La Liga Review

Guardiola praises Barcelona bravery

By guest writer Thomas Rooney

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has praised his team’s bravery and hard work after they secured a 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the Champions League final. Guardiola – who also won the trophy as a player in 1992 – said that his team have worked ‘many, many hours’ this season and to become European Champions is their ‘payment’.

The Barcelona boss went on to say that they were ‘never cowards’ during the match, meaning that they took risks going forward on several occasions. Guardiola says that when you are ‘attacking and daring’, you automatically increase your chances of coming out on top.

This is exactly what happened last night as Barcelona ran out deserved winners. Other than the opening ten minutes, the Spanish club dominated proceedings and Alex Ferguson’s men had no answer to it.

Samuel Eto’o got the ball rolling in the tenth minute when he capitalised on some sloppy Manchester United defending before poking the ball past Edwin van der Sar. Lionel Messi then sealed the win with
twenty minutes remaining by guiding a superb header into the net.

The victory completed a remarkable season for Barcelona as they have become the first Spanish club to win three titles in one season after the domestic league and cup as well as the Champions League.

Considering this was Guardiola’s first full season in charge, it has to go down as a remarkable achievement. He admits that his team have had the ‘best season in history’ and one that he can now celebrate with his players.

As for his opposite number, Alex Ferguson made no complaints about the final result. The Manchester United boss admitted that his side ‘did not play well’, but also said that you have to ‘give Barcelona credit’ for the way they performed.

Ferguson then stated that Xavi and Andres Iniesta were the main reason Barcelona dominated as the midfield duo ‘kept the ball all night’ and comfortably won the battle with Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs.

The evening belonged to the whole of Barcelona though and not just two players. They have had an incredible season and played some very attractive football on the way. Congratulations to them, their success is fully deserved.

Barcelona thrash Athletic Bilbao to win Copa del Rey

By guest writer Thomas Rooney

Barcelona seem to be hitting form at just the right time. In just under two weeks time they will take on Manchester United in the Champions League final and they look set to go into this game extremely high on confidence.

This is because they already have one trophy in the bag after hammering Athletic Bilbao to win the Copa del Rey final. Barcelona ran out 4-1 winners as they completed the first of a possible three major
honours for the season.

Gaizka Toquero managed to upset theSpanish football odds and give Bilbao the lead in this game as he headed home at the back post from Fran Yeste’s corner. At this point the Barcelona defence was looking fragile to say the least and there was no hint of what was to come.

However, as they so often do, Barcelona turned it on when they needed it most. With Pep Guardiola’s men looking up against it, Yaya Toure produced a moment of magic to level the game. The Ivory Coast midfielder went past three players before drilling the ball into the net from 25 yards.

Barcelona had their tails up now and it was only a matter of time before they took the lead. Then, just after half-time, they did just that as Lionel Messi struck the ball through a crowded penalty area into the bottom corner.

There was then only a three minute wait for Barcelona to extend their lead. Bojan Krkic raced through on goal before slotting the ball past the keeper to make it 3-1. Then, as if things could get any worse for Bilbao, Xavi’s superb free-kick curled in off the post to complete the scoring.

Three goals in a devastating nine minutes had completely turned the game around and soon after Barcelona were celebrating their 25th King’s Cup.

As much as the players enjoyed the celebrations though, they know that a lot of work is still to be done this season. There is a league title to be won and the small matter of a Champions League final against Manchester United.

Should Barcelona continue to show the form they did at the beginning of the second half though, there might not be any teams that can stand in their way of achieving the treble this season. This may be something to bear in mind when you place your all-important Champions League final bet.

By Thomas Rooney