Full name: Futbol Club de Barcelona
Nickname: Los Cules
Established: 1899
President: Sandro Rossell
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Stadium: Camp Nou (98,772)
Titles:
(72) 21 x La Liga, 25 x Copa del Rey, 2 x Copa de la Liga, 9 x Supercopa de España, 4 x European Cup, 4 x European Cup Winners Cup, 3 x European Supercup, 3 x UEFA Cup (Fairs Cup), 1 World Club Championship
Website: www.fcbarcelona.com
Having finished his first season as manager of Barcelona, Guardiola felt obliged to say that he’d never be able to repeat the feats he had achieved, all the records that he had achieved could never be repeated, nobody should compare his future teams with the team that won 6 titles in 2009. History has proved him wrong. About to set on his 4th season at the club, Pep and his team have the opportunity to equal the best run of league titles for Barcelona in La Liga – a record held by the dream team of Johan Cruyff (which had Guardiola in central midfield). Few can argue that this is the best Barca side in the history of the club.
Pep Guardiola is an excellent motivator and he’ll have his players chomping at the bit to equal the dream team’s record, because he knows that if there’s one thing that sets Barca apart from the rest, it is their continuous hunger to win. Surely even Guardiola will be surprised at what his players have managed to achieve, not only with Barca but also the national side, how they’ve managed to maintain such a high level of competitiveness.
More alive than ever is the fierce rivalry with Real Madrid who have Jose Morinho at the helm and will surely act as an extra motivation for Guardiola’s side to succeed.
Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez have arrived as their main summer signings and will bolster their options in midfield and attack, while Thiago Alcantara will see this season as an opportunity to try to cement a place in their illustrious midfield after a sterling pre-season.
Squad
Goalkeepers:
1 Victor Valdes
13 Jose Manuel Pinto
31 Ruben Mino
36 Oier Olazabal
Defenders:
2 Daniel Alves
3 Gerard Pique
5 Carles Puyol
19 Maxwell
21 Adriano Correia
22 Eric Abidal
32 Marc Bartra
35 Martin Montoya
38 Kiko Femenia
Midfielders:
4 Cesc Fabregas
6 Xavi Hernandez
8 Andres Iniesta
11 Thiago Alcantara
14 Javier Mascherano
15 Seydou Keita
16 Sergio Busquets
20 Ibrahim Afellay
24 Andreu Fontas
28 Jonathan dos Santos
30 Sergi Roberto
34 Rafinha
Forwards:
7 David Villa
9 Alexis Sanchez
10 Lionel Messi
17 Pedro Rodriguez
27 Gerard Deulofeu
39 Isaac Cuenca
