thanks Giggs..
Messi: It was a wonderful surprise
Sporting a disbelieving look but smiling all the same, Lionel Messi joked at how heavy the newly presented FIFA Ballon d’Or felt. After his Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola offered to take it home for him, the Argentinian magician stepped down from the stage and spoke about his triumph
Lionel, how are you feeling?
Lionel Messi: I’m happy, but I didn’t expect it because everyone had been talking so much about Xavi and Andres [Iniesta]. They also deserved it for the wonderful year they had. They won the World Cup, which usually goes a long way to deciding who wins this award, and they both had big parts to play in that. That’s why I thought one of them would be going up to collect the trophy. It was a wonderful surprise.
How do you think they are feeling?
I don’t think they’re sad about it. It was a great thing for the three of us and the club to have got this far. I think we all enjoyed the gala.
You obviously feel they deserved to win it, but what do you think tipped it in your favour?
Well, the people who voted decided to choose me and I’m very grateful for that. This is my second world player of the year award and I feel just as happy as I did the first time, if not more so. We’re going to enjoy it.
It was a great thing for the three of us and the club to have got this far. I think we all enjoyed the gala. Messi on Iniesta and Xavi
Did you feel that your performances at South Africa 2010 might have worked against you?
Yes. We didn’t have a bad World Cup but we didn’t achieve the goal we’d set ourselves, which was to be champions. That was the one big regret I have from last year.
Can you make up for it in this year’s Copa America?
That’s our next goal at international level and it’s in Argentina too. It would be great for the country, the fans and for us too because it will allow us to have a more relaxed build-up to the next World Cup.
It would also be something of a relief for you after all the criticism you’ve attracted with La Albiceleste.
Yes it would. I want to achieve something big with the national side and this would be a great opportunity to do just that.
Who are you going to dedicate the award to?
To all my team-mates for helping me to win it, to my family and to everyone who supports me.
thanks Giggs..
Every flight begins with a fall.
Upcoming fixtures
Saturday, 15 January 2011
15JAN 2011 10:30pm IST Getafe v Sociedad
15JAN 2011 10:30pm IST Zaragoza v Levante
15JAN 2011 10:30pm IST Sp Gijon v Hercules
15JAN 2011 10:30pm IST Villarreal v Osasuna , Live on Ten Action Plus
16JAN 2011 12:30am IST Athletic Bilbao v Racing , Live on Ten Action Plus
16JAN 2011 02:30am IST Sevilla v Espanyol , Live on Ten Action Plus
Sunday, 16 January 2011
16JAN 2011 09:30pm IST Valencia v Deportivo
16JAN 2011 11:30pm IST Almeria v Real Madrid , Live on Ten Action Plus
17JAN 2011 01:30am IST Barcelona v Malaga , Live on Ten Action Plus
Monday, 17 January 2011
18JAN 2011 01:30am IST Atletico Madrid v Mallorca
Jose Mourinho has said Karim Benzema will not leave Real Madrid in this month's transfer window despite the imminent arrival of another striker.
Benzema has been linked with a move to England but Mourinho said: "The fact that we are talking about bringing someone else in is not because we don't want Karim, it is because, aside from him, we have no one. He is working hard for his team-mates, unselfishly bringing them into play. At the moment he is just missing that little bit of hunger to score goals."
Real have approached Germany international Miroslav Klose but are also interested in taking Emmanuel Adebayor on loan and yesterday over 8,000 supporters of 23,000 polled by Madrid paper Marca said they wanted the Manchester City striker brought in.
Real trail Barcelona by two points and play Almeria today, 24 hours before Barcelona look to establish their longest ever unbeaten run when they entertain La Liga's new-rich Malaga. Pep Guardiola's side have gone 27 matches unbeaten.
Malaga are owned by Qatari Sheikh Abdullah al-Thani and have signed five players in the transfer window. Midfielders Enzo Maresca and Ignacio Camacho, goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo and defender Martin Demichelis have all already made debuts and former Real Madrid striker Julio Baptista is expected to start against Barça.
Lionel Messi, who has scored 27 goals in 31 games after his midweek hat-trick in the Spanish Cup, admitted yesterday that he failed to mention team-mates Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta in his Ballon D'Or acceptance speech on Monday because he was stunned at being awarded the prize.
The Spaniards were favourites to win because of their World Cup success and Messi said: "I regretted it when I saw my reaction but I was so surprised that they gave the award to me. I just had a mental block."
Every flight begins with a fall.
Lionel Andrés Messi is a happy man. After winning the Ballon d'Or for the second consecutive year he has again been recognised as the world's best footballer and is seen as the number one. FC Barcelona are also playing very well and the Argentinian is enjoying one of the best moments of his career since he made his debut for the first team. Now has spoken to Barça TV and FCBarcelona.cat about what he has been feeling over the past few days and how excited he is about the challenges that lie ahead this term.
How does it feel to be the youngest player to win a second Ballon d'Or?
"Really great. It was superb last year when I won it the first time and now, having won it a second time, and to be up against two such great players who also deserved it, made me very proud."
You have always said that your challenge is to maintain the same level. can you see yourself winning three, four, even five Ballon d'Ors?
"I don't know (laughs). I hope to win it again, but if not then so be it. I would like to maintain my level and to win more trophise with Barça because that is what really interests me."
Is the best prize the fact that your team-mates, including Xavi and Andrés Iniesta with whom you shared the podium in Zurich, say you are the best and that the prize was indisputable?
"Yes, without doubt. It makes me feel good and truly happy that my team-mates support me and say good things. They have all congratulated me and were happy for me while asking to have their photos taken with the Ballon d'Or. That made me particularly happy."
Are you a better player now than in 2009?
"I think so. I have grown in others areas of my game that I did not have last year and that is good. Growing year after year and learning more things is important. I hope to continue progressing."
The compliments may not distract you, but does criticism motivate you?
"Yes. I am not fixated by the good or bad opinions, although I always seem to be told more about the bad things (laughs). I know that they motivate me if only to shut people up as well as aiming to grow from a personal point of view.
Pep Guardiola claims that he bears no responsibility for you being the best in the world, but do you think that you could have won it without him?
"Guardiola has given me so much since the first time we spoke. I remember he told me then: "With me you will score three or four goals every game." Because of how he lets me play and the position that puts me in on the pitch Guardiola has given me everything. I owe a lot to Rijkaard and want to think him for the confidence that he showed in me. But with Guardiola I have grown so much."
The team is playing at an extraordinary level. Do you believe this is the best football since Guardiola took over?
"Maybe, yes. We have improved small things in each game. Every season we try to do new things to stop our opponents from working us out and we develop our play and because of that we improve."
Can the team consider repeating the treble with the way you are playing?
"It is better to take things slowly. We are only in January now. The team should take advantage of our good forn and continue with what we are doing. It is still too early to say what we can win. What is certain is that we will battle to the end in all three competitions."
Do you want to congratulate Pep Guardiola?
FCBarcelona.cat
On Tuesday, January 18 coach Pep Guardiola will celebrate his 40th birthday and, just like a year ago, the club will give all Barça fans the chance to congratulate him in an exclusive way by using the #pep40 tag.
The Camp Nou idol took over at the helm of the first team at the start of the 2008/09 season and has since led the team to eight trophies in less than three seasons and now he has another landmark to celebrate with his 40th birthday. To make the event even more special fans can send him messages via Facebook and Twitter.
Using # pep40
Sending your messages of congratulations to Pep will be easier than ever as you only have to log on to Facebook or Twitter and use #pep40. That way you can send you birthday greeting to the former midfielder and current coaching maestro.
Last year
Last year more than 14,000 people sent their congratulations through the club's official website and Facebook to Pep when he turned 39. More than 10,000 chose to 'like' the news and more than 4,000 sent personal messages. This year the club hopes to see that number increase as Twitter can now also be used
Iniesta happy with Messi Award
Anna Segura
Andrés Iniesta insisted that there is no conflict in the squad over Leo Messi’s award of the Ballon D’Oro and was adamant that he was: “thrilled for Leo and just happy to have been in the top three myself”.
Monday was a special day for the Club and especially for Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. All three of them have repeatedly made it clear that there is no problem between them as a result of Messi winning, with both Xavi and Iniesta joking after the Betis game that despite all the evidence, “we really don’t get on at all!”.
Pleased to make Top Three
Andrés Iniesta understands that the fans might not share the FIFA judges’ decision, but he is: “thrilled for Leo and happy to have been in the top three myself. There at all needs to be appreciated, it’s very difficult to reach such a high level”.
Fans’ support
Iniesta also assured the fans that both he and Xavi valued their support and the ovation they received, together with Messi, on Wednesday night: “we really felt the love and respect of the fans, which is great and makes you feel fantastic. We always do our best to please the fans so that everybody who comes to the match has a good time and can be proud of their team”.
Success down to team effort
Treble winners again?
Asked about the team’s chances of repeating their 2009-10 treble winning season, Iniesta replied: “it doesn’t hurt to dream! It’s difficult, but we are still in there and we know if we keep on working hard and showing our desire, it’ll be hard to deny us. We are really in the middle of a fantastic moment, both in terms of how we play and our results, as well as on a personal level with the great atmosphere there is between us all in the squad!”.
Focus switches to Malaga
Edgar Fornós / Vanessa Forns
After last night’s win over Betis, the squad were back in training behind closed doors this lunchtime with the objective of preparing for Sunday’s La Liga game at the Nou Camp against Malaga(21.00).
With qualification for the Cup semis looking pretty safe, the players came into the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper at noon today to prepare for the next league game against Malaga.
B team keepers
It was a typical post match training session, with some gentle exercising, warm up and ball control work the squad`s focus switched to the next match. 18 first team squad members plus three from the B team – Thiago and reserve keepers Rubén Miño and Oier Olazábal- came out onto the training pitch, with keepers Víctor Valdés and José Manuel Pinto staying behind in the gym.
Five or more goals for the eighth time
Roger Bogunyà
FC Barcelona have now scored five or more times in a game eight times this season and have notched up 89 goals in all competitions.
► Betis were the latest team to be on the end of a hiding from Guardiola’s team this season, joining Panathinaikos in the Champions League, Seville, Almeria, Madrid, Real Sociedad and Espanyol in la Lliga, as well as Ceuta in the Cup.
► The win at the Nou Camp on Wednesday was the fourth 5-0 of the season after Seville, Madrid and Real Sociedad suffered the same fate.
► Of the 89 goals so far this season, 39 have come in the first half and 50 in the second.
► Barça have hit the post 21 times this season, seven of them coming from the unlucky David Villa.
► Piqué was the player who recovered most possession in the game – 12 times.
► Afellay made his Nou Camp debut after coming on in the second half for the third game on the run.
► Bojan missed out on a Cup squad for the first time this season.
► Pinto has conceded just two goals in his seven games this season.
► Pedro, who is the second highest scorer of the Guardiola era, scored his 38th goal for the club, having scored 19 at home at 19 on the road.
► Abidal sat on the bench for the first time since the Barça-Rubin Kazan game.
► Keita scored his second goal of the season and his first at the Nou Camp. His other goal came in the San Mamés in la Lliga (1-3). It’s also his first goal in the Cup of the 14 he’s notched up for the club.
► Jeffren, who came on for the last few minutes of the game, was back in a game for the first time since he was injured against Rubin Kazan
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKOKf-oAxR4[/ame]
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