Catalan club.
Luis Enrique summed up 2014 on Friday using a very particular Spanish vernacular that is best translated up as "amazing" or "excellent," but it will not have a very happy ending if his Barcelona side fail to beat lowly Cordoba on Saturday and put on a bit of a show for the Camp Nou crowd. The fact is Barca missed a great chance last weekend to put pressure on Real Madrid at the top of La Liga and finish 2014 on the top of the pile.
Their 0-0 draw with Getafe was a huge two points lost that could prove costly in the long run. Although the better side, Barcelona failed to produce enough chances to merit the win and now a home victory in the final game of the season will leave the Blaugrana lagging one point -- having played an extra game -- behind their biggest rival, who should be crowned Club World Cup champions on Saturday evening.
So while Enrique may see 2014 as being cojonudo, many Barca fans would differ in their opinion of a year that has seen their club slip behind both Madrid sides and struggle to produce their recognised style of play from recent seasons. Part of the reason for that lack of identity in Enrique's new Barca is not knowing which is the club's strongest starting XI, and that has to be down to Enrique's decision to makes changes to his side for all 23 of their games so far this season.
That figure will undoubtedly move to 24 on Saturday as Enrique is unlikely to play the XI that started the 8-1 victory over Huesca in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday. And while there are the obvious advantages of keeping all the squad happy and giving players plenty of rest, his constant tinkering is beginning to tire with some of the Camp Nou regulars.
Friday, 19 December 2014
Another showing like against Huesca will keep critics off Barcelona's back
Barcelona midfielder Xavi has expressed he'd like to follow his old Barcelona manager's, Pep Guardiola, footsteps and be a player and coach at the legendary
Catalan club.
Luis Enrique summed up 2014 on Friday using a very particular Spanish vernacular that is best translated up as "amazing" or "excellent," but it will not have a very happy ending if his Barcelona side fail to beat lowly Cordoba on Saturday and put on a bit of a show for the Camp Nou crowd. The fact is Barca missed a great chance last weekend to put pressure on Real Madrid at the top of La Liga and finish 2014 on the top of the pile.
Their 0-0 draw with Getafe was a huge two points lost that could prove costly in the long run. Although the better side, Barcelona failed to produce enough chances to merit the win and now a home victory in the final game of the season will leave the Blaugrana lagging one point -- having played an extra game -- behind their biggest rival, who should be crowned Club World Cup champions on Saturday evening.
So while Enrique may see 2014 as being cojonudo, many Barca fans would differ in their opinion of a year that has seen their club slip behind both Madrid sides and struggle to produce their recognised style of play from recent seasons. Part of the reason for that lack of identity in Enrique's new Barca is not knowing which is the club's strongest starting XI, and that has to be down to Enrique's decision to makes changes to his side for all 23 of their games so far this season.
That figure will undoubtedly move to 24 on Saturday as Enrique is unlikely to play the XI that started the 8-1 victory over Huesca in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday. And while there are the obvious advantages of keeping all the squad happy and giving players plenty of rest, his constant tinkering is beginning to tire with some of the Camp Nou regulars.
Catalan club.
Luis Enrique summed up 2014 on Friday using a very particular Spanish vernacular that is best translated up as "amazing" or "excellent," but it will not have a very happy ending if his Barcelona side fail to beat lowly Cordoba on Saturday and put on a bit of a show for the Camp Nou crowd. The fact is Barca missed a great chance last weekend to put pressure on Real Madrid at the top of La Liga and finish 2014 on the top of the pile.
Their 0-0 draw with Getafe was a huge two points lost that could prove costly in the long run. Although the better side, Barcelona failed to produce enough chances to merit the win and now a home victory in the final game of the season will leave the Blaugrana lagging one point -- having played an extra game -- behind their biggest rival, who should be crowned Club World Cup champions on Saturday evening.
So while Enrique may see 2014 as being cojonudo, many Barca fans would differ in their opinion of a year that has seen their club slip behind both Madrid sides and struggle to produce their recognised style of play from recent seasons. Part of the reason for that lack of identity in Enrique's new Barca is not knowing which is the club's strongest starting XI, and that has to be down to Enrique's decision to makes changes to his side for all 23 of their games so far this season.
That figure will undoubtedly move to 24 on Saturday as Enrique is unlikely to play the XI that started the 8-1 victory over Huesca in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday. And while there are the obvious advantages of keeping all the squad happy and giving players plenty of rest, his constant tinkering is beginning to tire with some of the Camp Nou regulars.
Lionel Messi feeling mental, physical strain of years at top - Gerardo Martino
The ESPN FC panel discuss why Lionel Messi is not as popular in Argentina as some of his fellow countrymen after Angel Di Maria took home Argentina's Olimpia de Plata trophy.
Argentina coach Gerardo Martino has suggested that Lionel Messi is currently dealing with the mental and physical results of having been the focal point in so many games over the last decade for club and country.
Messi, 27, has already played over 500 senior club and international matches since making his Barcelona debut in October 2004 -- winning every trophy available with the Camp Nou club, and playing in three World Cups with Argentina.
The four-time Ballon d'Or winner was troubled by persistent muscle problems throughout the 2013-14 season, but has been fit enough to start all his club's La Liga and Champions League games so far this term.
Messi has scored 21 times in those 21 outings, but high-profile teammates including summer signing Luis Suarez have not been delivering nearly as often, and Barca have slipped four points behind leaders Real Madrid in the La Liga table.
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