Wondering how to watch the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid? The Barcelona and Spain legend has the perfect answer for this.
Former Chelsea FC striker Didier Drogba has said in an interview that Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, and FC Barcelona’s Carles Puyol were the toughest opponents he faced in a glittering career in which the Ivory Coast forward terrorized defenses. Drogba, 37, recently was released by Chelsea FC after his second spell with the club for which he has now won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, and the Champions League. In a glittering career in which he tormented defenses, when asked which opponents had provided his most enjoyable and toughest challenges, Drogba was quoted saying in an interview to Rio Ferdinand: “I’ve always said you and Vidic.” “People say I scored a few goals against Manchester United. I would say when I was scoring against Manchester United I was really, really happy because I didn’t score much. For me to score against you guys means that I had a good game.” Drogba also went […]
Former FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed he will run in next month’s presidential election, when he will be one of favourites to take the top job at the Spanish and European champions alongside Josep Maria Bartomeu. Laporta, who famously appointed Pep Guardiola as his manager in 2008, joins Josep Maria Bartomeu, Toni Freixa, Agustí Benedito, Jordi Majó and Jordi Farré as candidates for the election. Bartomeu resigned as president recently to declare his candidacy in the election which was called a year earlier with fans voicing their concerns on the way the club was being run following the departure of sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta. The former FC Barcelona and Spain goalkeeper paid the price for a FIFA ban on signings for two windows over a breach of rules on the transfer of foreign Under-18 players. Bartomeu stepped up from vice-presidency to take over from Sandro Rosell who had stepped down following accusation of tax frauds over the Neymar deal. Laporta had won 4 league titles […]
FC Barcelona have lost Carles Puyol, but they may have the perfect replacement in the form of Javier Mascherano.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned FC Barcelona for breaking international transfer and registrations rules for players under the age of 18. While Barcelona will likely appeal the decision, the potential transfer ban could significantly hinder Barcelona’s ability to combat with the loss of key players, the aging key players and a squad imbalance between defense and attack.
According to latest reports, Barcelona are preparing a summer move for Chelsea defender David Luiz to replace the hole created by club legend Carles Puyol’s imminent departure from the Camp Nou in the summer. Barcelona hope to conclude a deal swiftly before the World Cup finals kick off in June, with a bid of €30 million (£24.7 million) expected for Luiz, who is an important figure in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Brazil squad. Last summer, Barcelona had a formal bid for Luiz rejected by Chelsea, with manager Jose Mourinho adamant that the defender was not for sale. However, a lot has changed since then, and Mourinho has seemingly prepared for life without the 26 year old. Mourinho has signed French central defender Kurt Zouma from Saint-Etienne for £12.5m and holding midfielder Nemanja Matic from Benfica for £21m in January, and he he may consider selling Luiz even though Luiz is not agitating for a move. Chelsea rejected Barcelona’s advances last summer, insisting that they […]
Carles Puyol has held a press conference where he has said that he would leave Barcelona at the end of the season
Earth may not have a man of steel, but she surely has the man of granite - Carles Puyol. TheHardTackle takes the privilege to pay tribute to one of the best defenders of the era.
Under the likes of Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola, Barcelona reached great heights of success during the last decade. THT's guest author from Portugal Manuel Traquate attempts to rank the ten best players for the Catalans in last ten years.
It is quite natural for the offensive players to hog the lime-light. However, trophies are won on the basis of a great defence. Here’s a little homage to the top five Barcelona defenders in the last decade.
