Why Barca bosses said no to Jose Revealed: Secrets of mystery meeting

JOSE MOURINHO would be Barcelona boss — but for his arrogance, aggression and failure to listen.

The Special One was snubbed after an interview in 2008 as Barca went for rookie Pep Guardiola.

And SunSport can reveal for the first time WHY he is tonight leading Real Madrid and not their deadly rivals towards a Spanish Cup final.

A sensational new book, 'Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World', tells how Mourinho almost landed the job after dazzling executives in a secret meeting.

It could have changed the outlook of European football.

But with former Barca vice-president Marc Ingla and technical director Txiki Begiristain ready to hand over a contract — Mourinho blew his chance.

Ingla said: "By January 2008 we had amazing pressure from his agent to see him.

"He was saying, 'Jose knows the club, he's prepared, he understands the style'. He was pitching relentlessly.

"Txiki and I chose Lisbon for a secret meeting.

We had already approached Pep, who was half a season into his first coaching job at Barca B, to see if he was interested. But it was vital to test him against Mourinho."

Chelsea sacked Mourinho in September 2007 but Ingla and Begiristain were wowed by his brilliant pitch.

He also worked at the Nou Camp as an interpreter under Bobby Robson in the 1990s.

But Ingla added: "In considering him we were also dealing with the Mourinho brand.

"I said to him, 'Jose, the problem we have is you push the media too much. There is too much aggression.

"I added, 'the coach is the image of the club, you cannot start fires everywhere, this is against our style'.

"Mourinho answered, 'I know, that is my style. I won't change'. He was renowned to be No 1 but wouldn't listen."

Vice-president Ferran Soriano described the mood as Ingla and Begiristain returned from Portugal. He said: "They spent three hours with him, both said he wasn't our guy. 

"Marc said Mourinho spoke 90 per cent of the time and didn't listen. He said, 'I just don't like him'."

The locals wanted Mourinho — but Barca went to talk to former player Guardiola.

Ingla added: "At the end of our chat Pep said, 'Why don't you hire Mourinho? It'd be easier for you'.

"I replied, 'No, there are some criteria which that guy doesn't fit and one is attitude. He is totally unsuitable for us'."

Mourinho went on to win the Champions League with Inter Milan — beating Barca in the semi-final.

But the long game is very much with Barcelona.

Since Mourinho joined Real in 2010, there have been 66 bookings and nine red cards in nine spiteful El Clasicos.

The bitterness returns today as Madrid defend their Spanish Cup — won against Barca last April — when they go to the Camp Nou 2-1 down from their quarter-final first leg.

But Barca have won 13 out of 16 trophies since they appointed Guardiola and lost only one of nine meetings with Mourinho's Madrid. Mourinho held a tense news conference yesterday with speculation rife that he will leave Madrid in the summer.

source: www.thesun.co.uk 

Milan vs Barcelona 2-3 Highlights

Highlights of exciting game between AC Milan vs Barcelona 2-3  for UEFA Champion League round 1







Milan vs Barcelona 0-1 ( Mark van Bommel own goal Milan 14′)
AC Milan vs Barcelona 1-1 ( Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal vs Barca 20′)
Milan vs Barca 1-2 ( Messi penalty goal vs Milan 31′)
AC Milan vs Barcelona 2-2 ( Kevin Prince Boateng goal vs Barcelona 54′)
Milan vs Barcelona 2-3 ( Xavi goal vs Milan 63′)

Video Highlight of Barcelona vs Real Madrid: 1-1

1-1 Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Video Highlight of UEFA Champion Semi Final

15 best-paying teams in the world

Barcelona and Real Madrid top an ESPN list of the world's highest-paying sporting teams, with three other football clubs featuring in the top ten.

A global salary survey published in ESPN The Magazine, which was conducted by Sporting Intelligence, revealed which clubs or franchises paid the most on a per-player basis in their most recently completed seasons, with the two Spanish giants coming in first and second ahead of last year's top payers, the New York Yankees.

Rank	Team	League	Average Annual Salary Per Player	Average Weekly Salary Per Player
1	Barcelona	La Liga	$7,910,737	$152,130
2	Real Madrid	La Liga	$7,356,632	$141,474
3	New York Yankees	MLB	$6,756,301	$129,929
4	Los Angeles Lakers	NBA	$6,540,690	$125,782
5	Orlando Magic	NBA	$6,367,114	$122,445
6	Chelsea	EPL	$6,020,741	$115,783
7	Inter Milan	Serie A	$5,999,643	$115,378
8	Boston Red Sox	MLB	$5,991,203	$115,215
9	Denver Nuggets	NBA	$5,990,174	$115,196
10	Manchester City	EPL	$5,863,585	$112,761
11	Utah Jazz	NBA	$5,829,643	$112,109
12	Bayern Munich	Bundesliga	$5,780,358	$111,161
13	Philadelphia Phillies	MLB	$5,765,879	$110,882
14	AC Milan	Serie A	$5,647,633	$108,608
15	Boston Celtics	NBA	$5,236,922	$100,710

The sports and leagues: Aussie rules football (AFL), baseball (MLB, NPB), basketball (NBA), cricket (IPL), football (CFL, NFL), soccer (Bundesliga, EPL, La Liga, MLS, Serie A, SPL).

The countries: Australia, Canada, England, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Scotland, Spain, USA.

source: ESPN, www.soccernet.com

What Matches Do You Want To See In The Champions League Quarter-Finals?

8 Teams in the Champions League Quarter-Finals
Barcelona (Spain)
Real Madrid (Spain)
Manchester United (England)
Tottenham Hotspurs (England)
Chelsea (England)
Schalke 04 (Germany)
Inter Milan (Italy)
Shakhtar (Ukraine)


Our LIVE! coverage of the draw will begin at 11:30 CET, and we will have all the news, views and reactions you need. Our experts will breakdown each of the four quarter-final ties.

England fearing Barcelona but confident of dominating final four

Amar Singh, UK deputy editor, says: "This could be a vintage year for England, with three teams vying for Wembley. As long as the dreaded Barcelona or all-English tie are avoided, all three could make the semis.

"Manchester United are really starting to click up front with Rooney and Hernandez, Chelsea march onwards despite failing to dazzle but have the Carlo Ancelotti factor, and Tottenham's fearlessness and record in the previous rounds means they can't be underestimated."

pain wishing for Clasico final: 'We have the two best teams'

"A Clasico in the Champions League final - that's the dream of everyone in Spain, from fans to media, from players to managers," says Spanish chief editor Sergio Aguilera.

"Real Madrid overcame their Round of 16 curse in style by thrashing Lyon, and Barcelona's victory over Arsenal was nothing short of sensational. Clearly, both teams are real candidates to reach the final. I'd say that both squads must be treated as serious rivals, and between them they are the teams everyone will want to avoid when the big draw comes this Friday."

Italy surprised to remain, but maintaining champion spirit

Sergio Chesi, Italian editor at Goal.com, says: "It's a bit of a surprise for we Italians that we're even in the draw. After the first leg we were certain that all of our teams would go out, but Inter went on to show all of Europe exactly why they are reigning champions.

Germany desperate for easy Schalke draw after Bayern failure
"Of course, they want to avoid Barcelona. Despite having goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, otherwise Schalke are too weak defensively to deal with the favourites. Chelsea and United are also a danger, so fans generally want to see Shakhtar, the other 'underdog' remaining. Real Madrid and Inter would be difficult but special: Mesut Ozil would face the club that chased him away, while fans haven't forgotten the UEFA Cup showdown with the Nerazzurri in 1997... although a repeat of that would be too much to ask."



Ukraine warn big guns to watch out for rampant Shakhtar

"Shakhtar are on a mission: they look to be en route to beat hated rivals Dynamo Kiev domestically but they are yet to match their Champions League feats," notes Michael Yokhin, Goal.com's Eastern Europe expert.


source: Goal.com 

Goal.com’s KS Leong looks at whether Barca’s Three Musketeers are worthy to be crowned the best players of 2010.

Ballon D'or Award

It was announced on Monday that Barcelona trio Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Xavi have been nominated as the top three candidates for the FIFA Ballon d’Or, as voted by coaches and captains of national teams and a panel of global journalists.

Although this is the first year that FIFA’s World Player of the Award award has merged with France Football’s Ballon d’Or, it is the third time that three players from the same club will finish as the best three footballers of the year after the great Milan side of the late 80’s completely dominated proceedings in the 1988 and 1989 editions of the Ballon d’Or.

But as always, there will be debates and contentious arguments regarding the finalists. Many believe that Inter and Netherlands playmaker Wesley Sneijder should have been in the top three at the very least, and even perhaps a worthy winner.

Diego Forlan single-handedly carried Atletico Madrid to Europa League glory last season, and he did likewise with Uruguay in South Africa 2010, leading his country to a respectable fourth-place finish at the World Cup with some spectacular goals.

Then there’s Iker Casillas and Julio Cesar, two goalkeepers who performed miracles for club and country throughout 2010. But should any of those four, or any of the others for that matter, in the initial 23-man shortlist who deserve to be in the final three more than Iniesta, Messi and Xavi?

Iniesta’s inclusion will perhaps draw the most mixed reception. The attacking midfielder spent the first half of 2010 nursing a niggling injury and as a result, his performances were below his usual high standards. But the extra rests that he picked up along the way turned out to be a blessing in disguise as he has become the only star player who featured in the final of the World Cup to carry his form into the new league season.

Lionel Messi failed to carry Argentina far into the World Cup, but his form for Barcelona has been simply sublime in the whole of the calendar year: 54 goals in 47 club games in 2010 up until the final three shortlist was announced, including six hat-tricks. If the Ballon d’Or is part recognition and reward for consistency, then Little Leo deserves to retain the gong he won last year.

Since finishing second in the 2008 edition, Messi’s level has not dropped one bit. If anything, he has been steadily improving, not just in his goal ratio, but his all-round performance. And that doesn’t include the mesmerizing exhibitions and masterclasses that he puts on every time he steps onto the pitch.

There is hardly a more consistent player in world football at the moment. But if there is a challenger, then it has to be Xavi.

The midfield maestro is a real critics’ and players’ favorite. Not always as dazzling on eye as Messi and Iniesta, he is a footballer that you have to truly analyze and dig up some numbers to appreciate and admire his craft.

He didn’t score at the World Cup, he doesn’t bag hat-tricks, he doesn’t dribble past walls of defenders every week. He is a player who consistently strings close to 100 passes together match after match, he covers well over 10 kilometers per game, and his vision and passing range is incomparable.

The Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year accolades have always stirred up debates amongst fans in the past. Don’t expect it to be any different this year now that the awards have merged.

If you’re still craving more Spanish omelet, the top three coaches who are vying for the managerial equivalent of the award are all currently in Spanish football: World Cup winner Vicente del Bosque, Barca’s master conductor Pep Guardiola, and Inter’s treble winner and now property of Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho.

(source: by KS Leong, www.goal.com)

Barcelona VS Stuttgart (4:0) Highlight UEFA Champion League

Lionel Messi staged another masterclass to power holders Barcelona into the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the expense of Stuttgart.

Barcelona 4 - Stuttgart 0
- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Real Madrid coach Pellegrini to axe Higuain for Benzema at Barcelona

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini is ready to make a shock selection for the El Clasico against Barcelona.

AS says Pellegrini will drop Raul and Gonzalo Higuain to the bench and select Karim Benzema to lead the attack at the Nou Camp. Higuain scored the winner in the Champions League win over FC Zurich, while Benzema failed to take the field on the night.

Benzema has scored four goals in 13 games, while Higuain has seven from the same amount.

Even more concerning is the statistic that shows Benzema averages a goal every 244 minutes this season, while Higuain is averaging one every 112 minutes.

source: www.tribalfootball.com

Barca to make decision on Ibrahimovic and Messi

Barcelona will decide on Tuesday whether to risk Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi in their Champions League clash with Inter Milan at the Nou Camp.

Ibrahimovic and Messi have struggled to recover from thigh injuries in time for the penultimate Group F game, which Barca need to win after taking just one point from their two games against Russian side Rubin Kazan. The champions are third behind Inter and Rubin Kazan and a defeat would put them out if Rubin beat Dynamo Kiev.

"We won't know until tomorrow," Barca coach Pep Guardiola said. "We are doing all we can for them to be available. The medics haven't told me one way or the other.

"Whoever plays, we are all in it together, and I don't know why we can't win without them. But you always notice it when you are without your best. We have two games left and we need four points. Every team has a chance, but it is in our own hands."

Ibrahimovic trained with the rest of the squad on Monday evening, while Messi worked apart, but Guardiola also has to worry about the visit of new La Liga leaders Real Madrid for their top-of-the-table clash on Sunday.

Inter striker Samuel Eto'o's return to Camp Nou has been another talking point in the build up to the visit of the Serie A leaders. The Cameroon striker spent five years at Barca, helping them win two European Cups before leaving in the swap deal that brought Sweden's Ibrahimovic in as his replacement.

"He (Eto'o) will get the reception he deserves, and he deserves a good one," Guardiola said. "The fans understand the player was not responsible for his exit. His coach was."

Inter manager Jose Mourinho, who had already said he was convinced Ibrahimovic would feature, played down the significance of the doubts over the fitness of Argentine Messi.

"I'm not worried about whether Messi will play or not," he said. "It doesn't change my plans. The world of football hopes to see Barca continue in the Champions League. They are the best team in Europe and they don't appear to be scared of us, but neither are we of them."

Who is Leonel Messi?

Who is Leo Messi? Where does he come from and why is he famous? Let know about him more.

Full name: Luis Lionel Andrés Messi
Birth day: June 24, 1987
Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina
Nationality: Argentinian
Other nationality: Spanish
EU passport: Yes
Height: 169 cm
Weight: 67 kg
Club: FC Barcelona
Position: Forward

Born in the Santa Fe province of Argentina in a family where soccer was king, Lionel Messi started kicking the ball at an early age and when he was just 5 years old, he joined the training sessions of the club his father was coaching at that time, Grandoli.

Although he was close to his father at Grandoli, they both knew this club would not be one to offer the young boy a future as a soccer player, so his father decided to take him to one of the most prestigious youth academies in Argentina, that of Newell's Old Boys. This happened in 1995, when Leonel Messi was just 8 years old.

Three years later, Messi was already showing promise and he was considered a huge future talent, but unfortunately he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency that could be treated, but its cost would be around $700 per month and the Messi family simply did not have that kind of money.

River plate wanted to pay for Messi's treatment, but they couldn't afford it either, with the Argentinean economy collapsing. Fortunately for the young player, FC Barcelona learned of his problem and decided to help out and put the life of Leonel Messi back on its rightful track. Messi soon signed with Barcelona's youth team and moved to Spain for his treatment.

Despite his small frame, he managed an impressive 35 goals in 30 matches and in 2004 he made his official debut for the senior squad of the Catalan team, in a local derby against Espanyol Barcelona. He was 17 years and 3 months old on his debut. He didn't play in a lot of other games in that season, but in May 2005, he managed to score his first official goal, against Albacete, becoming the youngest player to ever score a game for Barcelona in a league game.

From that moment, he was almost indispensable in Barca's first squad and although several thigh injuries kept him away from the pitch, he came back in force in the 2006-2007 season. Probably his most memorable match and the one that truly made him the big star that he is today was the El Clasico duel on March 10th 2007, where Barcelona met arch-rivals Real Madrid on Nou Camp.

Lionel Messi became the latest teen superstar of Argentine soccer in 2005. That year he was named the player of the tournament at under-20 World Cup; played his first game for the Argentine national team (against Hungary on 17 August); and scored his first goal (on 1 May) with the professional team FC Barcelona. That year Messi also turned 18. He was soon being compared to an earlier Argentine soccer hero, Diego Maradona. Like Maradona, Messi is an attacking, goal-scoring forward; Barcelona's official site calls him "highly creative." Messi was a member of Argentina's 2006 World Cup team.