₦airaland Forum

madrid5:
conte is a real mechanic coach with the whole 3-5-2 shot, he can't play target man under conte,just imagine Jesus or firmino playing under this Chelsea systems

Maybe.

usbcable:
If only he stayed back in Real madrid he would likely have made the squad.

Simply because he would have been the defacto replacement/substitutions for Benzema in all matches.

What he went chasing after in London was lost in transit.

Patience at times pays

That's true. Maybe if he was patient and remained at Madrid, he could have been selected. I don't doubt his quality. Rather I feel the system at Chelsea does not just suit him.


But I'm happy with the squad tho, no real surprises apart from Nacho Monreal.

Our WC squad is out. Morata misses out.

Xavi's emotional letter to Andres Iniesta.


I still remember the first time I saw Andres play.
I was in the youth team and he was in the underage
group and somebody in the club told me 'Xavi, there's
a boy down there who's going to be the best, there is
him and another, Troiteiro, who is like Mario Rosas
and Andres is a lot like you.'


When I saw him play, I said to myself, 'What's going
on, this guy doesn't look like me as much as they say,
he's different'.
This player had more creativity, he was a better
dribbler and could go to the wide areas and cross the
ball.
That was very different to my style because I played
as a four, much more positional like Pep in his time or
Busquets now.


He could play as a four, eight, six or even a 10, and
as a young player he looked like an absolute master
because of the way he positioned his body before
receiving the ball.
He used both feet to play, something that seems
normal now but was revolutionary at that time, he
could control the ball with his right leg whilst his next
move was executed with his left.


What surprised me about him the most was that he
could manipulate the ball with his body, without even
needing to touch it.
You watched him play and it was a show.
It seemed as though he could listen to your thoughts
and it was so natural that he didn't even think about it.
Andres always played with his head up, he never lost
possession.


That was a concept we had been working on with
Joan Vila for years, but it was natural for him. I often
used to think 'f**k, he's four years younger than us,
but he's got an innate talent.'
Andres is, for me, the most talented player in the
history of Spanish football that I've seen. He's
spectacularly talented.


If we talk about him as a person then it's ridiculous,
he's admirable in every single way.
He's exemplary, empathetic, a team player, a winner
and a leader on the pitch, he always wants the ball.
Do people realise just what that means? Where many
players don't want the ball because it's a difficult
situation, Andres always asked for it.


Andres loved the ball and when others thought 'no, no
please don't give it to me.' Andres would come and
say 'Come on, give it to me, give it to me now,
please.'
That's a blessing for his teammates, that's what having
personality is, that's being a true leader.
A silent leader, perhaps, but an authentic one
nevertheless.


I have been a passer of the ball all my life, but I
needed players like Andres, Leo and Busi.
You have been the best partners that I've ever had.
They always gave you an option, no matter how bleak
the picture was. I don't know how, but Andres always
showed up at just the right moment.
We didn't need to talk on the pitch, he didn't tell me
where he was with words, I just knew.
We understood each other after playing together for more than a decade, it wasn't necessary to
communicate.


His body language was the best form of
communication, sometimes during matches we would
watch and wonder just how he did things, he could be
in an impossible corner but would always escape. It
was impossible!
It seems as though nothing was impossible for him
when he was playing football, he would weave, pass
and accelerate with a near perfect balance.
He was as happy in midfield as he was on the wing,
he is a teacher, a true teacher.


Furthermore, people had this idea that Andres wasn't
strong.
They thought he was too little, frail and flimsy.
This was incorrect, when he used his body, defenders
couldn't take the ball. He was strong, really strong,
just look at the number of matches he played in his
career.


In the end, his mentality is key, he's been so strong in
the bad times, even those which people don't know
about.
He had a hard time living away from his family, and
now if you were to ask him, he'd say such a sacrifice
was worthwhile.


Who knew it would end like this? Nobody could
guarantee it, that's what made it so hard and it was
such a long road for him, the normal outcome would
have been to fail, but his mentality was so strong that
it carried him to this position today.


Andres is a person who has their own angel, don't ask
me how or why, but he just has it. He's like Iker
Casillas.
The rest of us just don't have it, but they do because
at the right moment they are able to make the winning
goal or the crucial save.


We have lived with Andres during our time with
Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
We remember Stamford Bridge and Johannesburg,
just look what happened at the World Cup, and if you
have the time then you should go and re-watch that
match, and not just the goal.
You will realise what Andres really did.


People may ask why it was Andres who scored the
goal, it couldn't have been anyone else, it could only
be someone with an angel. That's Andres.
I also remember those who said we couldn't play
together.
This is Barcelona, a club full of debates, but I felt bad
for him because I always said that I need people who
understand me.


I understand my own style when alongside players
with technical quality rather than physical presence.
Of course, strong players are important, but look at
Andres, Leo and Busi. I hated those debates in which
people said Barca needed muscle, what are you
talking about?
The most important muscle to play football is the
brain, as Johan Cruyff said.


We're both very quiet and that's why I'm in tune with
Andres, we both like to be silent and impose
ourselves on the pitch.
If the club sign three new players then perfect, I'm
going to show those mother f**kers that I will
compete with them even if they cost 250 million
pesetas, I'm going to prove that I can be a Barcelona
player.


This is the exact mentality that Andres had when he
was young, that Busquets had when he was battling
for Yaya Toure's place.
Anyone who doesn't think like this won't make it.
There are two options: fight and claw like we all did
or fall into disillusion thinking you'll never get a
chance.


I remember, for example, what happened to him just
before the World Cup in South Africa; we were
training in the sports city when all of sudden we heard
Carles Puyol shout 'Noooooooo' and I didn't realise
what had happened but when I turned I saw him
leaving the pitch in tears.


He'd only just recovered from an injury and now
another had arrived.
There were doubts that he'd even make the World
Cup, but he ended up doing so because of that
aforementioned strong mentality.
I'll never forget the discussion in the Monaco dressing
room after the UEFA Super Cup that we won with
Pedro's goal.


'Andres, we need you, here you're very important,
very very important, it can't be that you go on like
this. Barcelona can't afford you not to be playing. We
really need you, you're different, when you're not
with us it costs us so much. Believe it, Andres, please
believe it because we're telling the truth, we need
you'.


We saw that Andres was in a real moment of turmoil,
in those months a lot of negatives happened at once.
But he, along with the help of his family, turned
everything around due to his incredible mental
strength.


Sometimes, I get this feeling that Andres Iniesta can't
be properly explained as a player using mere words,
he does everything in such a way that it appears easy
and tricks anybody into thinking they can do it.
That's a lie, nobody can do it like he does. On the
pitch, he's transformed, that's where his real
personality appears, it's his natural habitat.
If he isn't touching the ball then he's unhappy, I can't
remember a single big match where he hasn't
excelled. I've never even seen him raise his voice,
never.


When he complained he did it with respect, in
arguments he never screamed or shouted but simply
put the team ahead of his own wishes.
This isn't easy because every player has an ego.
I can recall the Champions League of 2006 when I
was injured, he took full responsibility playing as a
defensive midfielder, in both Lisbon and Milan.
What incredible performances he gave there.
We reached the final and then Rijkaard didn't put him
in the starting line-up.
When I found out I spoke to Puyol, 'How is Andres
not playing? Why isn't he playing Andres? He isn't
playing, he isn't playing.'
Carles simply looked at me and said 'I don't know, I
don't know.'


The truth is, nobody knew and nobody could
understand the decision.
He had gone from making key contributions in
Lisbon and Milan to not playing, but when he
appeared in the second half everything changed.
He put things in order for us, together with Larsson
and Eto'o he made the difference.
Surely on the inside he was livid, but his first thought
was about how he could help the team.


That anger helped him to be even more useful, any
other player may have thrown in the towel and
sulked, but he didn't, he simply didn't say a word and
then demonstrated on the pitch just why the coach
had made a mistake. That is Andres.


Now that I'm basically out of elite football, I realise
just what it means to play at the top level, I appreciate
what it is to represent Barcelona.
When he leaves, he will understand what I'm saying.
He's won everything and played incredibly whilst
doing so, he's respected by everyone and admired the
world over.


He departs in the manner in which he deserves,
nobody has a negative word to say about him.
Soon he will realise just what he's achieved in his
career and what he has represented, he's proven
everybody wrong, but that's Andres.

Amazing piece. The part in bold got me nodding my head in absolute agreement.

I haven't watched our games since the 2-2 draw against Madrid but I'm glad I watched the game yesterday.


Gracies Iniesta! InfiniteIniesta!!

For me, it's all about the World Cup now. Can't wait for Lopetegui to release his World Cup squad on Monday.

.

BushWickBill:
Mehn that Thursday football is an extra burden o.
You cannot prosecute a successful league campaign alongside commitments to Lithuania, Slovenia, Finland and Greenland.

They would do well to sharpen their multi-tasking skills

You guys should look to the brighter side of things. You get to bully all the small teams in Europa. Just pray Sevilla is not there sha.

Elnino4ladies:
Please, who knows this year's World Cup song?

Check Jason Derulo - Colors.

Congratulations everyone! Now let's go the season unbeaten.

Gracies 'Don' Andres Iniesta.

Mcleo007:
IMO, Munir E.H is light years ahead of P. Alcacer. The deal was a pure waste.

Thank you. This board of directors are just annoying.

onuwaje:
Remember how e fielded d same 11 for like 3 months?

Make your point please.

sweet7oyin:
lol guy u dnt expect him to bench suarez..... suarez brings more than goal to barca...his runs...he gets freekicks..and he is a great finisher....

Even at that. At least rest him sometimes for the business end of the season, develop your own. Barcelona don't do that anymore. What has Alcacer done since he came here that Munir wouldn't have done? Nothing.

onuwaje:
Remember Tata Martino?

What about him?

There are reports that Barcelona are considering not going through with Arthur's transfer because they want a player 'who blends touch and technique with pure physicality'. These guys need to be flogged in public. That was how they went to sign Paulinho because of physicality.


Now, they're going to sell Munir after his impressive season with Alaves. Or send him back on loan. I don't know why they can't keep that boy in Barcelona and give him gametime. See what Zidane is doing with Asensio and Vazquez. We can sell Alcacer. Then have Messi, Suarez, Dembele and Munir as attackers. I don't know how this board reason. The boy has shown he can do it, give him minutes consistently so he can build confidence but no, they'd rather go and buy a more 'established' player. And Valverde would rather play Suarez in every _fucking game even when Suarez might be playing _shit and keeps on benching Dembele for a reason I'd never understand.

Miremoses1:
try visit his I. G page. You will be stunned.

Interesting.

Miremoses1:
Vas, Captain Ramos and papa Perez.

I can't think of any footballer that rocks a suit better than Sergio Ramos.

Congratulations to Barcelona U19s!!!

Twoclans:
Lol

That is an extreme case. However when you train a child to believe in you after God even when that child is 60 years he/she will still listen to your suggestions.

It's alot of pressure to raise good children this days. The society and social media is not helping matters at all. I rather raise one good child than 6 that won't be good.

Ok ma'am.

Twoclans:


Since I will have just him ,I will devote all my time to training him so that when I say jump he will ask how high.

Except if he decides to be a Roman Catholic priest.

Remember, he's grown up now and makes his own decisions. Let's just say he'll do as you say when it comes to other things but not marriage. Maybe he has this allergy for spending the rest of his entire life with a woman or he just doesn't like the whole concept of marriage, are you saying you'll force him? What exactly will you do?

Twoclans:
I rather have one boy abeg, when he marries his wife will be my daughter.

Lefulefu come and tell us how many children you want

What if he grows up and doesn't want to get married?

RuuDie:
Ha ha. Well Wenger is available sha... since una too like 'sexy' football

Right now, I'll take any young coach that plays attacking football over Valverde — emphasis on attacking football. Wenger's too old already and it seems it affects his judgement.

sebod:
I have made peace with reality already. I am prepared for the worse.

I still can't believe we played against Roma is such a disgraceful manner.

It's sad really. We're playing badly but somehow not losing. It's better to point it out now, instead of waiting for us to start losing.

And the man seems to get his substitutions wrong these days. Either that, or he stays too late before making changes. I don't see him lasting more than two seasons here.

We have a Jose Mourinho as our coach in disguise. I'm not even certain we'll beat Sevilla in the final on Saturday.

RuuDie:
I just dey laff una.

Lemme even ask you guys a question... from the beginning, how many of you believed that FCB even had the slightest of chance to be in the position of winning a double (especially after that trouncing from Real Madrid)?

It's the same way we didn't expect him to be appointed coach.


#ValverdeOut pls.

EV won't last three seasons at Barcelona.

This topic made FP without any comment. OP must be related to Lala.

I believe all that I want to say has been said, so I'll just chill.

However, I just can't wait for Xavi to be our coach.

joeace2020:
I don't always come here but the level of glory hunting here is amazing.. I am seeing statements like "i was a barca fan before when Neymar was here" "i am not feeling Barca anymore".. United may have been shite since 2013 but i have never seen or heard a united fan say he is done supporting United. The level of glory hunting here is akin to nothing i have ever seen before. What's surprising is this is coming from fans of a club who has been top and dominating in Europe and will still be up there and about after Valverde.

I saw the person's post. He said he left because of the way Barcelona fans insulted Neymar after he moved to PSG. Instead of him to just say that he's first of all a Neymar fan before any other thing, he came here to disgrace himself.