Xavi back in training on Friday

Xavi Hernández reckons he’s feeling fit and well and is over the physical problems that have kept him training apart for the start of the pre-season. The midfielder will join the rest of the squad in training this Friday.

“I had some problems with my Achilles tendon last year and I’ve had a few problems with my calf this year, so I have started the pre-season quite gently”, explained Xavi, adding that the work he’s been doing with the Club trainers so far this pre-season: “is to help prevent any injuries”.

Xavi will be training normally this Friday and also insisted: “I hope to take part in the next few games like any other squad player”. The first game the team face is against Manchester United on Saturday, just over two months since the two met in the Champions League final: “we were by far the better team at Wembley. We held onto the ball for the all the game apart from the first 10 minutes. Even Fergusson has admitted it –something which does him a great honour”.

Thiago Alcántara

With Xavi missing the first two pre-season games, Thiago has stepped up to the plate with some well received performances and Xavi agreed with the praise the youngster is receiving: “He has an excellent level, a special talent - he has a real spark that will definitely bring a lot to the team”.

Quizzed as to whether the young midfielder could fit into a Barça side if Cesc should join the Club, Xavi drew on his own experience, explaining: “I have suffered from comparisons at the Club, but the season is long and the more good players we have, the better”. That was an opinion shared by Piqué, who sat alongside Xavi in front of the media and claimed: “there’s plenty of competition in midfield and that is positive for the team as a whole”.

Saturday’s game

Both players were speaking at the press conference to present the game against United, with the Champions League trophy they won against Fergusson’s team alongside them. The local press expressed their admiration for Barça’s style of play and Xavi explained: “there is both mental speed and speed of execution in football. We work hard on the former at Barça. For us it is important to work at keeping hold of the ball and positioning on the pitch” – a tactical lesson that we all hope to see put into practice at the FedEx Field on Saturday against the Premier League champions.

Champions of the Audi Cup (2-0)

Champions of the Audi Cup (2-0)

David R. Jover

Barça beat Bayern Munich 2-0 and won their first trophy of the season. Two goals from Thiago Alcantara in the 41st and the 74th minutes decided a game that Barça dominated from the start.

There are no friendlies for Barça. This Tuesday, in the final against Bayern Munich, once again Barça captivated the Allianz Arena, showing that their style, despite missing several key players, remains intact. Possession and control of the game, Guardiola’s players best weapons, and 2 goals from Thiago, sealed the victory.

Villa had the first chances

Barça created more chances, and the first to shoot at the goal defended by Jens Butt was David Villa. The Barça number 7 had 2 free-kicks from central positions that failed to find the back of the net. The first was pushed out by Butt and the second went just wide of the mark. A while later, in the 32nd minute, he had another chance, again saved by Butt. In minute 38, Valdes was called on to save from David Alaba, who was unable to beat the Barça keeper in a 1 on 1 situation.

Thiago opens the scoring….

The first goalscorer was not one of the strikers. Part of Barca’s greatness is that the midfield players get into many attacking positions, and the player who took most advantage was Thiago Alcantara. In the 41st minute Thiago headed in a cross from the left by Jonathan Soriano, who later had to be replaced due to injury, putting Barça 1-0 ahead, the score remaining the same until half-time.

... and also decides the outcome

In the second half the game’s dynamics were no different from the first. The Barça performance and workrate was just the same, and although Bayern enjoyed slightly more possession, Barça were in total control of the game. There were fewer chances, but Thiago managed to convert one of them. In the 74th minute he played a 1-2 with Afellay, and scored with a fantastic shot, well placed, into the top corner of Butt’s goal to make it 2-0. From then until the end Barça didn’t suffer too much and reached their objective of becoming Champions of the second edition of the Audi Cup.

Alexis Sanchez: "I learned to play football in the street"

The new Barça player reviewed his football career and gave his first impressions after having signed for FC Barcelona on the program "Welcome, Alexis', which will be broadcast tonight at 23h on Barça TV.

Alexis, despite your youth, you already have an extensive curriculum, and you’ve played in both South America and Europe, although you started in the Chilean team Cobreloa. When and how did you start playing football?
"From an early age I liked football and I started with my friends in the neighbourhood, before we even had grass pitches: they were pure dirt pitches, and we got used to playing on them."

What do you remember about your first games with Cobreloa, where you debuted as a player?
"I played with older players, all my life I grew up playing with older kids. Sometimes I played up front, although I was very young, and they always kicked me. They kicked me because they couldn’t stop me and it motivated me even more."

Did you also watch matches on television, when you were little?
"I only played football, and didn’t watch matches on television. I enjoyed playing, I didn’t like watching football matches. I just liked to play, and and that they might watch me".

What time do you remember as one of the happiest of your childhood?
"I think it’s when I told my family that I wanted to be a professional football player, and I ended up realising that dream."

Where do you think you’ve learned most as a player?
"I think I've learned most playing in the street and the neighbourhood games, as in South America a lot of football is played like that. Other than that, I think that both championships and trips also teach you a lot".

Why did you start playing football and decide this was the sport for you?
"Every time I started a game of football I forgot all my problems and I enjoyed myself with my teammates on the pitch".

At 22, you can already say you've played for five different clubs: Cobreloa, Colo-Colo, River Plate and, in Europe, Udinese, and now FC Barcelona. How would you describe your evolution in the world of football?
"I always said: "I have to take it step by step" and, until today, it’s been the case. I never move directly from a small team to a bigger one. I always had to fight for my place in the side and finally get to go to a great team as I have done now, to Barcelona."

How do you compare football now that you're a professional player, to when you played as a child?
"I always think of football as a game, but never forgetting that it entails responsibility. I love to take more responsibility, although I’m still the same player as when I was five or ten years old, I’m still enjoying myself on the pitch".

Having always played in South America, you got the offer to come to Europe in 2007. Despite your youth, you accepted the challenge. It must have been a great challenge for you...
"I like to dare myself to do difficult things, and I decided to come here because I thought that if everyone thought that it was so difficult, I wanted to fight so that it would become easier for me and I might enjoy myself. Thanks to this I had a good championship."

In fact, you have had good championships and this has propelled you towards big clubs. What do you think has been the key to your professional success?
"I think I always had faith that I would get to a big club, be one of the best and win championships with whichever club I may be at".

Just lately you’ve been at the Copa America, with Chile and Marcelo Bielsa. What has he taught you about the world of football?
"I think I learned a lot from the "Profe", and I think he left his mark both in Chile and the rest of the world. I learned a lot with him, I would have never thought I’d learn as much as I did".

The day of your presentation, in the press conference, you said you wanted to learn from your new teammates. Do you often do that?
"I always try to learn from all my teammates. If I see a good move and I like it, and it’s another player who does it, I practice it until I get it right."

On that same day you met Pep Guardiola. What do you think of him?
"I haven’t spoken much with him, but I think he wants to win, and win everything. Not only that, but he wants to do it playing good football, which is how Barça plays."

Here you’ll be wearing the number 9 shirt, is it the position where you are most comfortable?
"I’ve played in all three forward positions, both in the middle and on the left and right. I can adapt to all three positions. Messi wears number 10 and plays as a striker, just like a number 9. Here, it doesn’t matter the number you wear or the position you play in, because in the end everybody changes position all the time."

It’s been said that you can bring things that the team hasn’t had up to now. How do you feel after having signed for FC Barcelona?
"If they need me, I’ll give them everything I can. I feel well supported and with a responsibility at the same time, because I want to leave the name of Chile well positioned."

How would you define Alexis Sanchez away from the football pitch?
"I’m shy and don’t like to go out a lot, I prefer to be at home, watch movies ... but, above all, I want to come onto the pitch and receive the ball".