The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Highbury was my special home, says Fabregas Posted: 25 Aug 2011 08:53 AM PDT  Fabregas attends a news conference in Monte-Carlo August 25, 2011. — Reuters pic The 24-year-old midfielder, who returned to Barca last week after eight years with Arsenal, repeatedly referred to Arsenal as "we" at a news conference today before tomorrow's Super Cup final against Porto. "I never felt at home as I felt at Highbury at any other stadium in the world. It wasn't my decision (that they left) it was the club's decision, it was what they needed in that moment. "But Highbury was a special thing that I don't think will happen anymore, but we have to make... Arsenal have to make the Emirates their own home now and with their own cabinet of trophies to start all over again." Arsenal have not won a trophy since moving the short distance to their new 60,000-capacity ground, but at least they will have another shot at the Champions League this season after surviving a playoff against Udinese yesterday. "Yeah I watched it (on TV) and became a bit scared when Udinese scored and got the penalty, but I think after we saved the penalty the game became more comfortable for us and I think we played very well," Fabregas said. "I'm very happy for Arsenal and their fans because they deserve to be in the Champions League. "It's a big boost for the club and the players because it is a very difficult season and I am sure from this they will get so much confidence they can move forward." Despite his fondness for his former team, Fabregas also stressed how happy he was to be with Barcelona, the club for which he played as a boy. "I came to Barcelona to get better, to compete, and obviously to win trophies as well but that's not the only the reason. I'm certainly happy to have opportunities such as this one. "This (Super Cup final) is part of the achievement of last year's team and I'm lucky enough to be part of this great club and I would like to thank my fellow players who had a magnificent season last year. "Now I'm lucky enough to be one of them, to be able to play tomorrow and we hope to be champions." "It's my first trip with the team. I'm really excited and very happy to be part of this great side and to see how things are done here. "The team has treated me extremely well and I think we are in great shape, with this team you can just fight to the bitter end and give your all knowing that everybody trusts you and that everybody works together. "What I have found most striking in this side is that there's great humility. They have won everything but they still want to keep winning. "I know 90 per cent of the players and they made it very easy for me. It's going to be a very difficult season, we play every three days basically from now until the end so we will have to be mentally very strong and take care of ourselves." — Reuters |
| Guardiola laughs off claims of Barca invincibility Posted: 25 Aug 2011 08:07 AM PDT  Guardiola said success simply meant a bigger bull's-eye on his back. — Reuters pic Barca, who won the Champions League last season and the La Liga title losing only twice in 38 matches, have been acclaimed as the best club side ever. They go into Friday's Super Cup final against Porto seeking their 12th trophy since 2007. While Porto coach Vitor Pereira described Barca "as the best team I have seen in my lifetime" before trying to stop Barca at the Stade Louis II, Guardiola said his team could easily be beaten. "First of all we are not unbeatable. Each team can beat us. We receive a lot of compliments because we have won 11 prizes in the last four seasons," he said. "But the more successful you are the harder it becomes and the harder your opponents want to beat you. "We have to try and forget the past. The most important match is the next one so let's try to focus and keep going and for the players to show to the world they still have desire." Trying to keep in perspective where his team stands in the pantheon of Barca teams of the past, he also said they had not yet proved themselves as the best Barcelona team ever. "I have always had ridiculously good teams. We forget that the former team won three titles, and the team before that won six titles, so to say this squad is better than other squads cannot be said. This current squad needs to prove it on the pitch. "It will be decided by history. We try to do the best we can afterwards people will be able to judge whether they like it or not," Guardiola said. He was also full of praise for Porto who won the Europa League last season and the Portuguese title without losing a game. Porto have sold some key players since last season's triumphs, and Guardiola said: "They are being sold for €25 to €30 million (RM80 to RM120 million) because they can make it. Everyone in Europe would like to have these players, they are a really strong side in every way. "They won the league without losing a match – look at their statistics, they are impeccable. "Otamendi, Orlando, Moutinho, the two wingers, Hulk, all the players are extremely valuable and can play in any major European team, but they are already playing in a very big European team in Porto." The mutual apprecciation did not end there with Porto coach Pereira, who took over when Andre Vilas-Boas left for Chelsea at the end of last season, describing Barca as the best side he had ever seen. "However, we are not coming here just to watch Barca play. We are here on merit after winning the Europa League last season and we are here to win the Super Cup. "Of course Barca are difficult to beat, but I believe in the players I have and the game plan I have worked out which hopefully will see us win the game." He also denied reports in England that Chelsea had made a bid for Uruguayan defender Alvaro Pereira, who is not expected to play against Barca. "As far as I am aware there has been no contact from Chelsea for any of our players," he said. — Reuters |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan