Mighty Barca lose to Sociedad
6 Jan 2015 11:32 PM GMT
Jordi Alba’s early own goal was enough to consign Barca to defeat after coach Luis Enrique had left Lionel Messi and Neymar on the bench. Earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-half penalty looked to have Madrid on course to start the new year as they finished 2014, but Valencia roared back after the break with goals from Antonio Barragan and Nicolas Otamendi to move above Sevilla into fourth.
It is the first time since April 30, 2011 that both Madrid and Barcelona have lost on the same day and means Los Blancos retain their one point lead over the Catalans and Atletico Madrid having also played one game less than their title rivals. “We had lots of chances. We started badly with an own goal and that punished us in the end, but we didn’t deserve this result at all. It is a lost opportunity.
We have started the year badly, but we will keep going,” said Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez. Barca boss Enrique’s huge gamble to leave Messi and Neymar, amongst nearly 300 million euros of talent on the bench, took fewer than two minutes to backfire in San Sebastian as Alba stretched to reach Canales’s cross but could only turn the ball into his own net. Without their other two South American stars, Luis Suarez ploughed a lonely furrow up front.
Messi unhappy with coach
Lionel Messi has confronted the club’s board of directors and coach Luis Enrique, who he sees as a “master of the dressing room”.
The Argentine, who had the confrontation on Sunday, is reportedly irritated by the excessive authoritarianism of the coach. Messi did not attend the open training session Monday due to an upset stomach but the signs are that the relationship is not working, reports as.com.
In addition, Spanish daily El Mundo Deportivo also revealed bad vibes between the coach and Messi in the first training session of the year, where Enrique was the referee and in which the Argentine claimed a foul that the Spaniard did not award during a five-a-side game. They proceeded to have an exchange of opinions.
The situation at the club, especially after defeats, seems set to explode. Murmurs are starting to become louder that this summer could be the one Messi abandons Barcelona.
It is the first time since April 30, 2011 that both Madrid and Barcelona have lost on the same day and means Los Blancos retain their one point lead over the Catalans and Atletico Madrid having also played one game less than their title rivals. “We had lots of chances. We started badly with an own goal and that punished us in the end, but we didn’t deserve this result at all. It is a lost opportunity.
We have started the year badly, but we will keep going,” said Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez. Barca boss Enrique’s huge gamble to leave Messi and Neymar, amongst nearly 300 million euros of talent on the bench, took fewer than two minutes to backfire in San Sebastian as Alba stretched to reach Canales’s cross but could only turn the ball into his own net. Without their other two South American stars, Luis Suarez ploughed a lonely furrow up front.
Messi unhappy with coach
Lionel Messi has confronted the club’s board of directors and coach Luis Enrique, who he sees as a “master of the dressing room”.
The Argentine, who had the confrontation on Sunday, is reportedly irritated by the excessive authoritarianism of the coach. Messi did not attend the open training session Monday due to an upset stomach but the signs are that the relationship is not working, reports as.com.
In addition, Spanish daily El Mundo Deportivo also revealed bad vibes between the coach and Messi in the first training session of the year, where Enrique was the referee and in which the Argentine claimed a foul that the Spaniard did not award during a five-a-side game. They proceeded to have an exchange of opinions.
The situation at the club, especially after defeats, seems set to explode. Murmurs are starting to become louder that this summer could be the one Messi abandons Barcelona.
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