""Quotes""

Scholes (Man United): "Best three opponents? Xavi, Iniesta and Zidane. But there’s a lot to go with them — Rivaldo, Lionel Messi." [mail]

Scholes (Manchester United): "I’ve almost got bored of watching Barcelona, they’re that good. It’s the same thing every week." [daily mail]

Paul Scholes (Man United): "How is it to be compared to the likes of Xavi and Andres Iniesta? Nice. But embarrassing. But nice." [dailymail]

~ Milla (coach ESP olympic team): "Thiago is an option for the Games even if he plays the Euro. Busquets too, but he's over the age limit."

"We hope Rafinha continues at the Spanish youth teams like his brother. Later he can still choose for Brazil." [cope]

“But if there was no (FC) Barcelona why would you get out of bed in the morning?” — Ray Hudson

Ray hudson hahaa

Thuram: "Mourinho attacking Vilanova? It's a sign of weakness. Like misogyny or racism. If you're strong you don't do that" [as]

Legend <3

Michael Ballack (Leverkusen): "In 2004, there was a deal on my transfer to Barcelona, but in the end Bayern blocked it. A shame."

Ballack: "My idol was Guardiola. Why? What a question! Pep was the '4' par excellence, the example of the playmaker. And he had charisma."

"My three sons Louis, Emilio and Jordi are Barça fans? They have Barça shirts and watch all their games."

I am pretty sure his wages were a factor in us not signing him, I seem to remember.

Ronaldinho: 'I would have loved to play with Messi for a longer period of time. We have a great friendship, but I regret not sharing more seasons with him'

The Franchise wrote:I am pretty sure his wages were a factor in us not signing him, I seem to remember.

btw what do u think about a midfield of Xavi, Iniesta, Ballack?


more comments:


"Yes, it's a shame that in 2004 I could not complete my transfer," Ballack confessed during an interview with Mundo Deportivo.

"We had reached an agreement with the club and we had the approval of Uli Hoeness but I was ultimately thwarted in signing that summer.

"After Euro 2004 Hoeness told me that I was not transferable and prevented my move.

"Of course, I was angry and disappointed that Bayern had given the OK to my departure to Barcelona, which was all agreed.

"Sometimes I think of what it would have been like to play with [Lionel] Messi, Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta and Barca's other stars.

"I was very excited about the idea of coming. In 2006 I ended up at Chelsea on a free transfer, so Bayern did not see a euro for me."

Khaledbarca wrote:

The Franchise wrote:I am pretty sure his wages were a factor in us not signing him, I seem to remember.

btw what do u think about a midfield of Xavi, Iniesta, Ballack?

Unsure. It could of worked, but I really think Ballack was at his very best when he was free to go forward. This was why the German League Ballack was so different to the Chelsea one. Still a great player, but different.

In Germany, he played with another player who would sit deep and he was allowed to run forward and get into goalscoring positions. I remember in some seasons him scoring lots of headers in open play and many goals running into the box.

For us, he would of been like he was with Chelsea. Less running forward and playing deep. He could of done it im sure, but in 04 (the time he would have moved) he would have to have played instead of Marquez/Edmilson.

I remember we got Albertini (maybe instead of Ballack?) and he played a similar role to what Ballack would have played, but with alot less minutes because he was much older.

One of Ballack's sons is called Jordi?!!? That's weird, Jordi is one of the most catalan names there is. (George in english).

“When Messi wore the captain’s armband for the first time during the World Cup against Greece, he had to make the speech to the team. He stood up in the locker room: “So, this is an important match….eeeeh…bah, I’m nervous!” and he left, and we applauded him.
— Martin Palermo

"I can win the Ballon d'Or, but only if Messi's level drops a bit. It will be very complicated to do so if he keeps up his current form. I really believe I can win the award, but there's not much I can do if Messi maintains this level."
Mario Balotelli

Khaled wrote:“When Messi wore the captain’s armband for the first time during the World Cup against Greece, he had to make the speech to the team. He stood up in the locker room: “So, this is an important match….eeeeh…bah, I’m nervous!” and he left, and we applauded him.
— Martin Palermo

Great quote khaled

Lol, the Messi is not a leader haters better not get a ring of that quote

Meh, leadership has nothing to do with pregame talks.

Only fools would question his leadership abilities based on that...




So, yes your right lol

Reporter - "Have you thought about resting Messi?"
Pep - "Why?"

Mikel Arteta (Arsenal): "At Arsenal, they play the football I grew up with as a kid. It's similar to the La Masia way of working."

"I was a crazy Barça fan as a kid. My dad had to sent me to bed many times because I became hysterical during games."

"Always wondered what would have happened if I had stayed at Barça. But there was Guardiola, Xavi, De la Pena, Iniesta..."

[el pais]

Valdes: "It's hard to understand Alexis when he talks - we're working on that - but he's a phenomenon, one of the best finishers."

"Possible guard of honour for Madrid? Wouldn't be a problem. We're professionals, you have to be graceful in victory and defeat."

"Impressive Milan yesterday? In the squad we already before considered Milan to be a favourite for the Champions League."

Jamie Redknapp - "You couldn't take the ball away from Messi in a telephone booth."

Khaled wrote:Thuram: "Mourinho attacking Vilanova? It's a sign of weakness. Like misogyny or racism. If you're strong you don't do that" [as]

Legend <3

Hamdyman wrote:"I can win the Ballon d'Or, but only if Messi's level drops a bit. It will be very complicated to do so if he keeps up his current form. I really believe I can win the award, but there's not much I can do if Messi maintains this level."
Mario Balotelli

Albiceleste wrote:

Khaled wrote:“When Messi wore the captain’s armband for the first time during the World Cup against Greece, he had to make the speech to the team. He stood up in the locker room: “So, this is an important match….eeeeh…bah, I’m nervous!” and he left, and we applauded him.
— Martin Palermo

Great quote khaled

Thats a good one...and didnt know Messi was THAT Shy

Turning to the matter of his contract renewal, Josep Guardiola admitted that he has been working on the planning of next season for some time. He insisted that he has yet to make a decision and that it was "a personal question that doesn't have anything to do with the Club". He admitted that he's better off at Barça than anywhere else but would like to have a little more time to decide: "It has to feel right for me. I can't work in such a demanding Club if I'm not fully convinced that I'll have the strength to do it. I don't want to do something if it doesn't feel right. The Club has every right to set me a deadline, which they haven't done, and I appreciate that. This is very demanding and I have to be convinced.

Really would like to know about about the man... the way he handled the Ibra situation was interesting....but probably not the best that could have been done... and him saying here it has nothing to do with the club, wonder whats in his mind sometimes

Ray Hudson - “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? How magnificent is Messi? There is no answer. It’s like counting the bubbles in a bottle of Champagne.”

Bixente Lizarazu (from Graham Hunter's book)- “When you see him dressed normally he looks like a kid on his way to school. But when you see him in shorts on the pitch he makes all other players look like students in front of a master.”

Henrik Larsson: “Xavi is the best team mate I have ever had”

‘Henke’ Larsson still has good memories about his short but high-impact stage at Barça. In an interview to Canal+, which was partially reproduced by Sport (watch a video of it here), Larsson talked about some of the highlights of his extensive and prolific career, especially as a Barça player. Henke said: “The highlight of my career was winning the Champions League title with Barça. It is the most important title for a football player, and I had the chance of winning it when I was 34 years old. It was fantastic”.

Henke is devoted to his job as the coach of second division team Landskrona BoIS in Sweden. In his current position, he is sharing his huge experience and past success with his players. His career was also influenced by teams that he considered a reference, such as Barça’s Dream Team in 1992. “I remember watching Barça, with Koeman, Stoichikov, Romario, Laudrup.. what fantastic football they played! and there I was, years later, at 34, with the opportunity of joining that team, of course I said yes!!”

His late arrival at the Camp Nou, in the very last part of his career, made him to enjoy it, to feel it in a different way: “I think I enjoyed my time at Barça much more than I had done it if I joined them earlier. I could take it easier, because I was not the star in that team. We had Ronaldinho, Eto’o and other great players who had a bigger name than me” he said, even though he had had a magnificient career before joining the blaugrana, in teams like Feyenoord and Celtic, where he is still remembered as a true hero.

However, when he joined Barça, he needed some time to get used to a new team, a new way of playing fooball. He remembers that “it was very difficult to me to get used to play at 10PM, as we did many times. Also, when I joined Barça I realised the huge quality of the squad. That was something I was not used to, that amount of quality I mean, despite the excellence of my previous teams and my respect for them, there was a huge gap of quality“. So when he arrived, he soon realised he would have another role at Barça: a supportive role, rather than a leading role. He probably didn’t know at that time that, even as a sub, he would end up being extremely important for getting a victory on that rainy night in Paris.

Henke also talked about some of the team mates he had at Barça. “Ronaldinho was, of course, one of the best players in the world. But I didn’t realise how amazing Xavi was until I met him. I think Xavi is the best football player I have had as a team mate. His moves, the way he plays the ball, and turning without losing it.. he just never loses the ball! He already knew where to put the ball when I was just starting to run”. Larsson also remembered Don Andrés Iniesta, of whom he said “When I arrived at Barça, Iniesta was just starting to show some of his talent. I think he has learnt a lot from Xavi. But Iniesta also has this tremendous speed. I think they play in a similar manner.. it was amazing just to see them play”.

The worst moment for Henke at Barça was when was he got a serious knee injury in a game against Madrid. He recalls that “I thought about what I wanted to do for a few days, as I got this serious injury and, at my age, I didn’t know I wanted to make the huge effort that my recovery would demand me to do“. However, Larsson trusted his capabilities and decided to recover and stay at Barça for one more season. It was a good call: months later he was instrumental for the club’s second Champions League title. That call also allowed him to receive the admiration that the Camp Nou has for him. He was one of those players who even while playing even a few minutes, would always get a big cheer from the crowd. “I think people liked my style of football. They were used to players like Ronaldinho, Messi, Laudrup, they have always had fantastic players in their team. I didn’t have that much quality but they knew that I would give everything for the team when I had to play. And they valued that“, he recounts fondly.

If we could choose a moment that will be a highlight for Henke’s career at Barça however, it should be the Champions League final in Paris, 2006. “I am still very happy about that game. First, I didn’t even know if I would go to the bench or not. I had had a good training session the day before, and I was just happy with the idea of playing a few minutes in a big game like that, something that not every player can do, especially at my age”, he said. “When I got in, I just had one thing in my mind: try to fix the things by either scoring or making a team mate score“, he remembers, still having the goals by Eto’o and Belletti in his memory. He was directly involved in both goals, and allowed Barça to win the Champions League title after a long period of 14 years. Larsson’s legacy at Barça is, since then, forever remembered.


via totalbarca.com

But how, Xavi has only been good since 09.....