Month: June 2011

Barcapedia – 1943 Copa del Generalísimo.

In 1943, Barcelona faced rivals Real Madrid in the semi-finals of Copa del Generalísimo. Their first match at Les Corts was won by Barcelona 3–0. Before the second leg, Barcelona’s players had a changing room visit from Franco’s director of state security. He “reminded” them that they were only playing due to the “generosity of the regime”. Real Madrid dominated the match, winning 11–1. Despite the difficult political situation, CF Barcelona enjoyed considerable success during the 1940s and 1950s. In 1945, with Josep Samitier as managers and players like César, Ramallets, and Velasco, they won La Liga for the first time since 1929. They added to this total in 1948 and again in 1949. They also won the first Copa Latina that year. In June 1950, Barcelona signed Ladislao Kubala, who was to be an influential figure at the club.

On a rainy Sunday in 1951, the crowd left Les Corts stadium after a 2–1 win against Santander on foot, refusing to catch any trams and surprising the Francoist authorities. A tram strike was taking place in Barcelona, which received the support of blaugrana fans. Events such as this made the club represent much more than just Catalonia; many progressive Spaniards saw the club as a staunch defender of rights and freedoms.

Managers Ferdinand Daučík and László Kubala led the team to five different trophies including La Liga, the Copa del Generalísimo (now the Copa del Rey), the Copa Latina, the Copa Eva Duarte, and the Copa Martini Rossi in 1952. In 1953, the club won La Liga and the Copa del Generalísimo again.

David Villa hopes to retire at Barcelona

Barcelona striker David Villa has dismissed reports linking him with a possible move away from the European champions, insisting he would like to finish his career at the Nou Camp.

The Spain international joined Barca from Valencia last summer for €40 million and netted 23 goals in all competitions as the Catalan giants won both the Primera Division and Champions League titles last term.

Since the end of the campaign there has been transfer speculation about Villa’s future at Barca, with English clubs Chelsea and Manchester City touted as possible destinations for Spain’s all-time record goalscorer.

However, speaking at a promotional event today, Villa said of those reports: “All that’s been said hasn’t bothered me because it isn’t rumours or speculation, it’s a lie.

“Hopefully I can retire at Barca because that would mean everything has been great for me.

“I would like to have the chance to retire at Barca even though I’m only 29. It would be very nice. I want to be at Barca as long as possible,” he added in quotes reported on Barcelona’s official website.

Villa was also asked about Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez and Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, two players who are in Barca’s sights as possible reinforcements this summer.

Villa said of the pair: “The are two very good players at both an individual and collective level, and it would be a big injection of quality for our side (if they signed).”

‘To me, Pele is the best,’ says Pele

Maradonna said it best – Pele is a dinosaur. Regardless­ who is the best, and I still think Messi has what it­ takes to eclipse Pele, he should have a little more­ respect for a player than to be lambasting him in­ public. And what is this addressing himself in the­ third person all about. Stop taking the blue tablets­ Pele, its messing with your head.

Take a look at what he said about our beloved Messi below and make up your own mind.

“Messi better than Pele? To get there he needs to score more than 1283 goals,” said the 70-year old.

“Neymar has great talent. I hope Neymar doesn’t end up like Messi, who plays so well for his club but does nothing for his country,” said Pele.

“Nobody did what Pele did. Being champion of the world at 17 years old, won three World Cups, scored more than 1,208 goals – only him! Then until now, nobody did this… to me, Pele is the best,” he said (Pele).

Roma’s Bojan offer

“We have received an offer but it is still being studied and evaluated,” Barca’s board spokesman Toni Freixa was quoted as saying on the club website.

“Obviously, if we were prepared to receive this offer and consider it, it is because there is a possibility we could go through with it.”

Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini had told Gazzetta dello Sport: “The negotiations are going well and we hope to conclude the deal soon.”

“We reached an agreement with Barcelona and with the player last night.”

Barca president Sandro Rosell lays into Mourinho

Bad blood boiled up between the Spanish giants around four clashes in three competitions in 18 days in April and May and Rosell used his end-of-season news conference to read out a strongly-worded statement condemning Real.

“We believe that this season Real Madrid has gone beyond all the limits of the necessary sporting rivalry, making accusations against our club that have no foundation,” Rosell said.

“The rivalry will continue next season, but we will not allow the limits of sporting behaviour to be exceeded again.

“Football deserves clean competition, and FC Barcelona will do everything to preserve that.

“If necessary, we will take legal action and take the case to the relevant sporting tribunals.”

“The news conference that the Real Madrid coach gave after the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Bernabeu shamed anyone who considers themselves an athlete,” Rosell said.

Barca were also outraged by a report on Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, which cited an unidentified Real official as its source, that suggested Barca’s players and medical staff were engaged in illegal doping.

“I can assure you that if someone, in the name of FC Barcelona, had accused us of this kind, we would have acted with firmness, denying it immediately and taking those responsible to court,” Rosell said.

“A few days ago, the president of Real Madrid said he would not stop until the club had won a tenth European Cup,” he said.

“We hope that they attempt this on the pitch in a sporting manner and rediscover a way of behaving that I believe many Madrid fans want.

“The president of Real Madrid has a chance to reconstitute our relations, on and off the pitch.

“Football, which usually gives you back what you put in, will be the great beneficiary.”

Messi plays down ‘assault’

Barcelona star Lionel Messi played down an incident in which someone tried to punch him outside a restaurant in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina.

“I wasn’t even touched,” Messi said after a punch thrown by a youth wearing a hoodie failed to make contact.

“I didn’t feel a thing and I only found out after all the kerfuffle it was nothing,” Messi told sports daily Ole from Rosario, 300 km north of Buenos Aires.

On holiday after another brilliant season in which he helped Barcelona win the Champions League, Messi left the restaurant with friends and was surrounded by autograph hunters.

Argentine media, who gave the incident massive coverage, said Messi’s aggressor was a fan of Rosario Central, arch-rivals of Newell’s Old Boys, where the 23-year-old spent his formative years before joining Barcelona some 10 years ago.

“We’re taking photos and we see the arm and he dodges it. (Messi) did not react badly, he left walking and got into the (car),” witness Carolina told the TV news channel C5N.

Messi will report to national team coach Sergio Batista on June 8 to begin training for next month’s Copa America hosted by Argentina.
Reuters

Messi: I’ll never play In Premier League

LIONEL MESSI can never see himself playing in the Premier League.

And he is ready to spend the rest of his career at Barcelona.

The Argentine superstar, 23, stole all the headlines once again with a stunning performance as Manchester United were dismantled 3-1 in the Champions League final.

Striker Messi could name his price if he ever wanted a move away from the Nou Camp.

But he said: “I cannot see myself ever playing in any club shirt apart from Barcelona’s.

“I have been lucky enough to win everything with Barcelona and individually. But my goal now is to win the Copa America with Argentina.”