Plenty Of Alternatives To Xavi

If Xavi doesn’t play against Valladolid, Guardiola doesn’t have to worry too much. A trio formed by Sergio, Touré and Iniesta is just one extremely strong alternative.

If FC Barcelona’s appeal to the authorities to get Xavi Hernández reprieved from his suspension fails to achieve its aim, the first team would still have a strong midfield. Xavi has only missed five games this year, but FCB won them anyway.

Iniesta, the natural replacement

An obvious option for Josep Guardiola is to substitute Xavi with Andrés Iniesta, as long as he fully recovers from injury in time. Iniesta has often filled in for him as central playmaker, as he did twice this season, at the Camp Nou against Racing Santander (4-0) and Osasuna (2-0). Iniesta also played the Champions League encounter with Stuttgart (4-0), but played wide on the left that time.

Touré, another alternative

Guardiola has also covered for Xavi with tactical changes. Twice he has switched to a 4-2-3-1 and played Touré in a more attacking role and used Busquets to add solidity to the midfield. This was done nicely against Osasuna at the Camp Nou and especially in the Champions League return match against Stuttgart. In that position, Touré played one his finest games ever for the club and the game was won in handsome fashion.

Sergio, Touré and Keita

A trident formed by Sergio Busquets, Touré and Keita has also been used with Barça employing the classic 4-3-3 system without Xavi, and once again with very positive results. All three featured against Zaragoza at La Romareda (2-4) and in Leon against Cultural Leonesa (0-2) in the cup. Touré filled in for Xavi and did an excellent job.

VIDEO: Andres Iniesta: "We CAN'T Fail."

Valladolid Boss Believes He Can Beat Barcelona

Valladolid boss Javier Clemente has revealed that he has a plan to stop title chasing Barcelona in their tracks when the two sides meet at Camp Nou on Sunday evening.

La Pucela travel to Catalunya knowing that they need to win to preserve their Primera Division status but the coach is fully aware that his side faces a difficult task but noted that they must not let Barca find their rhythm.
"On Monday I had a plan and on Tuesday I had another. As the weeks progress we change things. When I change something it's because I always think it will come good. Until five on Sunday afternoon I will continue to change something," he commented, as quoted by AS.

"We must ensure that they don't play at their level. That will require a lot of work from out team.
"I've never played a game in which we have to win to avoid the drop, in the venue of the league leader, against the best team in the world. What happens is that the importance of this kind of game is like that of many games I played in my life. I have played many internationals, cup finals, UEFA. I've played over 600 games."

Clemente also remarked that both Barca and rivals Real Madrid deserve to be champions after the record breaking seasons each has had but added that Barca play the more attractive football.
"Both Barcelona and Real Madrid deserve it. Getting 98 and 99 points are figures to win the title. There have been two of them in the championship. They've won almost all and Barcelona is ahead because they took all six points off Real Madrid. Barcelona's game is more beautiful."

Henry Set For USA Move

As reported by Sport, Barcelona striker and French goalscoring legend Thierry Henry has signed a pre-contract agreement that will see him move to the United States' Major League Soccer to play with the New York Red Bulls after the World Cup.

After an initially rocky start in his first season at Barcelona, Henry had a successful year with the Blaugrana under coach Pep Guardiola. This season, however, the Frenchman has struggled with injury, and has seen his minutes cut down substantially with the club. He has been linked to a summer transfer away from the Camp Nou for much of the season.

Despite his age, 'Titi' remains a prolific goalscorer. During his time at Arsenal, the Frenchman scored 174 goals in 254 matches, while at Barcelona he found the back of the net 35 times in 78 games.

Valencia Wants 50 Million Euros For Villa

"Operation Villa has entered the final straight and could crystallize the next week. Barcelona and Valencia are negotiating the transfer time and both parties know they are doomed to be understood before the front will enter the May 24 to the concentration of the Spanish team. The striker himself has explicitly asked to Joan Laporta and Manuel Llorente a quick fix. Does not want his immediate future will runout present, World Cup, as happened a year ago when Confederations Cup in full upon arrival at Camp Nou was a cover story. The day after the conclusion of the League, on Monday 17 Villa himself Llorente will meet to review all the details.
Although it is taking shape, the agreement between the clubs is not easy to intuit. Valencia claimed 50 million euros for Villa, a number far removed from what Barca are willing to offer. In the offices Barca move, for now, with a ceiling of 40 million and are not in any case the inclusion of Bojan to lower the price. Yes, however, would be willing to include Hleb or limbo. Valencia, however, has already leaked that only wants money. Flexibility in payment of installments would help accelerate the approach."
The entente Villa v Barcelona would not be ultimately so convoluted. Viilla accept a four-year contract plus a fifth option and a form appropriate to its statusde scorer

Barca Fans Welcome Fabregas With Open Arms

 Let's hope this helps us bring him home:
 
"In his first public event since her name sounded more loudly than ever for Barca, Cesc Fabregas found in the first person culé the fans will welcome you with open arms. "Cesc, come to Barca, Barca fans chanted several who were spending the day at Port Aventura. "We love you at home, Cesc," begged another.
Fabregas eyes not diverted his attention from print media, who wanted to immortalize her image next to the 'Woodpecker' and a huge cake with candles on the 15th anniversary of the park, but Cesc did not ignore the words of the fans. "We thank the people telling me things like that. It has always been difficult to accept that I was being a kid, and there are people who do not sit well have finished. For my family and me very proud when people say things well, "said a few minutes later at a news conference.
And the cover of MD was the talk of the morning at the theme park. The journalists, either at a press conference, agreed well in one interviews with television, was asked again and again by the info Fabregas appeared in this newspaper, which corraboró he and his declaration of intent to play at Barca. It was even wanted to take home a copy of yesterday's edition of this newspaper with the dedication of the protagonist to give your child as gold cloth, knowing that very soon wear Cesc for Barca again.
A professional at all
Beyond that in the field has already become one of the players concerning the European level, Cesc Fabregas also showed his enormous professionalism to meet the media and abide scrupulously by its contract with Port Aventura to promote its 15th anniversary. Seven years in London go far and among some of the traditions that adopted in England is cocked his punctuality. At 10:30 hours, as planned by the organization, Cesc appeared on the legendary attraction of Dragon Khan.
Following the ceremonial photos, Cesc, who was dressed in an informal yet elegant and wearing the dress-brand that Nike and Port Aventura, recalled his days as a teenager, when he went to the park to ride the legendary mountain Russian with his friends and family. In the case of his mother, Nuria, who now has an event management company ('Alter ego'), its link with the park years ago was also professionally through restoration.
Man of strong emotions, Cesc did not even blink when leaving the Dragon Khan, despite his 1269 meters walk and eight 'loops' in just over two minutes.
After the entertainment, Cesc continued to work blowing the candles on the cake of the 15th anniversary and posing for photographers, again with his inseparable friend, 'Woodpecker'. Like most players, the Arenys showed that feels much more comfortable on a football field before the cameras. Yes, met with stoic patience with its mission. Hunger began to tighten and having to throw the cake, Cesc fell into the temptation to try a piece of chocolate, a detail that also leaves its natural relief.
There will be at the Nou Camp
Fàbregas concluded his marathon day at Port Aventura with a press conference where no questions and did not shrink from six television interviews. Neither more nor less, as reflected her contract as enforced by the assistant to his agent, Darren Dein, with a scowl. On Sunday, perhaps to avoid speculation, Cesc will not attend the Camp Nou. There will be time for that."

Mancini On The Lookout For Ibra

I REALLY hope Ibra leaves this summer. But, thats MY opinion. Check This Out:
"Despite not going through its best football, Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues to have a large poster in world football. The best proof is that there is clubs that are using their substitution to tempt him with a change of scenery. With the 'cachet' that has the Swedish striker is, however, very few teams willing to undertake a major operation that requires a signing as well. All are in England today. Just one of those who are more interested in the developments around Ibrahimovic is Manchester City. The reasons are mainly two: the first is that its economic health enables one to consider incorporating this level of financial effort and the second and most important is that their coach Roberto Mancini, who had at his command in the ranks of Ibra Inter Milan for two seasons and knows their soccer potential.
Ibrahimovic acclimation to Barça's style of play has not been as satisfactory to the vast category of players to presage, despite his 21 goals and 9 assists. The serious thing also is that its evolution in the collective mechanism of the team has gone more or less, to the point that in the final stretch of the season when the club was playing the most important titles, Ibrahimovic has alternated between two situations equally frustrating for him, or has been replaced when the club needed more goals, as in the two semifinal matches of the Champions League against Inter, or has sat on the bench in matches, as the last Sevilla-Barca were definitive for the team's fortunes in the league. That, as much as coach Pep Guardiola has made efforts to save the Swedish crack in his press conferences, airs its future fit into the template.
The season finale of Bojan Krkic has come to relegate the role of Ibra on a secondary level. That obviously would not make sense next season, given that Ibrahimovic is next to the player Leo Messi more charges in the template.
O key or goodbye
Ibra, by curriculum, by card and personal ambition, but may be as a key. So if it is also already an open secret that the club is putting all eggs in one basket to take Valencia to a striker like David Villa looks increasingly likely that Ibra may have a way out of Camp Nou, but his agent, Mino Raiola, for now, remember that you still remain a four-year contract. With teams like Manchester City attentive, the key is whether the club is prepared to give a second season Ibrahimovic."

Keita Back In Training

Once again forgive my translation:
"The Barcelona player Seydou Keita of Mali has rejoined his team workouts, once recovered from the wounds he suffered in the Achilles tendon and had been prevented from working with the team throughout the week. Keita ended the game sore against Sevilla (2-3) and could not participate in both sessions of the week on Tuesday and Wednesday, days when he worked in the gym.
The player, however, arrive in time to hold against Valladolid, a game that presumably can not act Xavi (enacted but not yet of a possible interim suspension of penalty cards) and which also will start Iniesta . Manchego midfielder continues his recovery and has completed the training. Although not yet officially received the medical discharge, you have minutes of play against Valladolid. To complete the list of midfielders in the training Pep Guardiola has once again quote Thiago Alcantara Atlètic Barca."