Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | FC Barcelona coach Quique Setien said he doesn’t fear for his job if his side fails to get past Napoli and into the quarterfinals of the Champions League on Saturday. Barca have a slight advantage after a 1-1 draw in the first leg, but their …
Read More »Messi demands Abidal name names after dressing room criticism
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Lionel Messi has hit back at Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal after the Frenchman blamed slackness in the dressing room for the departure of recently-fired coach Ernesto Valverde. In an interview with Spanish daily Sport Abidal said that under Valverde, who was sacked in mid-January, many players had been unhappy, …
Read More »Barcelona sack Valverde and appoint Setien as successor
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Spanish champions Barcelona have sacked their coach Ernesto Valverde and appointed Quique Setien as his replacement, the club announced on Monday. The decision to remove Valverde was confirmed following a board meeting that lasted more than four hours at Camp Nou on Monday afternoon. Barca are …
Read More »Barcelona and Real Madrid get set for politically charged Clasico
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Barcelona and Real Madrid will travel to the Clasico on Wednesday from the same hotel as part of a large-scale security operation aimed at reducing the impact of Catalan independence protests. The fixture had to be postponed in October due to violent demonstrations and there are …
Read More »Barca’s fragility casts doubts on Champions League credentials
Madrid, Spain | AFP | They may be one of Europe’s most devastating teams at their best but another collapse in La Liga last weekend has shown Barcelona can be a soft touch. Their 3-1 defeat by Levante on Saturday reopened old wounds from Anfield and Rome and suggests they have …
Read More »Griezmann attempting to find his feet on rocky ground at Barca
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Antoine Griezmann said he knew it would be tough settling in at Barcelona but it may have proven harder than he thought. Barca play at home to Inter Milan on Wednesday looking for lift-off in the Champions League after a goalless draw against Borussia Dortmund made …
Read More »Troubled Barcelona look to Messi for inspiration
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Lionel Messi could be ready to play against Real Betis on Sunday and Barcelona could do with him back. In other circumstances, Messi might have left it another week, having missed the whole of pre-season with a calf injury he sustained in his first training session …
Read More »Barca favourites for La Liga success but European failure drives desire for change
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Barcelona may want to make up for the biggest collapse in Europe by signing the most expensive player in the world but a team that was by far the best in Spain is already significantly better. After finishing 11 points clear of Atletico Madrid last season, …
Read More »Coutinho set for Barca stay after Miami win over Napoli
Miami, United States | AFP | Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde claimed on Wednesday that Philippe Coutinho is set to stay at Camp Nou despite strong interest in the unsettled Brazilian from the Premier League. The latest status update came after Croatian Ivan Rakitic score a 79th-minute winner to see off Napoli …
Read More »Messi backs Valverde but admits Barca are still hurting
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Lionel Messi wants Ernesto Valverde to continue as Barcelona coach but admits the team have not recovered from their Champions League loss to Liverpool as they face Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday. After winning La Liga by 11 points, Barca can complete …
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