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[reality]

'Ronaldinho & Deco were completely out of control; to unleash the power of Lionel Messi, they had to leave Barcelona'
Starting today and continuing until January, Goal.com will publish exclusive extracts from Graham Hunter's new book on Barca. In this piece, he examines the management of Messi



When a tearful Lionel Messi limped out of a Champions League match against Celtic on March 4, 2008, it spelled the end for his and Barcelona's season. It also led to a clandestine meeting of Camp Nou power-brokers, who formulated a radical strategy to protect their 18-year-old golden boy and ensure his place at the forefront of a new era at Barcelona.

BARCA: THE MAKING OF THE GREATEST TEAM IN THE WORLD
EBOOK OUT CHRISTMAS DAY, 2011. PUBLISHED JANUARY 2012 BY BACKPAGE PRESS

After Lionel Messi collapsed holding the hamstring of his left leg after 38 minutes against Celtic at Camp Nou on March 4, 2008, Ronaldinho and Deco were first to arrive and console, distraught at another calamity for their injury-prone young friend. Messi limped off the field in unrestrained tears – a moment which signified that his, and his team’s season would go up in smoke.

A war cabinet was convened in the wake of the injury. Present were the director of football, Txiki Begiristain, and two vice presidents: Ferran Soriano and Marc Ingla.

Ingla takes up the story: “We were disappointed with the fragility of Messi and his repetitive muscle strains. After the Celtic match we constructed a holistic plan for his future performance: to manage the number of meals he had; what type of food he should eat; how many hours of sleep he had to get; what type of stretching he had to do every day. It was a multi-faceted plan to keep him healthy and to minimise injuries. We put lots of work into it and invested lots of money to help him.”



Juanjo Brau was a fitness and rehabilitation coach who had been working with Messi, but not exclusively, since prior to the 2006 World Cup. It was decided that Brau would be dedicated to Messi, helping him avoid injury, rather than recover from it.

Messi's diet would now include previously unknown quantities such as fish and vegetables and these changes in the way he maintains his body have made him leaner and stronger, less susceptible to injury and quicker to recover. However, there was more to the plan than that.

Ronaldinho and Deco were to be removed from the team – partly to clear the decks for a new coach but, those in the war cabinet decided, this was equally to save Messi from their destructive influence.


Ronaldinho and Deco were to be removed from the team - partly to clear the decks for a new coach but, those in the war cabinet decided, this was equally to save Messi from their destructive influence


Ronaldinho and Deco were living the high life away from the pitch – convinced like so many gifted, rich young athletes before them that they were so talented, so full of the magic dust which makes superstars that they could bend the rules and still excel. They were wrong.

Deco's contributions became ever less decisive. He also picked up more niggling injuries and took longer to shrug them off. Ronaldinho was falling from a greater height. The difference was that he gained weight, betrayed by the same physiology which afflicted his mother, brother and sister. From being the world’s best footballer, he turned flabby.

The Barca board saw that Messi would have to be superhuman not to be led astray by players whom he not only idolised, but who had treated him like he was family. Messi was a stocky figure by now – grown to his full height, increasingly strong and explosive with the ball - but hooked on the Argentine diet of red meat and carbs. If he found at taste for nightlife too, then Barca might lose three great players instead of just two. The Brazilians had to go.


If Messi found a taste for nightlife too, then Barca might lose three great players instead of just two. The Brazilians had to go


Ingla told me: “Ronaldinho and Deco were completely out of control. They had been our best players for a couple of years and we lost them.” There remains massive affection for Ronaldinho – Soriano calls him the “rock star” signing, one that transformed Barcelona's play and their place in world football. He brought the magic back to the Camp Nou.

Soriano told me: “It was becoming clear that Ronaldinho was not going to be a lasting star, although we thought in 2005 that we could achieve this and we were talking to his brother about extending his contract to 2014. By 2007 we knew that he wouldn’t be the club’s icon. We had decided - that was going to be Messi.

Ingla spoke for all in attendance at that pivotal meeting when he told me: “To unleash all the power and the image of Messi, we had to push out Ronaldinho and Deco.”

[Devarajan Master]

Hitman,Giggs ...would like to know your opinion on this.
I feel the presence of Fabregas is affecting the fluidity WITH WHICH Barca PLAY. Barca are at their very best when Xavi and Iniesta play in the midfield with Busquets as the holding player. Fabregas is scoring goals , but compromising their play. I felt it, with Spain as well with both Del Bosque and Guardiola trying all permutations and combinations in the midfield and attack. Del Bosque can experiment ,because now it is all friendly matches for Spain. But Guardiola cant afford to experiment too much as we are slowly entering the middle of the season.


I sincerely feel ,both Barcelona and Spain should have a plan B against teams that come to defend/park the bus. May be ,Fabregas should be used in a better way for that Plan B

[hitman87]

Hitman,Giggs ...would like to know your opinion on this.
I feel the presence of Fabregas is affecting the fluidity WITH WHICH Barca PLAY. Barca are at their very best when Xavi and Iniesta play in the midfield with Busquets as the holding player. Fabregas is scoring goals , but compromising their play. I felt it, with Spain as well with both Del Bosque and Guardiola trying all permutations and combinations in the midfield and attack. Del Bosque can experiment ,because now it is all friendly matches for Spain. But Guardiola cant afford to experiment too much as we are slowly entering the middle of the season.


I sincerely feel ,both Barcelona and Spain should have a plan B against teams that come to defend/park the bus. May be ,Fabregas should be used in a better way for that Plan B

maashe, i was totally against the transfer of Fabregas to Barca.. they could have waited a bit as they already had Thiago in their ranks.. instead they could have gone for some reinforcements at the back.. their dependable Abidal's contract is up..

Even Spain cant afford that system.. they have lost their fluency.. losing against England and sharing points against Costa Rica is not palatable..

[baazigar89]

Barcelona 4-0 Zaragoza: Pique, Messi, Puyol & Villa all on target as Catalans crush Javier Aguirre's struggling side

Pep Guardiola's men keep up with Real Madrid at the top of La Ligaas Javier Aguirre's side are well beaten at Camp Nou, thanks to goals from both Barca centre-backs

Two goals in either half from four different scorers helped Barcelona to an emphatic 4-0 win over Real Zaragoza at Camp Nou on Saturday evening. Gerard Pique, Lionel Messi, Carles Puyol, and David Villa were all on target as Javier Aguirre's side were comfortably beaten.
The Catalan side opened the scoring in the 18th minute in simple fashion. On-loan Celtic player Efrain Juarez fouled Cesc Fabregas deep in the Zaragoza half and the resulting free kick from the left-hand side saw Xavi whip a fantastic cross into the six yard box for Pique to power home.
Barcelona came close to doubling their lead on the half hour mark but a fantastic double save from Roberto kept the home side at bay. Messi drove into the box and stabbed a shot at the bottom left corner only for the Zaragoza goalkeeper to get down and make an excellent block, not before getting up quickly to deny Alexis Sanchez by saving with his feet.
Pep Guardiola's side did manage to get their second goal and it came three minutes before half time. Zaragoza left Messi completely unmarked in the box and this allowed Xavi to thread a pass through the defence for the Argentine, who then sidestepped past Maurizio Lanzano and smashed the ball into the bottom left corner with his weaker foot.
The home side continued their domination after the break, and took just 10 minutes to get their third goal of the match. Fabregas found space in midfield and clipped a pass to the back post for Seydou Keita, who headed back across goal where Puyol was waiting. The Barcelona captain chested down and attempted to half-volley at goal but Roberto made a brave point-blank save. From the resulting scuffle on the line Puyol managed to slide the ball over the line.
Substitute Villa silenced his recent critics with an opportunistic goal in the 74th minute to give his side a four-goal advantage. Isaac Cuenca took advantage of a poor clearance from on-loan Real Madrid defender David Mateos to pick up the ball and drive down the wing and send a cross to the back post for the former Zaragoza striker, who scored with a powerful diving header.
Pep Guardiola's side now join Real Madrid on 28 points at the top of La Liga with Jose Mourinho's men facing Valencia at the Mestalla following this match. Javier Aguirre's troops still find themselves perilously above the relegation zone in 16th place, with 10 points taken from 12 games.

[messi]

thanks baazi............

[messi]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giatefEvuQU&hd=1][HD] FC Barcelona vs Zaragoza 4-0 Highlights and goals from La Liga/LIGA BBVA 2011-11-19/20 - YouTube[/ame]

[mampilly]

Ethinekal okke pradanam Avarude shyliye kurichu ippol mattu teamukalkkokke oru daranayai athine engane prithirodikkanam ennulla thanthrangal avarum kuresshe padichu thudangi. Ethavana Real barcaye marikadannu legue nedanulla chance kooduthal anu

Hitman,Giggs ...would like to know your opinion on this.
I feel the presence of Fabregas is affecting the fluidity WITH WHICH Barca PLAY. Barca are at their very best when Xavi and Iniesta play in the midfield with Busquets as the holding player. Fabregas is scoring goals , but compromising their play. I felt it, with Spain as well with both Del Bosque and Guardiola trying all permutations and combinations in the midfield and attack. Del Bosque can experiment ,because now it is all friendly matches for Spain. But Guardiola cant afford to experiment too much as we are slowly entering the middle of the season.


I sincerely feel ,both Barcelona and Spain should have a plan B against teams that come to defend/park the bus. May be ,Fabregas should be used in a better way for that Plan B

[mampilly]

Spain um ethu thanne anu Prashnam ennu thonunnu

[Devarajan Master]

Yaa. Both FC Barcelona and Spain should have a plan B .

[moovybuf]

Hitman,Giggs ...would like to know your opinion on this.
I feel the presence of Fabregas is affecting the fluidity WITH WHICH Barca PLAY. Barca are at their very best when Xavi and Iniesta play in the midfield with Busquets as the holding player. Fabregas is scoring goals , but compromising their play. I felt it, with Spain as well with both Del Bosque and Guardiola trying all permutations and combinations in the midfield and attack. Del Bosque can experiment ,because now it is all friendly matches for Spain. But Guardiola cant afford to experiment too much as we are slowly entering the middle of the season.


I sincerely feel ,both Barcelona and Spain should have a plan B against teams that come to defend/park the bus. May be ,Fabregas should be used in a better way for that Plan B

Xavi & Iniesta are still playing in the mid, Fabregas and Messi seems to beinterchanging their roles as the ttacker.. Villa was deployed on the left even before Cesc came..
Cesc has not only socred but also have assists..
he was bought for 30 mill which is an excellent buy whne compared to the market price for certain players.. more over u forget the fact that cesc is only 25 and Xavi is entering his 30s..
so right investment fro me..
and are u sure both Xavi & iniesta can go through the whole season uninjured??
U need to have strength in squad to compete at so many levels.. Cesc had the highest number of assits in european matches last season or so..