Henry reaches his century

Anna Segura

Tuesday's game against Inter marked Thierry Henry's 100th appearance for Barca since he signed in the summer of 2007. During that time the French striker has notched up 46 goals.

2009-11-24_FCB_-_INTER_DE_MILAN_018.jpgA few days ago it was Bojan Krkic who made it 100 appearances and this Tuesday it was Henry's turn, fittingly marking his century in an important Champions League tie.

Debut in 2007

Thierry made his official debut for the club on 26th August 2007 coming off the bench in the opening game of the 2007/08 league season against Racing Santander which ended rather disappointingly in a goalless draw.

47 games in first season

110809_Henry_recuperacix.jpgIn that first season at the club, Henry made 47 official games under Frank Rijkaard -30 in la Lliga, 10 in the Champions League and 7 in the Spanish Cup, scoring a total of 19 goals in all.

Key part of Treble winners

QM3D6838.jpgIt was the next season that Henry wrote his name in the history of the club as a key part of the treble winning all conquering team. Although he missed the end of the league season with injury he was available for the Rome Final against Manchester United and finally won his first Champions League winners medal. In 40 games in the 2008/09 season he scored 25 goals.

Goals

Thierry Henry's first goal for the club came on 19th September 2007 against Olympic Lyon in the Champions League and since then he's gone on to bag 45 more, averaging 2.17 goals a game in a Barca shirt.

[size=14pt]Alves vaunts visionary Xavi[/size]

Wednesday 25 November 2009


The passing skills and vision of Xavi Hernández left FC Internazionale Milano at sixes and sevens on Matchday 5 and the Italian champions could be grateful, eventually, that the scoreline was only 2-0 rather than six or seven.

Future shock

But Daniel Alves thinks he has a special revelation as to why and how his Catalan midfield team-mate can weave such magic and decide on brilliant, geometric passing options which are next to impossible to defend against. "We all live in the present and Xavi actually inhabits the future – that's how he sees things the way he does," the Brazilian wing-back told uefa.com. "I've always believed that football is for the little smart guys like me and Pedro [Rodríguez], and Xavi and [Andrés] Iniesta and we really showed again tonight that the little guys can play great."

Irresistable Barça

Xavi and Iniesta formed a limited company on the pitch against Inter, a special service for providing a constant stream of gilt-edged opportunities for the Barça strikers. "We made lots of chances and Inter didn't really make one clear opportunity to score," Xavi pointed out. "We dominated practically the whole match and deserved to win by more goals. Particularly in the first half, we saw the Barça we've all been wanting to see. We played with fluidity, moved the ball between ourselves really quickly and played with authority. The forward three did a really good job, but particularly Titi [Thierry Henry] whose hard work created lots of space and dragged their defenders all over the place."

Confidence rediscovered

The sole purpose of the display was to win three valuable points, the first time the European champions have won in this competition since early September. The added bonus is that Barça's fate is now in their own hands. So long as they do not lose by more than one goal in Kyiv next month, Josep Guardiola's team will progress to the knockout rounds. But the victory over Inter also gives a timely lift to a side which was without both Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimović, prior to hosting Real Madrid CF this Sunday. Xavi agreed: "We knew we were missing important players up front like Leo and Zlatan, but this team plays from memory. We all know our work, our positions and when we play like that we are all interchangeable. This has been a big confidence boost."

UEFA.COM

Xavi's just the best midfielder in the world, jokes apart, he has the clear cut passes and we all saw them yesterday.

We Da Best

khanye:

We Da Best

guy how far why u dey dey offline always
kai nwanna

we did it yesterday.

Abidal agrees new deal with Club

www.fcbarcelona.cat

French international fullback Eric Abidal has agreed a contract extension with Barça. The new deal lasts until 2010 and retains a 90 million euro buyout clause.

Éric Abidal will remain with FC Barcelona until 30th June 2012, at least. On Wednesday, he extended and improved his current deal which lasted until 2011. His buyout clause has been kept at 90 million euros.

Present at the signing ceremony were Club president Joan Laporta, vice-president for sport Rafael Yuste, general manager Joan Oliver, technical secretary Txiki Begiristain and director of football, Raül Sanllehí.

A guarantee on the left

2009-11-25_FIRMA_ABIDAL_03.JPGAbidal joined Barça in the summer of 2007 and since then has become a regular at left back. He stands out for his physical strength but is also technically gifted. He has shared the position with Sylvinho and now Maxwell. In addition he has a good understanding with right back Alves. He played a key role in the last season’s treble-winning team but missed the Kings Cup and Champions League finals through suspension.

Contract extensions

fcb-inter_x74x.JPGÉric Abidal’s extended contract deal is the sixth signed by the Club over the past five months. Before Abidal, the Club negotiated deals with Touré, Valdés, Pedro, Messi and Puyol. Five players vital to the present and future of the Club.

Piqué quietly confident

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Speaking after the valuable win against Inter Milan, Gerard Piqué assured the fans that the players are now focussed on the weekend’s game against Real Madrid.

The Barça defender, who scored the opening goal against Inter Milan, featured in the Barça TV programme ‘El Marcador’ after Tuesday night’s match. After describing the match in some detail, he went on to discuss the upcoming classic against Real Madrid.

“Caution and respect”

2009-11-24_FCB_-_INTER_DE_MILAN_003.jpgHe emphasised that the players are keeping their feet firmly on the ground: “We have caution and respect for the opponent. They’re league leaders”. Piqué, who scored the fifth of Barça’s six goals against Real Madrid in the Bernabéu last season, told us that the players are in no need of any special encouragement: “We don’t need to be motivated because each of us will take to the pitch highly motivated".

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo may get his first taste of the Camp Nou in a Real Madrid shirt. Gerard Piqué told us: “Everybody, not just we players, wants to see the best players. Cristiano is one of the best and I’m sure he’ll play".

As for the match against Inter Milan, the Barça defender is especially pleased with the win: ”The team has taken an important step and though it’s not guaranteed, qualification for the last 16 is almost in the bag”.

Confidence in the squad

2009-11-24_FCB_-_INTER_DE_MILAN_002.jpgOn Tuesday, the team showed that they can play well even without players such as Messi and Ibrahimovic: “Within the squad, we know that the players that take to the pitch can win matches. We have confidence in ourselves and the debate about whether the squad is too small wasn’t a debate we had. Within the squad we felt good about the match before kick-off. Obviously, the fact that we won so well without two of our star players makes us stronger”.

Third goal of the season

Piqué scored the first goal of the evening against Inter – his third of the season: “I score when I can because a defender can’t choose when he scores. Last year I had a lot of chances but for one reason or another they didn’t go in. In contrast, this season I’m having a lot more luck and thanks to dead ball moves, something we practised a lot before the match, I’ve been able to help the team. Thanks to these planned moves I’m scoring more goals”.

Guardiola proud of the team

Anna Segura

The Barca boss was very satisfied with his team's performance against Inter on Tuesday night and whilst he admitted to having worried about the absences of Ibra and Messi, he claimed he always knew his team “would respond”.

Barca showed last season when they took the treble that key to their success was the strong squad Guardiola could call on and against Tuesday, with two of his biggest stars unable to do more than start on the bench, the manager again showed the strength in depth of the squad.

Worried, but confident

Guardiola admitted that with Ibra and Messi on the pitch the team is more dangerous, but reckoned he knew: “that there was a risk of losing them for an even longer period if they played - if they weren't out there it was because they just couldn't make it”. Even so, the boss was. “confident that the players i sent out would respond”.

True to their style of play

2009-11-24_FCB_-_INTER_DE_MILAN_004.jpgOne of the team's defining characteristics has proved to be their commitment to attacking football and Guardiola agreed: “there's a risk involved in playing so high up the pitch”, particularly with players like Milito and Eto' playing off the shoulders of the defenders, but that's the way Barca play and the boss expressed himself: “very satisfied. The players deserved that”,

Thankful to Messi and Ibra

Although finally they were not called on, Guardiola also praised Messi and Ibrahimovic for: “their willingness and their desire to play a part tonight. They put in a lot of effort”. As to Messi's chances of starting on Sunday against Madrid, Guardiola revealed: “I'm optimistic – if there's any chance, he'll be there”.

Finish off the job in Kiev

2009-11-24_PARTIDO_13.JPGBarca now lead Group F with 8 points and are well placed to make the next round of the Champions. Guardiola is well aware of the next step and commented: “we've taken a big step, now we have to finish it off in Kiev”.

Krayola:

[size=14pt]Alves vaunts visionary Xavi[/size]

Wednesday 25 November 2009


The passing skills and vision of Xavi Hernández left FC Internazionale Milano at sixes and sevens on Matchday 5 and the Italian champions could be grateful, eventually, that the scoreline was only 2-0 rather than six or seven.

Future shock

But Daniel Alves thinks he has a special revelation as to why and how his Catalan midfield team-mate can weave such magic and decide on brilliant, geometric passing options which are next to impossible to defend against. "We all live in the present and Xavi actually inhabits the future – that's how he sees things the way he does," the Brazilian wing-back told uefa.com. "I've always believed that football is for the little smart guys like me and Pedro [Rodríguez], and Xavi and [Andrés] Iniesta and we really showed again tonight that the little guys can play great."

Irresistable Barça

Xavi and Iniesta formed a limited company on the pitch against Inter, a special service for providing a constant stream of gilt-edged opportunities for the Barça strikers. "We made lots of chances and Inter didn't really make one clear opportunity to score," Xavi pointed out. "We dominated practically the whole match and deserved to win by more goals. Particularly in the first half, we saw the Barça we've all been wanting to see. We played with fluidity, moved the ball between ourselves really quickly and played with authority. The forward three did a really good job, but particularly Titi [Thierry Henry] whose hard work created lots of space and dragged their defenders all over the place."

Confidence rediscovered

The sole purpose of the display was to win three valuable points, the first time the European champions have won in this competition since early September. The added bonus is that Barça's fate is now in their own hands. So long as they do not lose by more than one goal in Kyiv next month, Josep Guardiola's team will progress to the knockout rounds. But the victory over Inter also gives a timely lift to a side which was without both Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimović, prior to hosting Real Madrid CF this Sunday. Xavi agreed: "We knew we were missing important players up front like Leo and Zlatan, but this team plays from memory. We all know our work, our positions and when we play like that we are all interchangeable. This has been a big confidence boost."

UEFA.COM

There is no one like Xavi really. I was thinking by now the guy would be fading a bit. But the way he plays he can be at the very very top for at least three more years.

How are we warming up for "El Clasico"?

Barca 3 Madrid 1 is what I see in my crystal ball.

[size=14pt]GOOD NEWS: Touré returns to training [/size]

FC Barcelona returned to training on Thursday as preparations for el Clásico began and the squad was buoyed by the presence of Yaya Touré, who was back in action after recovering from the H1N1 virus.

Touré was given the all clear to return to training after overcoming the H1N1 virus that he was diagnosed with at the end of last week. The Ivory Coast midfielder missed the visit to Athletic Club de Bilbao at the weekend and was also unable to appear against Inter.

khanye:

[size=14pt]GOOD NEWS: Touré returns to training [/size]

FC Barcelona returned to training on Thursday as preparations for el Clásico began and the squad was buoyed by the presence of Yaya Touré, who was back in action after recovering from the H1N1 virus.

Touré was given the all clear to return to training after overcoming the H1N1 virus that he was diagnosed with at the end of last week. The Ivory Coast midfielder missed the visit to Athletic Club de Bilbao at the weekend and was also unable to appear against Inter.

yipee. EL clasico's gonna be a bomb

Mr Talkative has started::


http://goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/11/26/1648362/i-want-to-play-and-win-against-barcelona-real-madrid-star


After the win, we'll see what excuse this low life will come up with.

5 out of 5, more still coming
[img]http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/downloads/aficionats/fons_pantalla/especials/FCB_5copes1-eng.jpg[/img]

khanye:

5 out of 5, more still coming
[img]http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/downloads/aficionats/fons_pantalla/especials/FCB_5copes1-eng.jpg[/img]

Khanye. . .madrid fans watch in envy lol nothing do we!

Krayola. . .

yes crizzie. . .?  I made a thread for the clasico but the spam bot swallowed it like Jollof rice. Can u retrieve it please?

LOL
You did? Aw. Will ask Seun to retrieve it.
Good boi.

Your profile pic is hilarious, by the way. Cracked up at the sight of Bert, Ernie and co going gangsta.

hahaha. Don't mess wit dem o. Those guys no dey play

@Krayola
Warning from the Surgeon General: All smokers are liable to die young!! Fabregas ke you must be Katt Williams in disguise

Ok, No ish!!, here we go again. El Classico.

khanye me don get my new Barca Jersey. Custom name na TREBLE, O bad gan!!

No long thing, El classico, nothing dey happen.

eyoniggar:

Ok, No ish!!, here we go again. El Classico.

khanye me don get my new Barca Jersey. Custom name na TREBLE, O bad gan!!

Good for you man, i will be getting mine soon, thanks to Kray
Custom name na KHANYE - No. 6 (God bless Xavi)

guys, make una no forget me oo, how do i get mine? i want honeric01 written on the back.

honeric01:

guys, make una no forget me oo, how do i get mine? i want honeric01 written on the back.

Call Eyo, hin go help you get em

Hey guyz, do you remember Dis. . . . .

khanye:

Call Eyo, hin go help you get em

ok sir, will do that.

khanye:

Hey guyz, do you remember Dis. . . . .

Really dnt care about repetition of scoreline. All I need is my 3 pointer.

eyoniggar:

Really dnt care about repetition of scoreline. All I need is my 3 pointer.

and 3 points we shall surely get

khanye!nice pictures man.
madrid shall see fire, una go see disgrace of the highest order.
forza barca jare, no stopin

honeric01:

and 3 points we shall surely get

Most Def.

We are winning. the three point is ours. hahaha Raed this


Xavi Hernández is confident that FC Barcelona fair better against Real Madrid on Sunday than he did in the pre-match showdown on computer console game FIFA 2010 as he took on Karim Benzema and lost.

The Catalan playmaker is one of the best players in world football on the field, but when it comes to controlling himself and his team-mates on the screen he is not quite as adept. In an advertising stunt, Xavi took the reins of Barça in the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training complex while in Madrid's Valdebebas centre Benzema was playing as Los Merengues. While the Blaugrana star tried his best it was the Frenchman that ran out a 0-3 winner. "I have said before I do not know how to play this game and I am sure that the team will play better on Sunday," Xavi said afterwards. [b][/b]

scantee:

We are winning. the three point is ours. hahaha Raed this


Xavi Hernández is confident that FC Barcelona fair better against Real Madrid on Sunday than he did in the pre-match showdown on computer console game FIFA 2010 as he took on Karim Benzema and lost.

The Catalan playmaker is one of the best players in world football on the field, but when it comes to controlling himself and his team-mates on the screen he is not quite as adept. In an advertising stunt, Xavi took the reins of Barça in the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training complex while in Madrid's Valdebebas centre Benzema was playing as Los Merengues. While the Blaugrana star tried his best it was the Frenchman that ran out a 0-3 winner. "I have said before I do not know how to play this game and I am sure that the team will play better on Sunday," Xavi said afterwards. [b][/b]

He should have allowed me play Benzema.