Coach praises Barca fightback

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova hailed his side's character after seeing them fight back from a half-time deficit to defeat Real Betis and move a step closer to lifting the Primera Division title.

Wounded from its Champions League semi-final humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich, Barca looked in danger of suffering another major setback as Ruben Perez put Betis 2-1 ahead just before the break at the Nou Camp.
If that scoreline had remained the same, then Barca could have seen its once-mighty lead at the top of the Primera Division cut to just five points by nearest challengers Real Madrid when the reigning champions faced Malaga in midweek.
However, three second-half goals, two of them by substitute Lionel Messi, saw Barca recover to claim a 4-2 win over Betis to move 11 points clear of Madrid again and, with only four rounds to go, that means if Jose Mourinho's men do not win on Wednesday, the title will be going to the Nou Camp.
Vilanova said: "Finding ourselves a goal down in the first minute wasn't easy, but the players showed their personality. And more so when the second went in before half-time. It was a question of not losing our heads."
Regarding the possibility of winning the title without even playing in midweek, Vilanova is doubtful.
He said: "Madrid are having a spectacular second half to the season and won't allow slips. We have to think that we still need to pick up two points because Madrid will win them all."
Vilanova also confirmed he would be returning to New York this week for follow-up tests having spent two months in America earlier this year undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment for cancer. He is set to be back in Barcelona on Thursday.
Looking further ahead, the Barca coach admits there is plenty to improve on following a testing season on and off the pitch with illnesses, injuries and some surprise results, including its 7-0 aggregate Champions League mauling by Bayern.
He said: "We always must try to improve. This year has taught us all a lot because of everything we experienced.
"It has been a difficult year because of the injuries and because the head coach wasn't here for two months. Next season things will be different, although that's normal because it's my first year."

Barca vs Betis preview

An upsetting defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League now has Barcelona trying to focus on on the La Liga title.

Not many people would have expected Barcelona to have gone out of the Champions League the way they did, but after watching those two very one sided matches, Tito Vilanova's side clearly has some weak spots.
Starting from the back, they have been struggling defensively for some time now, but with such a comfortable lead in La Liga, Puyol and Mascherano certainly will not be rushed back. Eric Abidal will likely get the start along side Pique, while Pinto should start in goal for Valdes who is out with a foot injury.
Keeping teams off the score-sheet has not been easy for the Blaugrana, and it could be very much of the same scenario on Sunday.
The Barcelona number ten has finally returned to full training, but his status is still unclear. It appears that his medical clearance will all depend on how he is feeling come Sunday morning. Should Vilanova even risk him if he's not 100%?
It seems like a very bad idea considering Barcelona has an eight point lead over second placed Real Madrid and the Catalans have a game in hand since Madrid played on Saturday. The Barcelona manager was not interested in risking Messi against Bayern Munich, so why would he in a league match at home with such a comfortable lead in the league standings?
Pedro may also be unavailable due to a stomach virus that kept him out of training on Saturday. The availability of Sergio Busquets is also in question, while Cesc Fabregas will serve a suspension after receiving a yellow card against Bilbao last weekend.
Coming off a very deflating defeat against Bayern Munich, Vilanova knows that his side could be in trouble from a mental standpoint. Recovering players after such a terrible two leg defeat is not easy, but these Barcelona players have more than enough experience to sort things out quickly, regardless of the fact they are not used to being in these positions.
Knowing that Betis is still fighting for a European spot, Vilanova is not taking anything for granted on Sunday.
"In recent years they have been a costly team for us," he said. "I have a lot of respect for the work done by coach Pepe Mel. They are daring away from home and we have to play with the knowledge this will be a very important step to a title we failed to lift last season."
The visitors will have something to play for, but a list of injuries and suspensions may limit their options. Midfield Benat appears to have recovered from a back injury which should allow him to play on Sunday, but Igiebor is still a game time decision.
Casto, Paulao and Damien Perquis will definitely miss the match with injuries

Tito doesnt feel the need of overall reinforcement

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has repeated his belief that the Catalan side does not need to make wholesale changes to its squad at the end of the season despite suffering its worst ever European defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League semi-final.
The German side's 7-0 aggregate win has led many to believe that, after a phenomenally successful period over the last five years, Barca is coming towards the end of an era and needs to bring in a number of new faces when the transfer market reopens at the end of the campaign.
However, with Barca still set to clinch its fourth league title in five years, Vilanova maintains that finding players that will fit into Barca's current style of play is the priority.
"The team doesn't need a lot of changes," he told a press conference.
"The Dream Team (the Barca team of the early 90s) also won the league and lost the European Cup final against a Milan team that was in top form. We need to think about things very hard. The team will be reinforced, as was planned.
"It will be difficult to find players that are able to play in the Barcelona system and we want to continue playing in the same way."
Vilanova did accept though that Bayern's physical dominance throughout the two ties had been key and that how Barca prepares physically for the latter stages of the season is something it needs to improve on after also running out of steam against Chelsea in last season's Champions League semi-finals.
"Last year we also arrived more worn down. There is a part that you cannot control which is injuries," he said.
"We need to look at how we get there. This year there were fewer muscular injuries than in previous years. We suffered more with breaks and joint injuries."
The most striking image of Barca's wear and tear throughout the season was Lionel Messi's presence on the bench for the second leg of the Bayern tie due to the recurrence of a hamstring injury suffered early last month.
However the Argentina star trained on Saturday, along with Sergio Busquets - who also missed the game last week - and both are in contention to face Real Betis on Sunday evening (Monday morning AEST).
"We will see how they train tomorrow and how the doctors evaluate them," added Vilanova.
"In these years Leo has had very few injuries and he is a player who feels comfortable when he is playing."

Cruff rubbishes end of an era term

Former Barcelona and Netherlands icon Johan Cruyff has dismissed claims the Catalan club's golden era is over.

Despite bowing out of the Champions League on the back of a crushing 7-0 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich, Tito Vilanova's men are well on course to sew up their 22nd Liga title.

And Cruyff has cited the impending domestic success of the side he once represented as a player and coach as evidence of their continued ability to compete at the top.

"(The end of an era) doesn't exist; it's just a piece of nonsense someone said," the 66-year-old told AS.

"It's simply a matter of mistakes made by the club's directors. That happens."

Former Barca boss Pep Guardiola highlighted the thin line between winning and losing, and insisted he does not see himself as superior to other coaches.

"I'm not better than any other coach. Success and failure are part of the game, and I have won and lost as a coach and as a player," the Spaniard told reporters in Argentina.

"As a coach, the secret is to push the right button for every player. You can only paint pictures; when the game begins, everything is in my players' hands."

Guardiola amassed a 14-trophy haul in a four-year spell at Camp Nou and will succeed Jupp Heynckes as Bayern Munich boss at the end of the season.

 

Xavi is optimistic ahead

Barcelona midfielder Xavi does not believe his side's Champions League semi-final mauling at the hands of Bayern Munich signals the end of an era for the Catalan giants.

Barca established themselves as the leading side on the planet during a stunning run of success that saw them win 14 trophies in four years under Pep Guardiola.

They also look poised to reclaim the Primera Division title this season in Tito Vilanova's first campaign in charge, but while the club may be top dogs in Spain, they no longer appear to be the dominant force in Europe after being humiliated by the Bavarians.

However, although Xavi concedes Bayern were a class apart in sealing their final spot with a 7-0 aggregate win, the Spain international still sees a bright future for Barca.

"I think so, yes. There's no need to be drastic. The team has a future, we've competed very well up until now. I'm always optimistic and this team has the desire," he told Canal Plus.

"We've not been able to get through the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey and Champions League (but) I think we have the team to carry on.

"On Sunday we have another competition."

Barca could replace Real Madrid as Spanish champions this weekend and their players are now focussing on that match in a bid to banish their European misery.

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas said: "The players are hurt, we have to react and win La Liga as soon as possible.

"We went up against a very strong Bayern, their counters with (Franck) Ribery and (Arjen) Robben were very hard to stop. But we are Barca, we don't make excuses."

Defender Dani Alves added on his club's website: "We have to thank the fans for their support and promise them that we will return

"The fans understand football and they know that when you get knocked down you get up and you keep on fighting.

"We still have that hunger to keep on winning and the fact that we were eliminated in the semi-finals proves that. We don't make excuses. If your opponent is better than you, you get eliminated."

Inter director at Camp Nou sparks transfer rumors

Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio was spotted at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night as rumours over the possible sale of Samir Handanovic to Barcelona continue to grow.
Ausilio was there to watch the Barcelona-Bayern Munich match, but there is speculation he was there to talk with the Blaugrana management regarding several transfer deals.
Sportsmediaset are reporting that talks regarding a possible transfer for Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic may have been at the heart of the visit.
It has been reported in recent days that Barcelona would be willing to part with €30 million to sign the stand out Slovenian keeper as a replacement for the departing Victor Valdes.
Handanovic has been one of Inter’s best players in what has been a disappointing campaign, garnering rave reviews since his move from Udinese last summer.
On the other side, the Nerazzurri are keen to talk with the Spanish giants regarding Alexis Sanchez, Marc Bartra and Martin Montoya.
Sanchez has struggled for Barcelona since moving from Udinese in 2011, with Juventus joining the Nerazzurri in their pursuit for the Chilean striker.
Official talks have not begun between the two clubs, though that could change in the upcoming days after Wednesday’s visit.

Bayern crashed Barca out

Bayern Munich cruised into their third Champions League final in four years as a 3-0 win over Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Wednesday gave them an incredible 7-0 aggregate semi-final victory.

The absence of Lionel Messi from the Barca starting line-up almost eradicated any hope of an unlikely comeback before the game had even begun, but Bayern showed their 4-0 first-leg win last week had been no fluke with a display of controlled dominance.

Arjen Robben opened the scoring for the visitors with a trademark left-foot strike just after half-time before a Gerard Pique own-goal and Thomas Mueller's header in the final 20 minutes ensured Bayern booked their place in an all-German final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on May 25 in some style.

Afterwards Pique admitted it was one of the most difficult nights he has had in his five years at the club.

"Perhaps it was the bitterest night I have had at Barcelona," he told Spanish Canal Plus television.

"We tried but they scored a goal very early in the second half and this left us broken. The last 25 minutes were very difficult."

For Robben meanwhile it was unconfined joy as he aims to make amends at Wembley for missing a penalty that could have won Bayern the trophy on home soil against Chelsea last season.

"That's history - 4-0 at home and then 3-0 here, we should be proud of that and enjoy it. Now we have to win this thing," he told Sky Germany.

"We have so much quality in the team that we can win games like these, in this manner."

Already without Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba through injury and suspension respectively, Barca were handed another huge blow before kick-off as the persistence of a hamstring injury suffered in the first leg of their quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain forced Messi to start on the bench.

Without their talisman, Barca started tentatively and only a desperate sliding challenge from Pique prevented Robben from having a clear shot on goal after he galloped clear down the left on 11 minutes.

Pique had to be alert again seven minutes later as he again slid in to deny Philipp Lahm at the end of a wonderful Bayern move.

Pedro finally forced Manuel Neuer into a save on 23 minutes with a long-range effort that the German number one turned round the post and Xavi then had the hosts' best chance of the first period as he hooked over on the volley after Cesc Fabregas had chested the ball down inside the area.

However, Barca were still out of sorts with a number of uncharacteristically long balls failing to find their target and another weak effort from distance by Adriano was the only other effort they managed on goal before the break.

It only took three minutes after the restart for Bayern to completely wipe away any lingering doubts they would be travelling to London for the final when Robben collected a raking crossfield pass from David Alaba, cut inside Adriano onto his favoured left foot and buried a rasping drive past Victor Valdes into the far corner.

Robben ought to have had a second moments later as another quick Bayern break caught Barca outnumbered at the back, but this time the former Real Madrid man couldn't get the required touch to Franck Ribery's cross and the ball dribbled wide.

But further pain was inflicted upon the hosts 18 minutes from time when a beautiful pass from Luis Gustavo played in Ribery down the left and his cross was sliced into his own net by Pique.

And four minutes later it was 3-0 on the night as more terrific play from Ribery saw him burst past Alex Song and dink a lovely ball to the far post for Mueller to head home his third goal of the tie.