Knee surgery for Barca captain Puyol

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol is set to undergo an operation on his left knee on Wednesday, to deal with a problem that he has been suffering with for more than four months.

Carles Puyol could has been carrying an injury since January 22

Puyol, 33, was originally injured in a La Liga clash with Racing Santander on January 22 and has been struggling for fitness ever since.

He was initially out for three months but returned to play three of Barca's four El Clasico clashes with Real Madrid, only missing the Copa del Rey final defeat to Los Blancos.

The World Cup-winning defender was used sparingly in the Primera Division run-in and only came on for the final three minutes of the Champions League final, as Barca beat Manchester United 3-1 to win a third European Cup in five years.

Puyol handed the captain's armband to Eric Abidal at the full-time whistle and allowed to Frenchman the honour of lifting the trophy two months after undergoing surgery to remove a liver tumour.

A Barca statement read: "Carles Puyol will be operated on at 1400 (local time) on Wednesday, June 1 at the Clinica Quiron to resolve the problems he's been suffering with his left knee. Following the operation, Doctors Ricard Pruna and Ramon Cugat will speak to the media at the Ricard Maxenchs press room at the Camp Nou.''

Catalan-born Puyol has been at Barcelona since 1995 and is a graduate of the club's famous La Masia academy. He is third on the list of all-time leading appearance makers for the Blaugranas with 516 games under his belt; only Migueli and Xavi have played more times for Barca.

FC Barcelona Boss Pep Guardiola Is the Best Manager in the World

A relative unknown in management when he started just three years ago, Barcelona boss Pe

Before the former Camp Nou playing legend stepped into one of the biggest managerial jobs in world football, he had just one season's experience as a manager: leading the Barca "B" team to the Tercera División title, the third tier of Spanish football.

So of course, more than a few complaints were made when the novice stepped up to replace Champions League winning manager Frank Rijkaard.

But, after securing an unprecedented Tripla Corona in his first season, followed by two more consecutive La Liga titles and another UEFA Champions League trophy, nobody was complaining anymore.

And after Guardiola became the first ever manager in European football to win the sextuple (following up his treble with the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and the Supercopa de España), his footballing street cred reached an all new level.

However, despite having the best ever start to a management career than any other currently active manager, many have started doubted the managerial ability of Guardiola.

After all, the side he is managing has seven World Cup winners within its ranks, as well as Lionel Messi, the one player considered to be in the same bracket as Diego Maradona.

It's a message constantly thrown at Pep Guardiola by outsiders who expect success no matter what.With a squad of that much talent, how can you not win everything?

What people may not realise is the strain of managing such a club like Barcelona, who are always the hunted, not the hunters.

With teams getting more and more frustrated by Barca's simply superior style of play, opponents tend to lash out and play anti-football—anything just to stop this Barcelona juggernaut.

Lionel Messi, the fleet-footed goalscoring assassin of Barcelona, gets hacked and lunged at as his counterparts desperately try to prevent him doing the inevitable, i.e. tucking the ball into the back of the net.

And every time he gets taken down, he keeps his cool, gets back up again and just lets the football do the talking. Not only does it take a real man to do that, but it takes a real man to tell Messi to keep going.

Always the hunted, Pep Guardiola has kept his Barcelona team going in the face of adversity, even when the opposition do literally anything it takes merely to stop Barca and their superior footballing style.

It hasn't been easy for Guardiola at all this season. Anti-football, media attacks from Jose Mourinho ("the f**king boss, the f**king man"), accusations of doping and Eric Abidal's liver tumour are just some of the obstacles the manager, and his team, have had to push to one side.

Lionel Messi Scored 53 Goals This Season Under Guardiola's Guidance 

And to put all that to one side, and win La Liga and the Champions League yet again, takes some doing. It takes a real man to focus on just the football, and it takes a real man-manager to get his team doing the same.

The very best managers in the world are perfect in two areas: tactics and man-management. We all know Pep Guardiola is one of the best tacticians in the game.

His unique 4-1-2-3 formation and tiki-taka style, modelled on Johan Cryuff's aforementioned Barca dream team, has been virtually unstoppable for the past three seasons.

Such ability to retain possession and execute perfect passing play, utilising to the absolute maximum the technical ability of the Barcelona players, is an unparalleled footballing philosophy in the sport at the moment.

And combined with the ruthless pressure applied by Barca when they lose the ball, putting the players' match fitness to the best possible use, Pep Guardiola has created the perfect tactical setup.

He's immediately emerged victorious in psychological warfare, something which is rife in top-level football, before a ball is even kicked. Saturday night's Champions League final win overManchester United at Wembley is perfect proof of that.

As Xavi Hernandez once said of his manager, Pep Guardiola really is a "perfectionist" when it comes to tactics.

Xavi: Guardiola Is a Perfectionist 

But everyone already knows and appreciates that. What they may not appreciate however, is the almost perfect man-management skills this man has.

FC Barcelona have lost just four matches this season. After their agonising Copa Del Rey final defeat to Real Madrid, many took the aura off Barca and gave their Madrid counterparts the backing to reach Wembley and the Champions League final.

What happened next? The Catalan giants rolled up to the Santiago Bernabeu and again stamped their superiority, rising up to anti-football and letting quality shine through.

Despite a brutal bombardment from Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola managed to get his players sticking to their principles, letting football do the talking, even if they too had to play dirty at times to ease their way through.

Throughout Europe, and even the world, Guardiola and his Barcelona team have been hunted like no other, yet every time they're under attack, this Barca side just seem to get closer, being more willing to work for the team, more willing to help out their teammates and more willing to win it for each other.

Pep Guardiola has instilled almost an unparalleled togetherness within this club, proved by the Champions League win on Saturday dedicated to Eric Abidal, the left-back with the fairytale story following life-saving surgery just three months earlier.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson may be the best overall manager currently active, given his track record. After all, football is a results based business, and remarkably, Sir Alex is still in his job because he's been delivering results consistently since 1990.

However, after Barcelona's 3-1 win over United in that final at Wembley, it seems like Pep Guardiola is the best manager in the world at the moment.

Having unassailably the best tactics in football, combined with the best man-management in the sport, makes the man who back in March was hospitalised with a herniated disc, quite possibly the best manager in the world right now.

Guardiola to stay at champions Barca

Barca produced a masterclass to take home the trophy after a 3-1 win over Manchester United at Wembley, but there had been speculation the match would be Guardiola's last.

Josep Guardiola is thrown in the air in celebration

Guardiola, who signed a contract extension until the end of next season, had been linked with the vacant Chelsea hot seat and a new challenge in the Premier League.

However, after securing a fourth European Cup for Barca, the 40-year-old said: "I've the intention to continue one more year and after we will see. You have girls falling at your feet when you win but that can change overnight."

Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi - who scored Barcelona's crucial second goal - shone as Barcelona powered to the Champions League title and Guardiola admitted he might not have players of such class if he moved clubs.

"My future will be very tough as I'll be at another club with other players, thinking 'where are these kinds of players?' added Guardiola. "A coach depends on the players."

"I feel privileged to have these players. Everyone has worked towards this. We are very happy. But I have to look inside of me. I am happy to be here as coach of these guys. but it is not an easy job."

Guardiola also believes it is not realistic to try to emulate the 25 years opposite number Sir Alex Ferguson has been at the helm at Old Trafford in Spain.

"In England it can be 25 years, in Spain it is impossible," said Guardiola. "They are different ways. For him to be manager for 25 years and create new teams and new teams he has my admiration. I know it is difficult."

Guardiola has won 10 titles - including two European Cups - in his three years in charge of the club he served as a player for 17 years.

Villarreal’s Giuseppe Rossi in negotiation with Barcelona – agent

Federico Pastorello has revealed that his client has been formally approached by the Spanish and European champions, and that they have been told about the forward’s market price

Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi's agent has revealed that negotiations with Barcelona have already begun over the transfer of the striker to Camp Nou.
The 24-year-old Italy international is one of the players reportedly on the Spanish and European champions’ radar and has said from time to time that he wants to play for a bigger club.
It now seems that Rossi’s dream of featuring for a European powerhouse could come true, as Barca have already made an approach for him, according to his agent Federico Pastorello.
“We are talking with Barcelona and Rossi would love to play for the club,” Pastorello is quoted as saying by Spanish daily AS. “His price-tag is between €25 million [£21.8m] and €30m [£26.2m].
“We are now waiting for news from Barca.”
Rossi joined Villarreal from Manchester United in 2007 and has played in over 100 Primera Division matches.
He had a productive 2010-11 campaign for the Yellow Submarine, scoring 18 goals and providing six assists in 36 league appearances, and helped them finish in the top-four in the table. He also played a key role in their run to the Europa League semi-finals.

Barcelona ready to bid £30 million for Fabregas

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has launched this summer's attempt to sign Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

Guardiola has urged sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta and president Sandro Rosell to go all-out to sign Fabregas and make Barcelona’s Champions League winners even better.

Barcelona have already agreed a £35million deal to sign Villarreal’s former Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi and Guardiola is determined to get Fabregas.

But Barcelona do face a financial struggle to get Fabregas, especially as, even though the Spanish midfielder has made it clear that if he leaves Arsenal then it would only be for the Nou Camp, there is also strong interest from Manchester City.

Arsenal will do everything to rebuff Barcelona’s interest, which is likely to start around the £30m mark, but there is a feeling that if a huge offer, of around £50m, came in then they might be tempted to do business.

City boss Roberto Mancini’s admiration of Fabregas has already been documented, and their wealth could force the player's value up - and leave Barcelona struggling to compete.

Amid Barcelona’s Champions league final celebrations, veteran defender Carles Puyol made it clear the players want the club to sign Fabregas.

“I am convinced that Cesc will soon be playing with us,” he said.

Guardiola wants to make it happen as well, as he looks to make the best even better, and Zubizarreta and Rosell are now set to begin their operation to try and land Fabregas.

It would represent another attempt by Barca to keep Guardiola happy, as the coach dropped hints after their Wembley win that he may quit in a year’s time.

Rosell is determined to keep his coach and ensure Barcelona win more silverware.

Guardiola would be a target for Chelsea and Manchester United in the future, while 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar want to make him a megabucks offer to be national-team boss.

Rosell added: “Pep is with us and that is for sure. The money will not change his decisions.”

Barcelona's 11 Greatest Sides of All Time

"More Than a Club" is the slogan for Barcelona FC.

Since its founding, Barcelona has been on a road of self-discovery. Some time along the way, the people of Catalonia started to envisage Barcelona as a symbol of their country—more than a club.

To some, especially in times of oppression under Fransisco Franco's long dictatorship in Spain, Barcelona FC was envisaged as the club who expressed the rights and freedom of the Catalonian people.

In history, the club has done its best to not disappoint the people who support it.

Through many faces, many sides of footballers led by managers with visions for the game as different as every sunrise, the L'equip blaugrana has always found a way to convey the concerns and believes of its supporters.

Some have managed to do it better than others.

Who are they?

Here are the 11 Greatest Sides in Barcelona's history:

11. The Cesar Menotti Transition to TerryVenables, 1982-85

How can I not mention the tenure of one of football’s greatest in the Catalan club, Diego Maradona?

He joined in 1982 after the World Cup, and a year later, he donned three medals on his neck. But his tenure in Barcelona was not an easy one. He suffered a broken leg and got infected with hepatitis. He left in 1984 for Napoli.

After the 1983 success, with the inauguration of Terry Venables as the new managers, midfielder Bernd Schuster grabbed the opportunity to shine. In 1985, Barca won the Spanish League for the first time in 11 years. Two years later, they snatched the Spanish League cup.

The English manager also took L'equip blaugrana to their second European Cup final, but after a dramatic penalty shoot-out in which six out of eight penalties were squandered, Romanian side Steaua Bucuresti lifted the cup in front of dispirited Catalan faces.

10. Bobby Robson’s Short but Fruitful Stint, 1996-1997

Bobby Robson’s surprising arrival to Barcelona in 1996 brought two other branded-to-become-famous faces: Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho, who he previously worked with at Porto.

Although considered as a temporary solution to Barca’s managerial aspirations, Bobby Robson’s tactical acumen and Ronaldo’s best year of his career quickly paid off.

Three more cups were won: the Spanish Supercup in 1996 and Copa Del Rey and the European Cup Winners cup in 1997.

Bobby Robson was just the temporary man for the job until Louis van Gaal became available, but the results his side achieved in such a short period of time left many wondering what would have been his football side if he had more time to build it.

Nonetheless, Bobby Robson marked Barcelona history.

9. The Laszlo Kubala Influence, Part Two, 1958-61

In 1958, Laszlo Kubala persuaded two of his compatriots, Hungarian refugees, to come and play with him at Barcelona. The three Hungarians would form the nucleus of the team with Luis Suarez and Evaristo.

The Catalans’ success from the previous seasons poured uninterrupted. They won the double in 1959 and yet again the Spanish League and Inter-Cities Fair Cup in 1960.

With the beginning of the next decade, Kubala found himself fallen out of favor in the eyes of manager Helenio Herrera. Like Sauron without his ring of power, Barcelona suffered defeat at the hand of arch-rivals Real Madrid in the 1960 semifinals of the European Cup.

Herrero fired; Kubala restored to first team: revenge was served in the next year. Barcelona became the first club to beat Real Madrid in the European Cup competition.

 Laszlo Kubala’s rein of Barcelona affairs ended soon after.

8. Louis Van Gaal’s Side, 1997-2000

With the arrival of Louis van Gaal from Ajax in 1997, a true Dutch colonization was instigated at Barcelona.

Slowly but surely, the Ajax stars that had taken over the world under Van Gaal started to rejoin him one by one. Reiziger, the brothers Frank and Ronald De Boer, Philip Cocu, Jari Litmanen, Patrick Kluivert and Boedewijn Zenden were among the army of colonizers led by Van Gaal.

From a Blaugurana perspective, the new Dutch manager might have seemed as one preaching a fundamentally different philosophy from theirs.  This was bound to cause clashes, and it did.

Despite winning the La Liga twice and the Copa Del Rey once in his first two seasons of tenure, the failures of Barcelona on the European stage were enough to elevate the buried discontent of the fans to the surface.

He was not liked by the fans and by the media despite winning three trophies. Players often contradicted him. Brazilian star Rivaldo was one of those players. Overall, Van Gaal couldn’t brag with living through the best of times in his Barcelona tenure.

His positives were often overlooked, but in truth, Van Gaal’s side reaped some success, and most importantly, provided the favorable environment for players to emerge from the youth ranks. Xavi Hernandez, Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol were some of those players who were given the chance.

7. The Laszlo Kubala Influence, Part One, 1951-58

On June 15, 1950, two Hungarians joined Barcelona to signify the beginning of yet another transformation: Laszlo Kubala and new manager Ferdinand Daucik. They were the masterminds of the success to come.

In 1951, Kubala scored 26 goals in 19 games, breaking the La Liga’s record for most scored in a single match with seven against Sporting de Gijon. Along with his manager and the help of his teammates, Emilio Aldecoa, Juan Zambudio Velasco, Joan Segarra and Antoni Ramallets, Kubala won five medals this season—one of the most successful seasons in Barcelona history.

That side won eight trophies from 1951 to 1958: twice the Spanish League, four times the Spanish Cup and twice the Supercope de Espana.

6. Rinus Michels’ Side, 1973-78

"It is an art in itself to compose a starting team, finding the balance between creative players and those with destructive powers, and between defence, construction and attack—never forgetting the quality of the opposition and the specific pressures of each match.", Rinus Michels wrote about every manager’s fundamentals task.

It’s an art that he had perfected. He was the mastermind behind the Netherlands side of the 1974.

Michels had already been well-known for his successful employment of total football with Ajax and the Netherlands national side before he sat at the managerial stool of Barcelona.

He managed the club between 1971 and 75 and then from 1976 to 78. He had the time to build the side he wanted, and with his brilliant mind, he dove deep into the total football style to explore it.

Most of all, Johan Cruyff stood up from all the rest. He was the man who could make Michels' ideas materialize on the field. The team revolved around him. The two Dutchmen made things click for the Catalans. The Dutch connection had started. And it brought success.

Although the side won only two trophies, they ended the club’s 13-year trophy drought through the tactical ingenuity of Rinus Michels, skill and vision of Johan Cruyff and the support of quality players like Juan Manuel Asensi, Carles Recach and Hugo Sotil.

This makes them a historical football side and one of the best Barcelona has had.

5. Frank Rijkaard’s Side, 2003-2006

Having lastly won a trophy in 1999, Barcelona fans were desperate to see the dry period end. Their hopes focused on Dutch hero Frank Rijkaard, who assumed the position of Barcelona manager in 2003.

Times were ones of change, as the club had gone through a change in administration: Joan Laporta had seized control from his unsuccessful predecessor, Joan Gaspart.

With the new president focused on reviving the glory years of the past, Rijkaard had a strong backing and was allowed the freedom to implement his ideas to the squad.

Not much was changed initially. Relying on the inherited team, and with one new signing in Ronaldinho, Rijkaard pushed the Catalan team to the second position in Premiera Division. In the next year, the refurbishment of the team began. Ronaldinho was given a more central role and previously promoted from the youth division players like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol re-established themselves.

Two back-to-back La Liga titles followed; a Supercopa the Espana and a Champions League trophy after beating Arsenal 2-1 in the final.

Rijkaard’s philosophy was in the mould of Johan Cruyff’s—a thing reminiscent of great times for Barcelona fans. The team played attacking and beautiful football, which proved to be successful.

The Dutchman stayed for two more years, but failed to win more trophies. Despite that, he gave Barcelona the glory they sought after six years of drought and an emerging player, Lionel Messi, the foundation for development he needed

4. The 1944-49 Barcelona Side, a Snowdrop Finds Its Way Through the Snow\

In those difficult times for Spain—it was under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco—the Catalan club suffered repressions. Football was not as important as what it could relay.

And that’s exactly what Barcelona did for the Catalan people.

In 1943, Barcelona played Real Madrid in the Copa del Generalisimo (yes, there were football tournaments in George Orwell’s 1984; can you believe it?). They won with a result of 3-0 in the first match. Before the second leg, they had a visit from Franco’s head of state to remind them they were only playing due of the “generosity of the regime."

Real won that match 11-1.

Despite the endured oppression, having players like Cesar, Antoni Ramallets and Juan Zambudio Velasco coached by Barca legend Josep Samitier meant Barcelona would inevitably succeed on the meadow.

From 1945 to 49 the Catalans added their second, third and fourth Spanish League titles.

What makes this side special was they played football and won during dangerous of times for everyone with a slightly different mindset than Franco’s—the Catalans had one and demonstrated it on the field.

They were on the rise.

3. The Sides of the 1920s, the End of the Club’s First Golden Age

The 1920s were times of self-discovery for Barcelona. It was by that time the club started to recognize its symbolic meaning to the Catalan people.

It was at the time the club began to become more than a club. Jack Greenwell, the then manager, was the one who laid the foundation for success on the field.

In the team he built, the Barcelona all-time top goal-scorer played alongside the club’s second best top goal-scorer, Paulino Alcantara and Josep Samitier respectively.

The Catalans also boasted players like Ricardo Zamora, Emilio Sagi, Felix Sesumaga and Franz Platko.

The period marked the embarking of Barcelona on a long journey of success.

They won the Spanish Cup six times, the Catalan Championship five times and the club’s first Spanish League title in 1929.

2. Pep Guardiola’s Side, 2008-Now

In 2008, an ex-Barca player who had played under Johan Cruyff was appointed the new manager of the club. Pep Guardiola’s opinions diverged from those of previous manager Frank Rijkaard. He was quick to act by offloading three of the club’s stars: Ronaldinho, Sammuel Eto’o and Deco to Milan, Inter-Milan and Chelsea respectively, to add to the list of players not included in his plans.

On that list, the names of Giovani Dos Santos, Edmilson and Lilian Thuram were already written.

The voids were filled by Daniel Alves and Seudou Keita from Sevilla, Martin Caseres from Villarreal, Gerrard Pique from Manchester United and Alexander Hleb from Arsenal. Three players were promoted from the youth ranks: Sergio Busquets, Pedro Rodriguez and Jeffren Suarez.

Pep’s own version of Johan Cruyff’s “tiki-taka” initiated.

He won an amazing of six trophies that year. Johan Cruyff might have stirred in his sleep: Maybe the disciple is better than the master?

The success story continued up to a few days ago when Pep Guardiola added another Champions League trophy to raise the number of trophies he has won to 10 so far.

Pep, however, was very lucky to have a real gem already in the squad prior to his arrival—the short Argentinean boy Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi, targeted by midfield generals Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, has made sure Pep Guardiola’s tactics would work like a charm.

For that reason, Pep Guardiola remains second after the man who inspired him in his coaching ways—Johan Cruyff.

Undeniably, Guardiola’s Barcelona are on their way to become the best one the club has ever had.

1. Johan Cruyff’s Dream Team, 1990-1994

Following a difficult period for Barcelona football club, in 1988, a man who had provided inspiration in the past, by being the footballer he was, was burdened with the responsibility of bringing about positive change.

That man was no other than the Flying Dutchman, Johan Cruyff.

On the field, Cruyff was the reason the Netherlands’ national team played “total football." He would often move freely on the field, and total football allowed for his teammates to adjust to his movements. And he would always yell orders on where a player is supposed to be positioned and when to move.

As a manager, the very same vision he possessed was to give birth to a football side of Barcelona that was branded “The Dream Team”—a side that would forever change the direction the club would go.

Under Cruyff, Barcelona became a hugely successful blend of home-grown and proven international players dancing under the tune of their visionary manager.

The tune would later be called “tiki-taka," a branch of the “total football” school.

Players like Josep Guardiola, Albert Ferrer, Txiki Begiristain, Hristo Stoichkov, Romario, Michael Laudrup and Ronald Koeman seized their fortune to gain the status of club heroes.

Between 1990 and 1994, four consecutive La Liga titles were won. Pillage in the form of three trophies from European conquests also travelled to adorn the Barcelona trophy halls. The Copa Del Rey was won in 1990 and the European Supercup in 1992, along with three Supercopa de Espana between 1990 and 1994.

Eleven trophies in total stretched over an eight-year long period of Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona tenure (but the accomplishments were really achieved inside five years; in the other three, Cruyff didn’t win anything). The Dutchman broke the records for the club’s longest serving and most-successful manager.

In the later part of his career, past glory could not cancel out two years of trophy-drought, and in 1996, the club’s president relieved Johan Cruyff from his position.

His legacy though would have a much longer effect than expected. His “Dream Team” had already done what it was supposed to do: shape the mentality of the club to one of winners.