Guardiolas defensive dilemma for Atlético clash

Pep Guardiola has some problem on his hands as he tries to piece a defence together for sundays clash against Atlético Madrid in the Vicente Calderon. Gerard Pique and Rafael Marquez both received their marching orders against Getafe at the weekend, carrying with them a one-match sanction. Dani Alves, Toure Yaya (normally pushed back to the centre-back when needed) and Eric Abidal have all been ruled out through injury. So it's just as well Gabby Milito has just returned from a lengthy lay-off as Guardiolas faith in summer signing Chygrynskiy dwindles, although even the Ukranian looks set to be involved now Abidal has been sidelined. Providing talismanic captain Carlos Puyol shakes off a niggle, Barcas starting XI should look something like this:

4-3-3: Valdes; Maxwell, Chygrynskiy, Milito, Puyol; Xavi, Busquets, Keita; Messi, Ibrahimovic, Iniesta

Guardiola will surely opt for added defensive weight in the middle of the park, with Sergio Busquets and Seydou Keita both more than capable of shielding their back four whilst providing options in attack. The makeshift defence might have more work than usual in attempting to keep Diego Forlán and Agüero quiet, but on recent form, and even with this weakened side, you would have to predict a Barca win. That said, Atlético Madrid always seem to summon up something special for their match-ups against the Catalans at home. The white half of Madrid will be hoping thats the case come Sunday night.

Xerez clearout complete: Gorosito named new manager

When you're bottom of the league with a sorry total of 8 points at the halfway mark in the season, something has got to give. And so it was that Xerez Club Deportivo sacked the manager and the sporting director, with a change of president to boot, in an attempt to arrest an alarming slide straight back into La Segunda. 'Cuco' Ziganda was a likeable coach, and worked as hard as he could with a limited group of players, but this team needs an imposing character, a man that makes his players believe they are twice as good as they actually are, a man with a shrewd eye for bargain basement signings, a Harry Redknapp of spanish football. It remains to be seen if new manager Nestor Gorosito is that man, but if his opening press conference and his no-nonsense mullet are anything to go by, he'll give it a damn good go.

In Europe there's no hiding from the fact that the guy is an unknown quantity. But with the new president, Federico Souza, and his backroom team all being Argentinian, we'll have to trust their move. Gorosito has trained Lanus and Rosario Central in his time in the Argentine League, and claims to have gone through, and successfully negotiated, the same sort of problems that engulf little Xerez right now. He stated after his first session with the squad, that he believes this team can carry out the greatest of escapes and avoid relegation.                                                   

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Perhaps he's alone in that respect, but that won't worry him, as long as he can convince his 22 players to believe the same. The scale of his task has been made all the more evident by Xerezs claim that he and new sporting director Federico Lussenhoff will have just under €1 million to spend on two strikers and an attacking midfielder. The sad aspect of that story was that they seemed to think this was a sufficiently large budget to capture players capable of helping them stay up. No chance. Gorositos reign begins against unpredictable Osasuna at home this weekend, in what is effectively a win or bust situation. If he and his players really harbour hopes of doing a houdini, three points are vital. Last weekends shutout away at fellow strugglers Real Zaragoza with their first-choice back four all out injured and having played with 10 men for the last 40 minutes was heroic. Now they need to start being heroic at the other end of the pitch.

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Meanwhile at the other end of La Liga, Pep Guardiola confirmed he will sign an extension to his deal that will see him remain as Barcelona manager until the end of next season. He will wait to sign this contract until the results of the presidential elections this summer, so Barca will have to take his word for it. He seems a trustworthy bloke though, so they shouldnt be too worried about him fleeing to Manchester. Joan Laporta looked suitably smug with the news, and even found time to state that this was his eighth title of the year, along with the six actual trophies and the 2-6 thrashing of Real Madrid. Naughty.

Would Guardiola really go to Man United?

As Barcelona streched their lead to five points over their bitter rivals from Madrid with a sparkling second half display against Sevilla, there was still something bugging president Joan Laporta as he made his post-match interviews. The increasing doubt surrounding Pep Guardiolas future at the club and the inevitable questions from reporters about the subject. Laporta did well to undermine the issue, but the wait is making fans and players anxious. Pep will be fully aware of this, so if he was 100% certain about his future at the Catalan club, surely he would have signed an extension already?

News has now sprung up about Manchester United contacting his agent Jose Maria Orobitg, which will only serve to add to the unease that is beginning to creep into the Camp Nou. But would Pep really make the move to Manchester United? Sir Alex Ferguson certainly sees the Catalan as his ideal replacement, once he steps down from the Old Trafford hotseat (expected to be in 2011/2012), and the English club are believed to want to tie Guardiola to a pre-contract agreement which would see him play a part in shaping the future of the Red Devils from next season onwards. La Liga has never been the place to create a legacy, with managers rarely lasting more than five years at the same club, unlike English football which seems to have slightly more patience with managers when things go pearshaped, at least in comparison to their continental counterparts. Just look at Wenger at Arsenal who hasn't won a trophy in four years. Is this playing on Guardiolas mind?

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As a player he was eager to move abroad once his time with Barca came to a close, moving to Italy (Roma and Brescia), Qatar and Mexico towards the end of his glittering playing career. That said, his time in Italy was relatively unsuccesful and was even tainted by controversy; testing positive for nandrolone, although later cleared on appeal. He also turned down the chance to play for Man United on more than one occasion, so why not once more as manager? Personally, I just cannot see him moving away from Barcelona any time soon. He has close bonds with several players in the squad who, like himself, were raised in 'La Masia' and he would have to adapt to a completely new footballing philosophy if he made the move to Old Trafford, a club that even appears to be entering into severe financial troubles. He may not ever be able to replicate the six trophies that last year brought, but if he can win La Liga and the Champions League regularly, no-one will be complaining. The man is Barcelona born and bred, and when Laportas easter deadline comes, expect Pep to sign on the dotted line once more.

La Liga News: Barcelona given early Xmas present

Barcelonas xmas came early when news filtered through that their bid for Manchester Citys forward Robinho had been rejected. The euforia surrounding Barcas sextruplet must have gone to Laportas head as he made Man City an offer for their record signing. Luckily for the Catalan club, Man City decided not to cash on on their Brazilian flop, allowing him to sulk a few more months in northern England before being shipped off to the continent. Besides where would he have played? They have the best attacking quartet in World Football, and with talented youngsters Pedro, Jeffren, Bojan and even Gai Assulin waiting in the wings, it would have been a tremendous waste of money.

It's been a busy few days for Barcelona. Today they took on Kazma of Kuwait in a meaningless friendly, with a line-up bursting with reserves and youth teamers. The game ended one apiece, with a Bojan goal (80mins) being cancelled out with virtually the last kick by Abdullah al Dafiri. The match reportedly earned Barca €1.8 million and no doubt endless Asian fans, but it came at a cost as Jeffren was taken off with thigh injury. Guardiola used the friendly to try out Chygrynskiy as a shield infront of the back four as he will be missing Keita and Yaya Toure during the African Cup of Nations. The move didn't pan out too well though as the Ukranian was badly at fault for the Kuwaiti goal. Pep will be hoping Sergio Busquets keeps fit during January.

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Behind the scenes, Joan Laporta has announced that he will be stepping down at the end of this season, and has not ruled out elections before. Firstly he wants to tie Pep Guardiola to the club with a long-term contract: a man he believes is already among the finest managers Barca have ever had, and who will one day be recognised as the best manager ever. The current frontrunner to take over the club is Sandro Rossel, a businessman who has worked in marketing with Nike and was a fundamental part of Laportas 2003 presidential campaign which saw Ronaldinho brought to the club.

Messi leads Barcelona to World Club Cup Glory

Barcelona have completed the historic clean sweep. Todays 2-1 victory in the FIFA World Club Cup final against Estudiantes gave Barca their sixth trophy of what has been a monumental year for the Catalan club. There isn't a superlative that hasn't been used to describe this Barcelona side, and you have to wonder when this trophy winning bonanza will end. Guardiolas outfit dominated the final from start to finish, but had to rely on a last-gasp Pedro goal in the 89th minute to cancel out Bosellis first half  header and send the final into extra time.

In the second half of extra time, Leo Messi downed his countrymen with a goal which proved he can score with pretty much any part of his body, as he chested in a Dani Alves cross. Pep Guardiola burst into tears at the final whistle, which was odd, but the emotion of leading his childhood club to an unprecedented sextruple was too much for the normally mild-mannered manager. We'll be talking about this Barca side for years to come, and it is an absolute privilege to watch them play the beautiful game in their uniquely magical manner. Xavi, Messi, Puyol, Pique, Iniesta and the rest of Barcelonas starstudded squad have written their names in footballing folklore. No club has ever managed to win every single tournament they've entered in one season and it's unlikely that we'll ever see it again. All hail the almighty Barcelona.

'El Resumen' - La Liga News 23.11.09 - Pelligrini has last laugh

After weeks of speculation surrounding the future of Chilean Manuel Pelligrini as Real Madrid's manager, 'The Engineer' has had the last laugh. Real Madrid have enjoyed their best start to a league campaign for 17 years and go into 'El Clasico' one point ahead of their rivals. Not a bad way to answer your critics, but as we all know, winning isn't everything in the Bernabeu and things will certainly change if Barca hand out another 6-2 drubbing.

Pep Guardiola not fussed about going into the match-up with Real Madrid next week behind them in the league. He has more important fish to fry at the moment with the important Champions League tie against Mourinho's Inter Milan on wednesday, and it seems he will have Lionel Messi available after intial reports suggested he would miss out.

Portuguese side Benfica are interested in re-signing Atlético Madrid winger Simao, with the winger struggling to put in consistent performances in the Vicente Calderon. Meanwhile his team have marked their worst start to a season since 1953/54. Quique needs to turn things around quick-sharp.

Sevilla seem to be linked with pretty much anyone available with the January transfer window looming. Ajax midfielder Enoh Eyong and Lyon's Clerc the most recent names to come out of the press.

La Liga's very own Peter Crouch, Valencia's Nicola Zigic, is rumoured to be a target for Turkish club Fenerbache, the current home of Spain striker Dani Güiza.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is scouring the Santiago Bernabeu as he plots to solve his team's dependency on Fernando Torres. Ruud Van Nistlerooy is the man Rafa is after, and the Dutch hitman wants away from Madrid if he doesn't get starts, although a move to Liverpool wouldn't go down well with old club Manchester United. Maybe revenge for the Red Devils signing Michael Owen.

AND FINALLY:  With 'El Clasico' only days away, the handbags are already out in force. Kaká started proceedings with a shot at 'Los Cules': 'Barcelona are a team in trouble'. But 'Azulgrana' defender Gerard Piqué wasted no time in responding with 'Hows your treble going?' in reference to Madrid's cupset against Alcorcón, and followed it up with 'The only treble you'll be getting is when we stick three past you'. It promises to be an entertaining week.