Just Barcelona News

There is certainly no love lost between FC Barcelona and Jose Mourinho, and there never has been. After getting away with all sorts of terrible behaviour in his first two seasons, the people at Real Madrid and the Spanish media have also woken up to his antics and he is now set to leave under a cloud in the summer.

His reputation as the `special one`, which he started himself, has taken a serious knock during his time at the Bernabeu. At the same time, he has caused significant damage to the reputation of Real Madrid and Spanish football in general. So much so that Carlos Vilarrubi, the vice-president of Barcelona, felt the need to comment.   .....Read more here.......

It is clear from this season that Barcelona have some work to do strengthening the squad. The defensive side, especially, is in need of an overhaul, with Puyol now 34-years old and Abidal set to retire or move into coaching. There are young defenders like Bartra, while Alex Song and Adriano can play in central defence if necessary, but one or two top class defenders are needed to strengthen the spine of the team and avoid any repeat of the Champions League debacle against Bayern Munich.   .....Read more here.......

There were stories in the Spanish press today suggesting that Tito Vilanova may be about to resign as the manager of FC Barcelona. There has been nothing said by the club of the man himself about this, but it is the interpretation of events and Tito’s manner at the Nou Camp last night that have caused the stories.

After Barcelona beat Valladolid on a rain drenched night in Catalunya, they were presented with their 22nd La Liga trophy, which Vilanova and Abidal were handed by the club captain Carles Puyol to raise aloft. Puyol gave a little speech saying that the health of those two was more important than the trophy and Vilanova then said the line that has caused a stir of conjecture.   .....Read more here.......

It has been a long, hard season for FC Barcelona, with injuries hitting the squad hard throughout. La Liga is wrapped up and, although there is a chance to equal the 100 points record set by Real Madrid last season, Tito Vilanova is not too concerned with the result against Valladolid tonight.

The Camp Nou will be a place of celebration and Vilanova has hinted that he will rest a few of the players who are tired and give games to some of the second string whose chances have been limited. Valdes is expected to return in goal and Mascherano has recovered from injury and could play, but there may be starting places for the likes of Bartra, Montoya, Thiago and others.   .....Read more here.......

Apart from the true stalwarts at Barcelona, every player will have a little concern over his future at the Nou Camp. The media are full of stories about the team being rebuilt and there are rumours of mass transfers in and out of the club.

One of the big names mentioned as coming into Barca is the Brazilian striker Neymar, so that means the other strikers, except Messi of course, may feel a little vulnerable. With just five league goals all season, the Spanish international Pedro must know that he could be one of the players at risk, but he insists that he is determined to fight for his place. His game time in La Liga has been limited to just 20 starts, because there are Alexis and Tello to consider as well.   .....Read more here.......

Gerard Deulofeu will be putting pen to paper today on a new Barcelona contract that will keep him at the club until 2017. Eric Abidal is hoping for an extension to the his current contract which runs out this summer, while Victor Valdes still seems to be determined not to sign a new deal despite being offered one by officials at Barca.   .....Read more here.......

It is maybe just as well that Barcelona have already secured the Spanish title, because we have seen the team struggle at times without the magic of Lionel Messi, and the number 10 of Barca and Argentina may have suffered a relapse of his recent hamstring problems against Atletico Madrid last night.

The 25-year old goal machine will be hoping that he recovers in time for the next three games, because he is just four goals short of the record he set last season in La Liga of 50 goals. It was Messi himself who decided to come off and it was not spotted straight away, because Vilanova had already used his three substitutes.   .....Read more here.......

The party started on the streets of Barcelona and all over Catalunya last night, with isolated pockets of celebration all over Spain and around the world. FC Barcelona were confirmed as winners of La Liga and the Spanish title holders for the fourth time in five years after Real Madrid could only manage a draw at Espanyol.

The troubles between the Real Madrid players and Jose Mourinho continued yesterday, with Cristiano Ronaldo being left on the bench after directing some abuse at Mourinho after scoring in midweek. He did come on in the second half as Madrid were struggling to get any control of the game. They should have been a lot more than one behind, but Espanyol missed a number of chances and an awful decision by the officials ruled out a perfectly good second.   .....Read more here.......