Barca’s Messi set to face Man Utd

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is set to win his fitness battle for the Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester United on 23 April.

Argentine sensation Messi, 20, has been named in the Barca squad for Saturday’s La Liga game against Recreativo Huelva.

He tore a muscle in his left thigh in the Champions League last 16 game against Celtic on 4 March and has been recovering from injury in Argentina.

Barca are without Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho for the rest of the season.

The 28-year-old, who has struggled to hold down a regular place this season, pulled a leg muscle in training last week.

Barca forwards Thierry Henry and Bojan Krkic picked up knocks in the European game against Schalke on Wednesday, while midfielder Andres Iniesta has a knee problem.

Portuguese midfielder Deco has missed the last month with a calf injury, but he may still be fit for the first leg.

source:bbcsports

Ferguson relishing Barcelona test

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is excited by the prospect of playing Barcelona after his team defeated Roma in the Champions League.

Carlos Tevez scored as United won the second-leg 1-0 to secure a 3-0 victory on aggregate over Roma - and set up a semi-final tie with the Catalan giants.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Ferguson. “I think that we have something special in our team.

“We cannot go to Spain and be negative, we must be positive.”

United last met Barcelona in the Champions League in 1998 when their group encounter at the Nou Camp ended in a 3-3 draw.

But United won the Champions League final at the Nou Camp in 1999, with a spectacular 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich.

The first leg of this year’s tie will also take place in Spain, on 22 or 23 April, with the return leg at Old Trafford on 29 or 30 April.

Barca defender Carles Puyol will be missing from the first leg after picking up a yellow card in the 1-0 win over Schalke.

Ronaldinho impressing Rijkaard

Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard has warned that Ronaldinho is nearing his best ahead of the Nou Camp clash with Rangers.

The Brazilian, who has twice been voted FIFA’s world player of the year, has suffered a dip in form but scored twice in Sunday’s win over Real Betis. The 27-year-old struck with two free-kicks in the 3-0 victory, convincing Rijkaard he is improving by the game. The Dutch coach said: ‘He is improving little by little and we could see that he is a fundamental player for us by the way that he brings such happiness to the team.

England quartet up for Fifa award

Four England internationals have made the shortlist for the Fifa world player of the year award. Wayne Rooney, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are among the 30 players in the running.

From that list national team coaches and captains will vote for their top three players, to be revealed at Fifa’s world player gala on 17 December.

AC Milan’s Kaka is the favourite to win the award for the first time, ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

Chelsea have five nominees for the Fifa award, behind only Barcelona who have seven.

There are five Italian players in the final 30, including current world player of the year Fabio Cannavaro.

Brazil star Kaka, 25, is the current FIFPro world player of the year - an award voted for by 45,000 members of the players’ union.

Ronaldinho dismisses Chelsea link

Brazil and Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho has rejected suggestions that he could be set to join Chelsea. He has two-and-a-half years left on his deal but has been linked to the Blues since Jose Mourinho’s managerial exit.

Ronaldinho’s brother and agent Roberto de Assis is also thought to have held a meeting with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich during the summer.

But Ronaldinho, 27, told newspaper El Mundo: “Not Chelsea or Milan. I want to stay at Barcelona, that is my wish.”

Ronaldinho has missed the last three Barca games through injury but he is back in their squad for Tuesday’s Champions League match with Stuttgart, while Chelsea face Valencia on Wednesday.

Clubs learn Champions League fate

Celtic face a difficult task in the Champions League after the draw for the group stage paired them with holders AC Milan, Benfica and Shakhtar Donetsk. Rangers also face a tough task, against Barcelona, Lyon and Stuttgart.

Chelsea have been drawn with Valencia, whom they defeated at the quarter-final stage of last season’s competition.

Liverpool take on Porto, Marseille and Besiktas, while Manchester United face a rematch with Roma and Arsenal play four teams they have not met before.

Barcelona’s Eto’o out for at least two months

Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o will be out of action for at least two months after suffering a partial tear of a tendon in his right thigh, the Primera Liga side said on Thursday.

The 26-year-old suffered the injury just two minutes after coming on as a substitute in Wednesday’s 5-0 victory over Italian champions Inter Milan in the Gamper Trophy at the Nou Camp.

The three-times African Player of the Year missed a large chunk of last season after injuring his right knee during a Champions League match against Werder Bremen in September 2006.

Doctors initially estimated the injury would keep him out for two to three months but after an operation it took him five months to return to action.

Terry excited by Ronaldinho rumours

Chelsea captain John Terry admits the possibility of Ronaldinho going to Stamford Bridge is ‘exciting’ but believes the Barcelona forward would need to improve his defensive work ethic to succeed.

Rumours this week suggested Chelsea’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich held two meetings with Ronaldinho’s brother and adviser in a bid to persuade the Barcelona star to join the Blues in the Barclays Premier League.

Barca have dismissed those claims and with Friday’s transfer deadline looming any deal would need to be done quickly.

England defender Terry is positive about the prospect - however distant - but was also cautious.

‘It was exciting seeing the link with him and it would be a great acquisition to get a player of that ability in,’ Terry said.

Barca ‘convinced’ of keeping Ronaldinho

Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain remains ‘totally convinced’ Ronaldinho will not leave for Chelsea or any other club as rumours persist they are keen to sign Blues target Daniel Alves from Sevilla.

Begiristain shrugged off rumours Chelsea’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich held two meetings with Ronaldinho’s brother and adviser in a bid to persuade the Barcelona star to join the Blues in the Barclays Premier League.

Begiristain insisted yesterday Ronaldinho, who has three years left on his current contract, is staying at the Nou Camp, while Barca have said nothing about rumours of a move for right-sided full-back Alves.

Begiristain told Catalunya Radio: ‘We do not want to sell him.

‘Ronaldinho is our player and I am totally convinced that he will remain at the club.

Puyol Offers Barcelona’s Consolences

Carles Puyol offered Barcelona’s condolences to Sevilla’s Antonio Puerta, who died on Tuesday after being in hospital for three days.

 

 

The news has stunned the world of football and has broken down all barriers as the Betis players and board all visited the hospital over the weekend.

Puerta was unable to be revived by doctors having been kept on life support for 36 hours after collapsing during Sevilla’s game against Getafe on Saturday.

Doctors did all they could for the 22-year-old after he suffered several heart attacks and the tributes have already begun to paid.

FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol spoke on behalf of the Catalan club when he expressed his condolences after hearing the news.

“Today is a very sad day for everyone in football,” he stated. “On behalf of myself and all my team-mates and would like to offer my support to the Puerta family, to Sevilla, to the fans and to all his colleagues.

“I know that these are very difficult times and one can only look forward, to try and carry on and I would like everyone there to know that everyone at FC Barcelona is with them.”

source:goal.com