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Tag: 2011-2012 season

  • Guardiola Era Ends in Barcelona; Tito Vilanova Will be the Next Head Coach

    Pep Guardiola dispersed the clouds of insecurity and doubt regarding his future with Barcelona, announcing he will not extend his contract once the 2011-2012 season is over. Tito Vilanova, who has been Guardiola’s assistant over the past four years, will replace him as Barca’s head coach.

  • Atletico vs Bilbao – The ‘Other’ Spanish Final

    Athletic Bilbao made the UEFA Cup final only once, 35 years ago, when Basque football was close to its glory days. Atletico Madrid, despite the little sister routine, have two European titles, winning the Europa League only two years ago. The two teams battling for European qualification in the La Liga as well will face each other on May 9 in Bucharest.

  • The Barcelona – Guardiola Rumor Mill

    If you choose to believe the recent rumors, Pep Guardiola will not be the Barcelona head coach next season. He’ll officially announce his plans during a Friday press conference, and the recent results (losses in the Clasico and Champions League Semi Final) have gotten people to come to a conclusion that Guardiola won’t be returning to the Camp Nou next season.

  • Aftermath of the Real Madrid – Bayern Munich Semi Final

    Cristiano Ronaldo was the hero for 14 minutes. The best player in the world again. But Bayern Munich were the better team through the 90 minutes, deserving more than just one goal for how they cancelled Real Madrid at home in their second leg. Justice? A Penalty shootout isn’t exactly justice. Ronaldo, only human, failed like Messi.

  • Aftermath of the Barcelona – Chelsea Semi Final

    Lionel Messi was the tragic figure on the Camp Nou pitch, while Fernando Torres was the heroic figure, maybe even redeemed. A sense of an end engulfed the stadium once again, with Guardiola’s future filled with question marks, while Chelsea and Di Matteo have problems of their own to deal with once the celebrations are over.

  • Fernando Torres as the Winner, Lionel Messi as the Loser (Barcelona vs Chelsea)

    Lionel Messi couldn’t score against Chelsea and Petr Cech once again. Barcelona got stung by a team that did nothing but defend and strike back exactly twice, exactly enough. Fernando Torres saw Barca colors, and remembered how to score. An incredible night, incredible Semi Final. Somehow, against all odds, Chelsea drew 2-2 at the Camp Nou and are back in the Champions League Final with a 3-2 aggregate score.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo Never Had a Big Game Problem

    How important was it for Cristiano Ronaldo to score that winning goal for Real Madrid in the Clasico? To finally slay the Barcelona beast at the Camp Nou? It’s not like the Portougese star needed any more confidence boosts. He’s had enough of them throughout his career.

  • Robin Van Persie Wins Football Writers’ Player of the Year Award Too

    Robin Van Persie completed the Player of the year award double, getting the Football Writers’ recognition two days after bestowed the some honor by the PFA. He is the second player in three years (Wayne Rooney in 2010) to complete the award double.

  • Barcelona – Chelsea and the Must Win Match Factor

    Barcelona host Chelsea in the second leg of their Champions League with Lionel Messi and crew heading into the game in a unfamiliar situation, after losing two straight vital matches, including the Clasico against Real Madrid at home.

  • Genoa Ultras Stop Match; Demand Players to Take Off Their Shirts

    Genoa fans showed us once again the close and often problematic relations between Ultras groups in Italy and the clubs they support. During their humiliating 1-4 home defeat against Siena, which crucially hurts their relegation battle chances, play was halted midway through the second half as the fans demanded the players take off their shirts.