous potential. There's no limit to what he can achieve.”
Arrival on the scene
Bojan Krkic was named player of the tournament at the European Under 17 World Cup, and has already played for the Barça first team and he is an international at Under 21 level too. Bojan played a starring role in Spain’s win against Colombia in a warm-up match on August 7
Other attractions
But Bojan will not be the only major potential appearing in Korea. Argentinians Alexis Machuca and Pablo Mussachio have already played first team football for Newell’s Old Boys and River Plate, while much is expected of PSG’s French defender Mamadou Sakho. England’s Victor Moses has been working wonders at Crystal Palace and Brazilian Lula is a regular in the Corinthians team, and will almost certainly be on his way to Europe soon. Remember, the last tournament’s Golden Ball winner, Anderson, has since found employment at Manchester United.
The fixtures
Spain will be starting in Group C along with Holland, Syria and Honduras. The top two sides qualify automatically, while there are also second round berths for the best third placed countries. Spain’s games are as follows:
Honduras-Spain. 19 August (16.00) Syria- Spain. 22 August (17.00 h Spain -Argentina. 25 August (16.00 h)
In Giovani’s wake
Mexico won the last Under 17 World Cup in Peru in 2005. Barça’s Giovani Dos Santos, then playing for the Barça Youth B team, was the star of the Mexican side and won the Silver Ball award. And of course, he has gone from good to better since then.
Now Navarro has left, Barça needed to find somebody to take his place, and the man has been found in playmaker ‘Pepe’ Sánchez, who will be linking up with Jaka Lakovic.
Juan Ignacio Sánchez, who has dual nationality, is one of the finest of the excellent crop of players coming out of Argentina, and was the first player from his country to appear in the NBA. Although he has since been outshone by the likes of Ginibili (Spurs), Scola (Rockets) and Nocioni (Bulls), he is still a class act.
Without making too much of a fuss of things, the former Unicaja point guard has won over the plaudits, and the fans of all the different clubs he has represented. His intelligent approach to the game has meant he has been the target of countless transfer enquiries.
Success at Unicaja
It was in Malaga that he most excelled, and that is despite winning the Euroleague at Panathinaikos in 2001-02, a year after winning gold for his country at the Indianapolis world championship (2002). He came to Spain via little Etosa Alicante, where his ability to read the game and supply assists upped the wow factor associated to the player.
Unicaja immediately snapped him up for the 2004-05 season, where he helped the Andalusians to two major titles and became an ever-present in coach Sergio Scariollo plans. At the Martín Carpena he won the Copa del Rey (2005) and the ACB League (2005-06).
Beating Barça
Curiously, it was ‘Pepe’ Sánchez who ended Barça’s Euroleague adventure last season. His three-pointer on the buzzer left Dusko Ivanovic’s side out of the Final Four in Athens. It was the first time Malaga had made it to the final stage of Europe’s premier basketball tournament.
Juan Ignacio ‘Pepe' Sánchez is the latest addition to AXA FC Barcelona for the 2007-08 season. The 20 year old point guard has signed for one season with the option to one more.
‘Pepe' Sánchez, signed from Unicaja Málaga, is a 1.93 m point guard with ample ACB experience, where he has been one of Malaga’s key players in recent years. Born on May 8, 1977 in Bahía Blanca (Argentina), he started out for Deportivo Roca in Argentina and then Estudiantes Bahía Blanca, the same clubs that have produced the likes of Emmanuel Ginóbili. Aged 19, he moved up to the USA and the University of Temple, where he played for four seasons.
Into the NBA
In 2000 he was a third round 26th pick for Connecticut in the CBA draft. The same year, he signed for the Philadelphia 76ers and was the first Argentinian ever to play in the most important league in the world. In 29 games he averaged 7 points and 1.4 assists. But midway through the season he was transferred to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a deal involving Dikembe Mutombo. In Georgia he only played five games before returning to the Sixers, who went to the NBA finals, although Sanchez was to play no part.
European champion
In 2001-02 he signed for Panathinaikos in Greece, playing alongside other players with a Barça connection in Middleton and Bodiroga. He won the Euroleague with an average of 4 points and 4 assists in his 20 games. The season after he returned to the NBA, this time with the Detroit Pistons, but only made nine appearances.
On to the ACB
In 2003-04, he came to the ACB to play for Etosa Alicante, after a brief period at Golden State Warriors. In Alicante he averaged 7.4 points and 6.3 assists, enough to catch the eye of Unicaja Málaga who secured his services the following year. He would stay there for three seasons, winning the Copa del Rey in 2005 and ACB League in 2005-06.
Olympic champion
‘Pepe' Sánchez is an important member of Argentina’s national team. At the Indianapolis world championship in 2002 he lost the final to Bodiroga and Pesic’s Serbia, but two years later was able to celebrate Olympic gold in Athens after beating Italy in the final. In the last world championship, where Argentina finished fourth, he registered 5.7 assists a game.
Best passer in the league
‘Pepe' is especially famed for his passing skills. In the regular season gone by he made 4.5 assists a game to lead the category in the NBA. In the ACB play offs he made 14 assists in three games. He also led assists for his team in Europe. His 2.9 assists and 5.8 points helped his side into the final four as they beat Winterthur FC Barcelona in the quarter finals.
The Mexican centre back has said he wants the team to the same or better than it did two years ago, although he is aware that it is not going to be easy.
After the first training session with practically the full squad, Rafa Márquez told the media that he does not fear for his place because “there will always be competition at a club like this” and that it is all about supporting each other. He added that he knows it “will be more difficult and I will have to do my very best to get a place in the starting line up”.
25 men together
Rafa Márquez was “happy to see so many players together” after the bulk of the squad returned to training after the Asian tour and “it is a good squad and I hope we can achieve many things”. If this year’s squad is compared to last season’s Rafa admits that he senses “the obligation to win” but that right now they just need to “look forward to the new season”.
Form shaping up
Márquez didn’t go to Asia, but believes “it was positive because they won every game, got in form and learnt to play together”. He doesn’t think there is any lack of balance, in that “we could field two different teams and they would be well balanced” and that “it will be the boss who decides how we play”.
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Between Mexicans
Márquez has been highly impressed with Giovani Dos Santos’ contribution, saying “he is a quality player and has a great future ahead of him.” Asked about his compatriot’s future, Márquez said “he is so good you don’t want him to leave
The Dutch midfielder is about to face his former club for the first time since leaving the Camp Nou to join Bayern Munich at the start of the 2006/07 season.
One of the main attractions of the Bayern Munich v FC Barcelona game on Wednesday will be Mark Van Bommel. Speaking to www. fcbarcelona. cat, he told us what he feels about taking on his former colleagues. Van Bommel was part of the Champions League and Liga winning side a couple of seasons ago, and has fond memories of the Camp Nou.
Wednesday will be the first time you have played your former club. How do you think you will feel on the pitch?
"It will be weird to play Barça because it is just a year since I left. I have been following the team since then, I have watched all the games I can and am still in contact with some of the players and coaching staff".
Is the game a test for both sides?
"Yes. It will be hard for us because we started the league on Saturday and we have another game next week. It will be a good test to keep us in shape. But I doubt we will stick to the same eleven for the whole ninety minutes".
Is it odd to play a friendly when the league has already started?
"Yes, but it’s normal enough because lots of leagues haven’t started yet and are still getting ready. Anyway, it will be an important game because it is Mehmet Scholl’s last one".
How will the friendly be approached in Germany?
"Barça are famous, everybody knows they’re one of the biggest teams in the world and that they signed some good players this summer. They’re talking a lot about the game, people want to see Bayern, who have also bought lots of new players, in action against a big club".
What do you think of the new players in both teams?
"We have sighed eight players. All of them are top quality and fit into the team well, that’s important. Barça have signed Henry, Touré, Abidal and Milito, all very good players that will help the side to win titles".
Are Bayern looking to win the lot?
"We are in the League, Cup and the UEFA Cup. We’ve got a good squad and if the team develops well, we have a chance of winning two or three titles".
Do you think Barça can win the Champions League and Spanish League again?
"They are capable of it, but last season they were after seven titles and ended up with just two. I think they were unlucky. Against Liverpool, for example. We were lucky ourselves the year before with the disallowed Shevchenko goal in the semi finals. But everybody knows Barça can win everything, but even a great team needs its luck".
Where do you think it went wrong for Barça and Bayern last season?
"It’s hard for me to say what went wrong with Barça. Bayern dropped a lot of points against sides that were low down in the table. Towards the end of the season, we dropped twenty points, and that’s far too many".
What differences have you noted between the two clubs?
"Barça is more cultural because of what it represents to Catalonia. Bayern are a club people hate in Germany because they have won so many things and teams want to beat us. In the Spanish League it’s more evenly divided because there are FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The Bayern and Barça fans are very similar, but Barça has more members. They are two very big clubs that have a lot in common".
Are the styles the same in both leagues?
"Any team in Spain plays good football, we learnt that the other day in a friendly with Mallorca. German clubs are less skilful but work hard and are very tough to break down".
What memories do you have of Barcelona?
"It was all wonderful. The stadium, the grandeur of the club, my family loved the city. I have very fond memories of the year I spent there, especially the titles I won".
Great start in the Bundesliga
Is there a lot of excitement in Munich after the first league win?
"There are high expectations because we have spent a lot of money on several players. We played very well against Hansa Rostock, we won 3-0 and are top of the table. Everybody is wondering who will be able to beat this ‘Super Bayern’. There’s a lot of pressure".
Monday saw the first Barça training session of the season to feature the full squad, apart from the injured Edmílson and Puyol, and Bojan who is at the Under 17 World Championship.
Training at La Masia commenced at 7.00 pm, and was the first since the players returned from their trip to Asia in the early hours of Sunday morning. Messi, Márquez and Milito, the three players that had a longer holiday to compensate for their participation in the Copa America, Deco (who was excused from the tour as his wife was having a baby) and Gudjohnsen, back from injury, all trained with the rest of the squad for the first time.
That made twenty five players, for Frank Rijkaard is also using central midfielder Marc Crosas and defender Jesús Olmo in his pre-season plans.
Eidur Gudjohnsen and Sylvinho trained as a slower rate than the others as they are both still recovering from their respective injuries.
Warm up drills
The session began with the usual warm-up drills. Forming circles for the piggy-in-the-middle exercise that forms part of every session, the cameras were clicking as Leo Messi, Henry, Ronaldinho and Eto’o were all together for the first time.
The players then tackled an obstacle course which involved no use of the ball, and then formed groups of three to combine fitness work with shots on goals defended by keepers Víctor Valdés and Albert Jorquera.
Curiously, Samuel Eto’o also went in goal at one point, and didn’t do a bad job at all of keeping out efforts from Henry, Valdés and Xavi.
Eleven-a-side
The session was then able to end with a full eleven-a-side match. A blue team made up of Valdés, Zambrotta, Oleguer, Thuram, Abidal, Iniesta, Xavi, Touré, Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Henry played a yellow team including Jorquera, Milito, Motta, Deco, Belletti, Márquez, Ezquerro, Messi, Giovanni, Maxi and Crosas.
FC Barcelona looked convincing as they cruised to a 4-0 win against Mission Hills in the last game of their Asian tour. They were clearly the better the side and were able to provide their fans with a goalscoring spectacle.
Pabuk gone, the real typhoon to hit Hong Kong was FC Barcelona’s goalscoring machine. The rain came and went in small intervals, while Barça set about an onslaught on Mission Hills, a combination of the two biggest clubs in Hong Kong. The game was decided in a brilliant first half, in which Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Henry played the starring roles.
Barça took the initiative right from the start, and the positive attitude was reflected by full backs Zambrotta and Abidal pushing forwards constantly. The Italian enjoyed the first chance to score on 7 minutes, neutralised by home keeper Fan Chun Yip. The two playmakers, Xavi and Iniesta, backed up well by Touré Yaya, also played attacking roles and it was Xavi who opened the scoring with a sweet goal in the 22nd minute.
Enter the trident
The forward trio were all involved in goal two, Henry laying the ball off to Ronaldinho, who found Eto’o in the area, who struck home after 28 minutes. It was the Cameroonian’s first goal of the pre-season. Eto’o, playing on the right, sent a floating cross into the area shortly after which Henry brilliantly headed home.
Great show
A little more fortune in front of goal and the result of this game could easily have been an embarrassment for the home side. Mission Hills were powerless to create anything and limited themselves to desperate defending, while Barça, aware that they were much the better side, were able to take things in their stride. Their every move was applauded by an enthused Hong Kong crowd.
Giovani adds his name
Rijkaard made six changes in the 63rd minute and the game took on a new direction. The substitutes freshened up a game that was losing appeal, and Giovani Dos Santos scored to become the top scorer of the pre-season so far. It was a similar effort to the one he scored against Beijing Guoan. The ball was supplied by Xavi, and the Mexican demonstrated his cool head in front of goal. This was in the 83rd minute and was the perfect way to round off a successful Asian tour in which Barça have won three out of three and left a very good image of themselves indeed.
Lionel Messi is keen to get down to action and after training twice on Tuesday and taking his medical on Wednesday he can’t wait to get started with the football.
As he played at the Copa América, Messi, like Márquez and Milito, has been excused from the Scottish and Asian tours. But he is now back to work and after his first appearances at La Masia since before the summer he has told the press that he feels as ready as ever to get playing football again.
Nothing more important than the team
The Argentinian international does not think that missing out on the pre-season will put his first team place in jeopardy. “I am relaxed in that sense” he said. “It is the boss who will decide who plays. We need to think about the group, about the team, and it doesn’t matter who plays or gets left out.”
Great new signings
Messi has been away in Argentina, but has kept a close track on developments in Barcelona. He is looking forward to meeting the new players Frank Rijkaard has signed for the 2007/08 season, saying “when players arrive that improve the quality of the team, it makes you grow and feel stronger. Barça has been strengthened in every department.”
Competition for places
With Thierry Henry, Giovani Dos Santos and Bojan Krkic added to the mix, there is going to be some tough competition for places in the Barça attack this season. Messi feels that is all up to Frank Rijkaard, and has added that he is in no way surprised by the performances of Giovani and Bojan, saying “I have known them both for a long time and have seen what they can do.”
Roles of the young players
Giovani Dos Santos has said that Messi is a great example to follow, and the man himself is “pleased he should say that, and it makes me happy that new players are still coming out of the youth system and that the lads are confident and are dreaming that they can make the grade. At that age the only thing you want to do is play, whether that’s in the first team or the reserves.”
“I want to keep growing”
Lionel Messi was asked what he felt his chances of winning the Balon d’Or are this season, to which he merely answered “it is not something that is on my mind. Sincerely, the only thing I worry about is doing things well, helping the team, and growing as a player each season”.
Barça have trained for the first time in Hong Kong, watched by some 3,000 fans. Matters were not helped by the intense rain and humid conditions.
The Barça squad, training in the Hong Kong stadium, have experienced at first hand the effects of the Pabuk typhoon, which is getting nearer and nearer to the Asian city. The rain pelted down on the players in a session in which those that started against Yokohama ( 0-1) were given slightly less arduous duties to perform.
Humidity
As well as the rain, the usual humidity at this time of year is an incredible 89%. However, the temperature was fairly cool, with the session starting in temperatures around 17.9º, according to the thermometers carried by club officials.
75 minute session
The squad trained for 75 minutes in an extraordinarily beautiful stadium. It started with the usual warm-up drills, which the fans thoroughly enjoyed, with cameras flashing every second. The exercises were deliberately done right in front of the stand where 3,000 spectators had gathered to see their heroes.
Circuit training and visitors
The players then did a series of circuits involving sprints and ball control. The goalkeepers trained separately, while it was all overseen by President Joan Laporta, manager Frank Rijkaard and technical secretary Txiki Begiristain.
Intense match
To end, the players that were substitutes in Yokohama (except for Giovani dos Santos) played a four-a-side game on about a quarter of the pitch. The game ended 7-8, with Motta and Maxi scoring four goals each, and Abidal three. The other players, meanwhile, did stretching exercises.
Special workout
Thuram and Oleguer, who have played the most minutes this pre-season, ended the session with specific exercises. Belletti also had work to do on his own, as he injured the femoral biceps in his right thigh in Beijing. He joined in with the physical circuits with the rest of the squad, but skipped the warm-up drills.
Meanwhile, Iniesta has a touch of gastroenteritis, and for that reason left the training session shortly after it had started.
Samuel Eto’o has yet to score during the pre-season, but this is not worrying him too much. The team has won four out of four, and that’s what matters most to the Cameroon international.
Samuel Eto’o was speaking to the press for the first time on the tour, in Hong Kong in the traditional pre-match presentation. Joined by Frank Rijkaard and Ronaldinho, he looked back on the first few days of the tour and reviewed his personal performances.
Winning is what counts
Samuel Eto’o didn’t score in Scotland, and has failed in Asia too, but he doesn’t want people to make too much of that. “That’s football” he said. “The important thing is to win and build up confidence. I don’t mind if I don’t score because I know how to, what I care about is the team winning. The goals will come sooner or later.”
He has certainly provided some assists, including the pass to Giovanni to score in Yokohama, and most values the opportunity to get match fit. “I am feeling better every day” he said. “I have plenty of time to get ready and get back to feeling like I did before my injury. I am fairly happy”.
‘Titi’ finding form
Eto’o teamed up in attack with Ronaldinho and Henry in Japan, but rather than discuss that, he preferred to analyse the form of Thierry Henry: “I think ‘Titi’ is getting better and better. I hope it won’t take long for him to reach 85% to 90% of his capabilities, which won’t be bad considering he’s coming back from an injury.”
Rijkaard impressed with team spirit
Frank Rijkaard agrees with Eto’o that time is needed before reaching conclusions regarding the club’s new French star. “He is working harder every day” said the manager. “You must remember he has just returned from injury and needs to find his rhythm, but he’s adapting well.” He is generally very happy with his new signings, especially, it seems, the young players, saying “the group gives me a good feeling. There is team spirit.”
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Ronaldinho: “This team can win the Champions League’”
Ronaldinho is aware of just how much better the team is with its new signings, which are the ideal complement to an already strong block of players. “The team has all it needs to win the Champions League” he said. “I am confident about this team. If we do things properly, we have a great chance to win back the Champions League.”
At 8.00 am CET (14.00 local time), FC Barcelona landed at Hong Kong airport, ready for the final stage of the 2007 Asian Tour.
The team quickly transferred to Hotel Grand Hyatt Hong Kong where they will stay until Saturday after a 3,000 km flight from Yokohama.
Problem-free flight
T he players had to get up at 6.00 this morning, and so most of them used the 4 hour flight from Narita, Tokyo to get some sleep.
Barça’s first appearance in Hong Kong
The island of Hong Kong, an administrative region belonging to China and one of the most important financial centres in Asia, awaits FC Barcelona for the very first time.
The city is full of modern architecture, especially in the central district, where the skyscrapers around Victoria Port are the main highlights. Four of the fifteen tallest buildings in the world are located in Hong Kong.
This huge city is home to 8 million people and the local language is Cantonese. Despite its size, it has an amazing number of green spaces, and the stadium where Barça will play the Mission Hills Invitation XI is surrounded by vegetation.
A packed agenda
From midday to midnight the Barça players are not going to get much time to rest. Almost as soon as they arrive there is the pre-match presentation to be attended by Frank Rijkaard, Eto'o and Ronaldinho. This will be followed by a promotional activity for Nike and the long day will end with a training session on the same ground where the match will be played.
Nicolau Casaus de la Fuente, former vice president of FC Barcelona has died at the age of 94 years.
Albert Vicens, vice president of FC Barcelona, has said “we have lost a charismatic symbol who was linked to the Club in an important way. He represented the desire to take Barça around the world. With his human qualities and character he was a great ambassador for the club.”
As a mark of respect for Casaus, all of the Club’s flags will be flying at half mast from this morning.
A religious ceremony to bid farewell to Nicolau Casaus will be held this Friday at 12.00 at the Tanatorio de Les Corts in Barcelona.
He is the top scorer of the pre-season and one of the players on the best form. Giovani is in the first team for the first time ever and is surprising everybody from players to coaches and journalists.
The media may have focused on Henry, Eto’o and Ronaldinho, but young Giovani is turning out to be the real star. Both in Beijing and Yokohama, the Mexican has scored and now has as many in his account as his hero Ronaldinho, who has been fully supportive of his new team mate.
The help of the Under 20 World Cup
His physical might and ability to outrun opponents are two of his most outstanding characteristics. The player himself recently said that “the training for the Under 20s World Cup in Canada helped me a lot. I have a lot of games behind me and that is helping in this pre-season.”
Praise from Rijkaard
Frank Rijkaard has been one of the first to congratulate the Mexican on his performance in Japan, rewarded with the MVP trophy. In fact after the game against Beijing Guoan (0-3), the Dutch manager had already said what he had liked most had been the result and Giovani. After Yokohama he said “Giovani is confirming his progress and quality. He deserves it, he is working hard.”
Good players make it so much easier
The player has spoken to the press after both of his appearances in Asia, and has demonstrated that he has had no problems with the leap up from Second Division B to one of the biggest teams on the planet. “It is my dream” he said in Beijing. “I feel supported by all three (referring to Eto’o, Henry and Ronaldinho). I have played with all of them and they help me see football in an easier light.”
But despite all the media attention, the youngster is keeping his calm. “I want to keep working on a day to day basis and get to play as many minutes as I can. It is just the start of my career.” Right now, what he wants to do most is help the team to win titles.
Similarities to the stars
The player from Monterrey has always said Ronaldinho is his greatest influence, and especially given their similar appearance, this had led to the inevitable comparisons. But perhaps it would be fairer to compare him to Messi, for both are products of the youth structure and are left footed but play on the right. The duo also both have natural speed coupled with an ability to get round the back of defenders.
The Barça boss was happy with his team’s display against Yokohama F. Marinos, and understood that the atmosphere was against them and the opposition was in better physical shape.
FC Barcelona beat Yokohama F. Marinos for the first time in three recent attempts, and Frank Rijkaard admitted that in “in games when we are not at full fitness we tend to seek a good result and in that sense the team performed well. They played with the mentality of wanting to win the game. The team was very much in the game and played seriously in order to get the job done”.
Yokohama fitter
Yokohama, he said, “were fitter than we were and that meant we had to suffer a lot out there. I liked Barça’s attitude because we played as a team.” But he added that “we are still not on full form, just working to get there. This game was a good test.”
Starting forwards
Against Yokohama, Rijkaard played all three of Henry, Eto'o and Ronaldinho at the same time, and although none of them scored he felt “the team first needs to improve physically and then in a football sense. We need to take things step by step, gradually improving.” Expectations are high but Rijkaard believes “people want big things but I think they made a huge effort and I congratulate them for that”.
Henry and Giovani
Two names to come up in the press conference were those of Thierry Henry and Giovani Dos Santos. On the Frenchman, Rijkaard said “he needs to get into his rhythm and improve physically”.
But he was full of praise for Giovani Dos Santos, saying “he is our secret weapon. He went onto the pitch, scored a goal, hit the post and moved about very well.” Rijkaard is pleased because “the more quality players we have the better our chances are, for example, when we get injuries. He works hard, he is strong and he can help the team at any time”.
Speaking to the press, Frank Rijkaard said that “we need to play aggressively in the opposition’s half, creating pressure. We are working on that little by little but we need to be fit enough to be able to do it.” He concluded by saying “what we are doing now is playing, winning, getting fit and giving minutes to the players.”
A second half goal from Giovani Dos Santos was enough to secure a win for Barça against Yokohama F.Marinos. It was a fine performance from Rijkaard’s side, and with a touch more fortune in front of goal, the margin could have been considerably wider.
It was yet more convincing stuff from FC Barcelona, and after drawing on their previous two visits, the Catalans beat Yokohama F. Marinos for the first time, winning 1-0 at the Nissan Stadium. The fans got what they wanted, and in the first half the three mega-stars, Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Henry, teamed up for the first time. Giovani Dos Santos replaced the Frenchman at half time and once again suggested that he also deserves consideration for the first eleven with his insatiable desire to score rewarded with the winning goal.
Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Henry looked to be too much for the Yokohama F.Marinos defence, with constant changes of position, one-twos and spectacular passes, but lack of accuracy meant Marinos were able to hold on to 0-0 at half time. Xavi and Iniesta were also performing well in a midfield that was a constant source of danger.
But despite their technical superiority, the goals just did not want to come. Koji Yamase almost put the home side ahead on 19 minutes, but Valdés was quick to intervene. Shortly after, Samuel Eto’o was on target, but the linesman shockingly raised his flag when the Cameroonian was obviously well onside.
Giovani Dos Santos came on for Henry at half time, and immediately showed the best of his qualities, hitting the post on 53 minutes. Such attacking might was simply too much for the Japanese side, and they were forced back into defence and rarely produced anything to trouble substitute goalkeeper Jorquera in the second half.
Touré Yaya once again demonstrated his extraordinary tackling skills, and also found time to link with the attack. Enamoto was the local hero with a series of impressive saves, and with a quarter of an hour left, it looked like his side might just hold on to secure a famous draw. But it was not to be. Ronaldinho on the counter attack backheeled the ball to Eto’o, who supplied a magnificent through ball to Giovani to convert in expert fashion..
Barça could have added more, although the constant substitutions did little to help their rhythm. In the dying minutes Giovani had a couple more chances to extend the lead, while Ronaldinho received the ovation of the night when he went off in the 88th minute, replaced by Maxi. It has been a vintage display from the Brazilian international, with a series of trademark tricks to delight the adoring home crowd.
The win means it is four out of four so far in the pre-season for FC Barcelona. After the final whistle, the players immediately headed back to the hotel with the trophy awarded to the winners, while the Most Valuable Player trophy was presented to young Mexican Giovani Dos Santos.
FC Barcelona eased to victory against Beijing Guoan in their first game on tour in the Far East, thanks to goals from Giovani Dos Santos, Andrés Iniesta and Ronaldinho.
Frank Rijkaard's side maintained their 100 per cent start to pre-season as they followed up their two victories in Scotland with a win in the Chinese capital. Despite the heat and humidity, Barça were the dominant side in the encounter at the Beijing Fengtai Stadium and took their chances well. Ronaldinho was doubtful for the match, but he thrilled the supporters with a trademark free-kick to wrap up the scoring and send the supporters in the ground, along with the estimated 90 million watching on television, away happy.
Impressive opener
From the start, the Blaugrana took control of proceedings and Iniesta had a chance, but fired wide, after just two minutes when Thierry Henry put him through. While mindful to keep players back, Beijing Guoan attempted to mount attacks of their own, but they were unable to break down a confident looking Barça side in the early stages. The gaps left at the back by the hosts were exposed in the eighth minute when the breakthrough was made as Xavi threaded a pass to Dos Santos and the Mexican starlet steered the ball past the keeper and into the far corner of the net.
Relief for Beijing
The opening goal failed to open the floodgates, however, and saw the home team become more defensive as they looked to prevent themselves from falling further behind. Barça still created chances, but could not finish any more off before the break. In the 26th minute Zhang Yonghai put himself under pressure when attempting to prevent Henry from gaining possession and bizarrely looped a header over his own keeper and into the goal, but was relieved to see the linesman had already raised the flag for offside. Henry did see two chances go begging moments before the interval, as his first effort was saved the keeper and his second rolled just wide of the far post.
Early scare
The second half began with Barça's substitutions looking to settle down quickly, but before that could happen Beijing Guoan almost levelled matters when Walter Martínez found Jorge, only for his shot to clip the post after beating Oier Olazábal. Ronaldinho, Thiago Motta, Syvlinho and Oier had been introduced at the break for Henry, Touré Yaya, Éric Abidal and Albert Jorquera respectively. At the other end Eto'o went close after being picked out by Dos Santos.
The final act
FC Barcelona doubled their lead in the 57th minute when Ronaldinho found Eto'o down the right side of the penalty, moments after the Cameroonian international had hammered a shot against the post, and he rolled the ball across the face of goal for Iniesta to clip the ball into the net from close range.
With the game basically won, the rhythm of the game slowed, but there was still time for one more piece of magic to entertain the enthusiastic crowd. In the 77th minute Ronaldinho was fouled 25 yards from goal and the Brazilian picked himself up to take the free-kick. The ball looped over the wall and flew past the keeper to put the Blaugrana three ahead and produce a broad smile from the Brazilian superstar. Maxi López was given a run-out and the striker could have enjoyed a moment of glory in the closing moments, but saw his effort parried by the keeper
Does Deco think there is any chance of all four strikers playing together? He thinks the idea is at least feasible, because they “are great players”, but of course, the man to decide on that is Frank Rijkaard. Asked about his hopes for the team, Deco suggested that both the players and the fans will be hoping to achieve a lot more than they managed last season. 
Then, before the game between Futbol Club Barcelona and Inter Milan “there will be a series of events in the form of an audiovisual presentation and the presence of the Barça supporters clubs that he loved so much and that loved him back”, said Godall. It is likely that some of the supporters clubs will parade in the stadium before the Gamper match is played. 
An 
In 2000 he was a third round 26th pick for Connecticut in the CBA draft. The same year, he signed for the Philadelphia 76ers and was the first Argentinian ever to play in the most important league in the world. In 29 games he averaged 7 points and 1.4 assists. But midway through the season he was transferred to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a deal involving Dikembe Mutombo. In Georgia he only played five games before returning to the Sixers, who went to the NBA finals, although Sanchez was to play no part. 
In 2003-04, he came to the ACB to play for Etosa Alicante, after a brief period at Golden State Warriors. In Alicante he averaged 7.4 points and 6.3 assists, enough to catch the eye of Unicaja Málaga who secured his services the following year. He would stay there for three seasons, winning the Copa del Rey in 2005 and ACB League in 2005-06. 
Rafa Márquez was “happy to see so many players together” after the bulk of the squad returned to training after the Asian tour and “it is a good squad and I hope we can achieve many things”. If this year’s squad is compared to last season’s Rafa admits that he senses “the obligation to win” but that right now they just need to “look forward to the new season”. 
"Yes. It will be hard for us because we started the league on Saturday and we have another game next week. It will be a good test to keep us in shape. But I doubt we will stick to the same eleven for the whole ninety minutes". 
That made twenty five players, for Frank Rijkaard is also using central midfielder Marc Crosas and defender Jesús Olmo in his pre-season plans. 
The session began with the usual warm-up drills. Forming circles for the piggy-in-the-middle exercise that forms part of every session, the cameras were clicking as Leo Messi, Henry, Ronaldinho and Eto’o were all together for the first time. 
The session was then able to end with a full eleven-a-side match. A blue team made up of Valdés, Zambrotta, Oleguer, Thuram, Abidal, Iniesta, Xavi, Touré, Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Henry played a yellow team including Jorquera, Milito, Motta, Deco, Belletti, Márquez, Ezquerro, Messi, Giovanni, Maxi and Crosas. 
The squad trained for 75 minutes in an extraordinarily beautiful stadium. It started with the usual warm-up drills, which the fans thoroughly enjoyed, with cameras flashing every second. The exercises were deliberately done right in front of the stand where 3,000 spectators had gathered to see their heroes. 
Samuel Eto’o didn’t score in Scotland, and has failed in Asia too, but he doesn’t want people to make too much of that. “That’s football” he said. “The important thing is to win and build up confidence. I don’t mind if I don’t score because I know how to, what I care about is the team winning. The goals will come sooner or later.” 
Frank Rijkaard agrees with Eto’o that time is needed before reaching conclusions regarding the club’s new French star. “He is working harder every day” said the manager. “You must remember he has just returned from injury and needs to find his rhythm, but he’s adapting well.” He is generally very happy with his new signings, especially, it seems, the young players, saying “the group gives me a good feeling. There is team spirit.” 
he players had to get up at 6.00 this morning, and so most of them used the 4 hour flight from Narita, Tokyo to get some sleep. 
The city is full of modern architecture, especially in the central district, where the skyscrapers around Victoria Port are the main highlights. Four of the fifteen tallest buildings in the world are located in Hong Kong. 
This huge city is home to 8 million people and the local language is Cantonese. Despite its size, it has an amazing number of green spaces, and the stadium where Barça will play the Mission Hills Invitation XI is surrounded by vegetation. 
Frank Rijkaard has been one of 
