Thiago Alcantara insists Barcelona does not depend on Lionel Messi
The Spain international has guaranteed that his side do not revolve around Messi and stated that the Liga title could remain at Camp Nou
Thiago Alcantara - Barcelona
Barcelona attacker Thiago Alcantara has denied the notion that his team is reliant on star striker Lionel Messi.
The Catalan giants wasted the opportunity to take a valuable lead in the Copa del Rey semifinals against Valencia as Messi missed a penalty in the second half of the match, which ended 1-1.
"Messi was a born winner," Thiago told a news conference. "Yesterday, he was brave enough to take the ball and take the responsibility for the penalty. He did not score, but that is not a problem. We have the best player in the world amongst us, but we do not depend on him.
"We have to exploit and use the power of each player, and if we have players like him or Xavi, we can certainly draw inspiration from them. I am only talking about two of them, but there are so many. We certainly are not dependent on Messi."
Despite defeating Real Madrid earlier in the Copa del Rey, Barca is seven points adrift of Los Blancos in La Liga, but Thiago has refused to admit defeat.
"This team has shown a lot of things in the last seasons, of course we can turn things around," he noted. "We need to go little by little and prepare for one match at a time."
The 20-year-old attacker then admitted that Barca was lucky that the referee of Wednesday's match failed to see Jose Manuel Pinto handling the ball outside the area, which would have earned the goalkeeper a red card.
"Referees have always existed in football, sometimes they make correct decisions and sometimes they do not," Thiago added. "Luckily, he did not make a correct decision yesterday. I am not one to judge. We want to play a match which is good and has 22 players on the field, referees should not be talked about."
The Catalan giants wasted the opportunity to take a valuable lead in the Copa del Rey semifinals against Valencia as Messi missed a penalty in the second half of the match, which ended 1-1.
"Messi was a born winner," Thiago told a news conference. "Yesterday, he was brave enough to take the ball and take the responsibility for the penalty. He did not score, but that is not a problem. We have the best player in the world amongst us, but we do not depend on him.
"We have to exploit and use the power of each player, and if we have players like him or Xavi, we can certainly draw inspiration from them. I am only talking about two of them, but there are so many. We certainly are not dependent on Messi."
Despite defeating Real Madrid earlier in the Copa del Rey, Barca is seven points adrift of Los Blancos in La Liga, but Thiago has refused to admit defeat.
"This team has shown a lot of things in the last seasons, of course we can turn things around," he noted. "We need to go little by little and prepare for one match at a time."
The 20-year-old attacker then admitted that Barca was lucky that the referee of Wednesday's match failed to see Jose Manuel Pinto handling the ball outside the area, which would have earned the goalkeeper a red card.
"Referees have always existed in football, sometimes they make correct decisions and sometimes they do not," Thiago added. "Luckily, he did not make a correct decision yesterday. I am not one to judge. We want to play a match which is good and has 22 players on the field, referees should not be talked about."
Manchester United forced to rely on David de Gea against Chelsea and Liverpool as Anders Lindegaard is ruled out for four weeks
The Spaniard endured a difficult afternoon at Anfield in the FA Cup and will be called into action again after the Denmark international suffered reported ankle ligament damage
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Manchester United will be forced to rely on goalkeeper David de Gea for its crucial upcoming fixtures against Chelsea and Liverpool, after Anders Lindegaard was ruled out for four weeks with ankle ligament damage, according to the Daily Mirror.
De Gea endured a difficult afternoon against Kenny Dalglish's side in the FA Cup last weekend, as United crashed to a 2-1 defeat, but Lindegaard's absence will make the Spaniard Sir Alex Ferguson's automatic first choice.
Lindegaard could even be set to miss United's meeting with Tottenham in early March, the report claims.
Ben Amos played in the Red Devil's 2-0 victory over Stoke City in midweek, and could be called upon again at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea on Saturday. It is expected that de Gea will recover in time for the fixture, though, and will play if fit.
Amos was preferred to Tomasz Kuszczak against Tony Pulis' side, with the Poland international forced to settle for a place on the bench. The 29-year-old is set to leave Old Trafford when his contract expires in the summer.
United also plays both legs of their Europa League last 32 tie against Ajax in February, before rounding off the month against Norwich City
De Gea endured a difficult afternoon against Kenny Dalglish's side in the FA Cup last weekend, as United crashed to a 2-1 defeat, but Lindegaard's absence will make the Spaniard Sir Alex Ferguson's automatic first choice.
Lindegaard could even be set to miss United's meeting with Tottenham in early March, the report claims.
Ben Amos played in the Red Devil's 2-0 victory over Stoke City in midweek, and could be called upon again at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea on Saturday. It is expected that de Gea will recover in time for the fixture, though, and will play if fit.
Amos was preferred to Tomasz Kuszczak against Tony Pulis' side, with the Poland international forced to settle for a place on the bench. The 29-year-old is set to leave Old Trafford when his contract expires in the summer.
United also plays both legs of their Europa League last 32 tie against Ajax in February, before rounding off the month against Norwich City
Yaya Toure insists Manchester City will remain in control of Premier League title race despite his absence
The former Barcelona midfielder is currently representing Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations but is still tracking affairs at his club side very carefully
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Yaya Toure is confident Manchester City will remain in control of the Premier League title race during his absence, as he continues to feature at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The powerful midfielder is currently in Equatorial Guinea with the Ivory Coast ahead of its quarterfinal clash against the host nation, which takes place on Saturday.
On the same day, City will be welcoming Fulham to the Etihad Stadium, with its lead at the top of the table having been cut to just goal difference after its midweek defeat to Everton and Manchester United’s victory over Stoke.
Since Toure - undoubtedly a driving force for Roberto Mancini’s side - has been away, City has also crashed out of both domestic cup competitions, losing to United in the FA Cup and to Liverpool over two legs in the League Cup semifinal.
Despite this, Toure insists the team is not suffering just because he, along with older brother Kolo, is away representing his country.
“We have a great team and I know I am certainly not irreplaceable," he told Goal.com. “Look at the amount of money the club has spent on talent and still tell me that ‘there is only one Yaya’.
“I do not believe this. Somebody can still play in my place and help us win. By the time the African Cup of Nations finishes I hope we will still be on top of the league.”
If Ivory Coast can reach the final of the tournament on February 12, the ex-Barcelona star would not play another league game until the clash with strugglers Blackburn Rovers on February 25.
Toure admits he is finding it frustrating missing such key fixtures and as a result will be determined to get himself back into the side straight away on his return to England.
“Every single player wants to be in the first team, so we all work incredibly hard to be there," he added. “In fact, I am more worried about regaining my place when I return [than us losing form without me].
"For me, being in Africa is like being injured. I like to imagine that I’ve got an injury that will last four weeks. When I think like that, I can concentrate fully on my task with my country and not worry about missing games for my club.”
Toure’s last match before he left Eastlands was on January 3, when he scored in his side’s comprehensive 3-0 league win over Liverpool.
The powerful midfielder is currently in Equatorial Guinea with the Ivory Coast ahead of its quarterfinal clash against the host nation, which takes place on Saturday.
On the same day, City will be welcoming Fulham to the Etihad Stadium, with its lead at the top of the table having been cut to just goal difference after its midweek defeat to Everton and Manchester United’s victory over Stoke.
Since Toure - undoubtedly a driving force for Roberto Mancini’s side - has been away, City has also crashed out of both domestic cup competitions, losing to United in the FA Cup and to Liverpool over two legs in the League Cup semifinal.
Despite this, Toure insists the team is not suffering just because he, along with older brother Kolo, is away representing his country.
“We have a great team and I know I am certainly not irreplaceable," he told Goal.com. “Look at the amount of money the club has spent on talent and still tell me that ‘there is only one Yaya’.
“I do not believe this. Somebody can still play in my place and help us win. By the time the African Cup of Nations finishes I hope we will still be on top of the league.”
If Ivory Coast can reach the final of the tournament on February 12, the ex-Barcelona star would not play another league game until the clash with strugglers Blackburn Rovers on February 25.
Toure admits he is finding it frustrating missing such key fixtures and as a result will be determined to get himself back into the side straight away on his return to England.
“Every single player wants to be in the first team, so we all work incredibly hard to be there," he added. “In fact, I am more worried about regaining my place when I return [than us losing form without me].
"For me, being in Africa is like being injured. I like to imagine that I’ve got an injury that will last four weeks. When I think like that, I can concentrate fully on my task with my country and not worry about missing games for my club.”
Toure’s last match before he left Eastlands was on January 3, when he scored in his side’s comprehensive 3-0 league win over Liverpool.
Vitor Baia: Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho would have been a good coach for Barcelona
The former Camp Nou goalkeeper has stated the belief that his Portuguese compatriot would have done a good job had the current Champions League holders employed him
Former Barcelona goalkeeper Vitor Baia has taken the time to praise Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, and feels that the Portuguese trainer would have been a good option for the Blaugranas.
"He's the best coach in the world in my opinion, and he is a very special person," Baia said toEsports COPE.
The Santiago Bernabeu tactician worked at the Camp Nou from 1996 until 2000 under head coaches Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal, and his countryman is confident that Mourinho would have done a good job if he'd ever taken charge of the current European champions.
"Mourinho would have been a good coach for Barcelona. He has the ability to adapt to every culture," Baia said.
"The Mourinho we saw at Chelsea was a completely different coach than the one at Porto. And the one at Inter was again another type of coach. The Mourinho we're now seeing at Madrid is once more another type," the 42-year-old raved.
A number of recent reports suggested that Mourinho could be on his way out of Madrid at the end of the season, but the controversial coach has so far denied that he's preparing his exit from the Spanish capital.
"He's the best coach in the world in my opinion, and he is a very special person," Baia said toEsports COPE.
The Santiago Bernabeu tactician worked at the Camp Nou from 1996 until 2000 under head coaches Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal, and his countryman is confident that Mourinho would have done a good job if he'd ever taken charge of the current European champions.
"Mourinho would have been a good coach for Barcelona. He has the ability to adapt to every culture," Baia said.
"The Mourinho we saw at Chelsea was a completely different coach than the one at Porto. And the one at Inter was again another type of coach. The Mourinho we're now seeing at Madrid is once more another type," the 42-year-old raved.
A number of recent reports suggested that Mourinho could be on his way out of Madrid at the end of the season, but the controversial coach has so far denied that he's preparing his exit from the Spanish capital.
Franck Ribery slams Bayern Munich's transfer policy
The France international feels that the Bavarians do not have the necessary strength in depth to compete in both the Bundesliga and the Champions Leagu
Bongarts
Franck Ribery believes that Bayern Munich have jeopardized its own chances of chances of lifting some silverware this season by failing to strengthen during the January transfer window.
The 28-year-old is concerned by the Bavarian outfit's strength in depth and thinks that they could end up paying for their parsimony in either the Bundesliga or the Champions League - or even both.
"I think it is a big problem for us if two or three players are injured,” Ribery told Sport1. "We do not have a really good bench and have no really good second team."
Ribery's comments are unlikely to go down well at the Allianz Arena because club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge revealed on the same day that it had been the wish of coach Jupp Heynckes to remain inactive during the transfer window.
"It was the desire of the coach not to make any changes in the winter," the Bayern supremo told Bild. "We hope that we can get through with this squad."
Bayern angered its own supporters last week by tricking many of them into believing that the club had signed a high-profile striker when in fact it was merely generating publicity for the launch of a new Facebook application.
The 28-year-old is concerned by the Bavarian outfit's strength in depth and thinks that they could end up paying for their parsimony in either the Bundesliga or the Champions League - or even both.
"I think it is a big problem for us if two or three players are injured,” Ribery told Sport1. "We do not have a really good bench and have no really good second team."
Ribery's comments are unlikely to go down well at the Allianz Arena because club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge revealed on the same day that it had been the wish of coach Jupp Heynckes to remain inactive during the transfer window.
"It was the desire of the coach not to make any changes in the winter," the Bayern supremo told Bild. "We hope that we can get through with this squad."
Bayern angered its own supporters last week by tricking many of them into believing that the club had signed a high-profile striker when in fact it was merely generating publicity for the launch of a new Facebook application.
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