Pep Guardiola

Josep Guardiola

I don’t even know how to start. This one week has been very hard for every Cule in the world and yesterday was the culmination, because yesterday was the day when Guardiola left the club. Yesterday was the day, when “Guardiola’s Era” came to end.  Nobody believed or wanted to believe until the last second that Pep was leaving. Today I saw very sad faces of Barca fans, and personally I was feeling very bad for the whole day, like some close person to me had passed away.

I already mentioned that “Guardiola’s Era” has become to an end. Now, I’m sure every person who loves football knows that this means. It simply means – the best club in the whole history of football. Yes, it was Josep Guardiola who created the dream team, the best team of all. I remember when he replaced Frank Rijkaard in 2008, nobody believed in him. Everybody thought that he would fail but thank god we were mistaken. That year Guardiola started writing Barca’s history from a new, empty paper, when at the end of the season Pep’s team got Triplete, winning all 3 possible cups in a season. But it wasn’t enough for Pep, he had the motivation, the spirit to win everything possible, to eat the world. So he did… he won all 6 competitions that Barcelona was taking part in. That was amazing, no other coach has done it before! He won 2 Champions League trophies, 3 consecutive La Liga trophies and gave Barcelona a huge glory… But the main thing he gave Barcelona, was this new way of playing, new style, the whole new philosophy of football. With this new philosophy Barcelona truly became one of the best teams in the whole football history and that was the “fault” of Josep Guardiola, one of the best coaches in the world. He truly is a genius.

I also already said that I saw lots of sad faces of people who love Barcelona. I myself was brought down after I heard that decision. But was it just because of the trophies and the style of playing that Guardiola gave us? I don’t think so… There might be a new coach (doesn’t matter who) who can (theoretically) win more trophies than Guardiola, but I probably won’t feel so bad if that guy leaves. So what is it than, how could Pep manage to make us love him so much? First reason of course is his way of coaching, but then comes the other factors, people love him because of his character, they love him as a person, as a human being, as a friend, brother, he is just a part of Barcelona. He definitely is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) person in whole Barcelona history, as a player, as a coach and probably as a president too in future (at least I hope).

But he left… He left with his own decision. Why? Well, not everybody can understand it. But i’ll try to give you the explanation. He told the press that he got tired and left to have a rest. Then a question came in my mind, who doesn’t other coaches get tired of coaching, like Ferguson, Mourinho or many others… So this is a cover reason, there must be something more deeper. So I think it was because he felt that the next season wasn’t going to be a glorious one either, so he left. He didn’t leave the club because of his personal interests, but for the club’s interests. He loves Barcelona so much that he couldn’t take a risk to harm the club. Besides he didn’t have enough motivation like he did earlier. I remember him how emotional he was especially in the first season when he came, how he wanted to win, how big motivation and desire he had to win more and more. But this year’s Barca wasn’t like it was in earlier years. That’s why Guardiola said that he needs time to recharge, this means he needs more motivation.  Guardiola: “I could have continued but I wouldn’t have the enthusiasm this club deserves. I need to find again the hunger to eat the world.”

At the end, as a Cule, I want to thank Josep Guardiola, a great coach, a great person, for all he gave to Barca and to me. All those happy days since Pep came is now a memory, a great unforgettable memory which will live forever. Thank you Pep for all the joy you gave us!!!

And one more last thing… I am pretty sure, like 100% sure that Guardiola will return sometime! He said he needs to recharge, that he needs to find the hunger to eat the world again, so I hope when he does find it, he will return to Barcelona and give us another “Guardiola Era” or I’d call “The Great Come Back Era of Guardiola”… We’ll miss you Guardiola!

The first goal was scored by hero of the match Andres Iniesta, and the second one scored by our hero, Leo Messi.

Messi made good battle with Javi Martinez. Leo Messi showed great performance and his penalty was too cool.

You can check the highlights of this matc in read more.

Messi

Leo Messi is the top goalscorer for Barcelona. He scored 3 times against Granada yesterday and broke Cesar Rodriguez`s record, who scored 232 goals for Catalan Club.

Messi is just 24 years old and made fantastic carrier. He is as the best for Barcelona, as for the world.

After the Granada match, Guardiola and journalists said that Lionel Messi is like Michael Jordan in Basketball. He is the Legend.

The fact is that Messi scored 54 times in just 45 matches of this season.

Watch the Barcelona-Granada match highlights in Read More

Leo Messi - TheLegend

Lionel Messi was the history-making hero, becoming the first player to score five times in one Champions League match.

Barcelona had 3-1 advantage before the game so they were calm and everybody knew it wouldn’t be a tough game for them. Nobody also expected that Barca was going to win with such a humiliation.

In the first half Lionel Messi managed to score twice, both of them excellent goals. One assist from Xavi and another from Fabregas. As the teams went on break, everybody knew that Barcelona was qualified for the next round and nobody expected 5 more goals in the second half.

But Messi wasn’t going to stop. In the second half he scored another goal and when the score was 3-0 Guardiola made substitions – Tello and Keita in, Xavi and Iniesta out. Tellos second touch to the ball ended with another great goal from Barca. Later same Tello managed to score double in his debut match in Champions League but before than Messi scored his poker on 58^th minute. It was his third poker in his career but who could imagine that he wouldn’t stop?

At the end of the match, on 85^th minute the Argentinian scored his 5 goal – which is called “Repoker”. He is now the only player to have scored 5 goals in a single Champions League Match. Besides he already has 12 goals in this seasons 7 match in Ch. League and if he scores one more goal in this competition he will have another record (nobody has scored more than 12 goals in one Champions League season).

After the match everybody was excited, many famous people Tweeted and Commented about Messi – here are some:

Owen (ManUtd): “Not old enough to see some of the greats but can’t believe anyone can have played the game of football as well as Messi.”

Dutt (coach Leverkusen): “Who has played football, knows there are no words for Messi. He’s at his own level.”

“Without Messi, Barcelona are still the best team in the world. But with him, they’re from another galaxy”

John Heitinga (Everton): “Mejores jugador del Mundo Messi! Best player in the World!

Guardiola: “We’re lucky to have Messi. It’s not easy to score 5 goals in a game. I can know, I scored 11 in my whole career.”

“Messi is the best, there’s no one else, he’s unique. I will always be able to say I’ve been his coach.

“We can try to make sure the ball gets to Messi. From then on, we can’t do anything, just sit back and watch.”

“Only Messi will decide when he’ll leave the throne.”

“Messi is among the greatest. Di Stefano, Cruyff, Maradona… And I add Pele, otherwise he’ll be angry.”

Gary Lineker (ex-player): “Fella’s a genius! Best ever by a distance in my life time! Never really saw Pele [...] Wait til he grows up!”

Demba Ba (Newcastle United): “Is messi a human beeing?????”

Rio Ferdinand (Man United): “Messi doesn’t look interested tonight….!!”

Valdes: “I’ll be able to tell my grandchildren I’ve suffered messi, but only on training (laughs).”

Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool): “There is no doubt, you’re from another galaxy. Thanks Leo”

Bar Refaeli (model): “at this point i’m starting to strongly believe that Messi is related to clark kent.”

Wayne Rooney (Man United): “Messi is a joke. For me the best ever.”

 Some stats now:

Lionel Messi has scored 33 goals in his last 30 starts in the Champions league

Messi is the first player ever to score 3 hat-tricks in the knock-out stage of the Champions league

Messi has now scored 15 goals in 10 international games for Barcelona this season  54 goals in 69 games in total

The last player before Messi to score 5 goals in a European Cup/CL game was Soren Lerby (Ajax) in 1979

Lionel Messi has scored 13 goals in his last 4 official games Valencia 4, Atletico 1, Switzerland 3, Leverkusen 5

Against Leverkusen, Messi scored 5 goals from 7 shots (6 on target)

Messi got a “10″ from French paper L’Equipe for yesterday’s game. He’s the first player ever to get two times a “10″

Messi scored 30 goals in his last 25 Champions League games 23 starts, 7 assists

Watch the Match Highlights on Barcelona – Bayer Leverkusen 7-1

Messi Leverkusen

After first Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen (1-3), Barcelona has great chance to go to the next round. Today Barca will play soft, nice style football, without any nervous.

In this situation, all the players will show their style and there is big chance to view more goals than in the first match. German side will attack, and Catalans will definitely use this to make counter attacks and score.

So it is very interesting to check odds in UK Casinos and bookmaker websites.

Barcelona are unbeaten at home since September 2010 and so a price of just 1/7 for a home win comes as little surprise

Messi Free-Kick

Ronaldo Back-Heel

Leo Messi

After double of Sanchez and one goal from Messi, Barcelona won 1-3 against German Club, Bayer Leverkusen. It was not hard game for Catalian side. They showed as always impressive game and quality skills agains Germans.

Barcelona has some problems with Real Madrid in La Liga, because of 10 points between them. So there is big chance to lost battle for Primera. Because of this Barca concentrates more on Champions League.

The idea that Messi is the king of football waves in world. So here is the video of skills which made Messi agains Leverkusen.

Messi's penalty kicks

There is big match tomorrow, where Barcelona will face to Valencia for Copa del Ray. First Match Result was 1:1, so there is big chances to be penalty kicks in the tomorrow’s match. So lets review Messi’s penalty kicks.

Messi scored 1 from 1 center kick

LEFT SIDE  7 – scored 4, caught 2, missed 1 (success 57%)

RIGHT SIDE 19 – scored 15, caught 4 (success 79%)

Messi scored  20 penalty kicks from 27 with Barcelona and his overall success rate is 74%.

As you know Barcelona overcame the barrier of Real Madrid in two matches. In the first match Messi wasn’t at his best but still made a great assist to Eric Abidal who managed to score a goal. Messi`s main plan was to fall little bit back so that Real Madrid defenders go up front too. As you know more than one defender are trying to cover Messi, so that makes free spaces for other Barcelona players.

The situation was almost same in the second match too, Messi made a great dribbling and more than two defenders tried to stop him – this created free space for Pedro as the Argentinian managed to give him a great assist.

Lionel Messi, who just got the third Ballon d’Or consecutively, is very productive player in El Clasicos, he is just 24 years old and has already got 13 goals and 10 assists.

Here is all 10 assists of Messi.

Leo Messi

Messi won another El-Classico, with Pyuol and Abidal goals on Santiago Bernabeu. Yesterday, there was huge problems with Real Madrid. At first hosts scored goal. The scorer was Cristinao Ronaldo and everybody waited more and more goals from Real, but Barca made everything clear with its control of ball. The percentage of Ball control was 27% – 73% so Real Madrid failed again.

Messi made great assistant for Abidal, who scored the second goal, which became winning one. It was really drama for Mourinho and his boys. Barcelona showed great performance and great playing style, so today nobody is like this Team. Messi and his friends are the best in the world for today!!!

you can watch match highlights on : Real Madrid – Barcelona Highlights