Guillem Balague - Sky Sports Expert

The crying game

Guillem Balague on the latest developments in La Liga

Posted: 09th May 2008 12:36

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Roberto Ayala

Roberto Ayala: tearful

Henry wouldn't go back to Arsenal and I don't think he will go back to the Premier League. The plan is to stay at Barcelona, but I know from a good source that the club want to sell him.

Guillem Balague
Quotes of the week

ZARAGOZA v REAL MADRID
Sunday, 8pm, Sky Sports 3

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It was wonderful to see Roberto Ayala of Zaragoza crying after he scored in the 93rd minute against Deportivo.

I haven't seen that sort of emotion for a long time after a league victory, especially one that doesn't guarantee them anything.

He was talking about it later and said it was a very emotional time because of the tension, but also because there have been doubts about the commitment of the team.

Those tears shouldn't hide the fact that for three-quarters of the season the big players haven't performed and Zaragoza and have not been at the level they should be at.

There have been little groups fighting amongst each other in the changing room, three changes of coach and now the big players have to come out.

I think in that game, Zaragoza had 30 shots on goal - a record for the season - and that suggests that finally the team has turned a corner and realised they have to work hard and show effort and commitment.

They've done so in a wonderful manner because they can only play good football - they don't know how to play any other way, a bit like Arsenal.

The plan is to beat Real Madrid, but the champions are playing automatically - they just don't think about things and they have loads of little associations in the team that work and link really well.

Despite the fact they've been celebrating for a week now, they have enough power in their legs to beat anybody.

I think Real Madrid will go for the win here and they will be strong defensively with Iker Casillas, the best goalkeeper in La Liga.

I expect a cracker.

Guillem answers your questions...

Got a question for Guillem? Then send it in here.

PASTURES NOU FOR HENRY?
Hi Guillem, Many fans of Arsenal want to know what the chances are of Henry coming back to the Gunners? We all know that he loves this club, but is it is the only team in England who he will go to? Do you think that there is more of a chance he will go to Italy or somewhere else in La Liga? What's the latest news on who is interested, who's more of a strong prospect to signing him? Shaun, Brighton

GUILLEM REPLIES: Thierry Henry is having a difficult time in Barcelona, but I find it unfair that he would blame his poor performances on missing his daughter, playing in different positions etc. I think he should be big enough to accept that when there is no space in front of him he's in trouble and he should re-adapt to his new situation. He wouldn't go back to Arsenal and I don't think he will go back to the Premier League. The plan is to stay at Barcelona, but I know from a good source that the club want to sell him. He will probably stay because if he doesn't want to go, he won't, but it has reached a stage where Barcelona want to get rid of the big names - including Henry.

It's a shame but we're seeing clearly why Henry was seen as such a great player in England. It's because Arsenal play counter-attacking football, played for Henry and left space in front of him so that he could destroy defences - as he did for a long while. That's not happening at Barcelona and he'll either have to re-adapt or reconsider his situation and move on.

SUBMARINES TO SINK?
Hola Guillem, I am a regular viewer of Revista and have followed Villarreall's rise to their current lofty heights for the past few years now, however I was wondering whether they truly have the financial muscle to take the next step-up and win La Liga? I think I heard the town had a population of forty thousand (?) and was wondering whether they will become the next Deportivo La Coruna and have an almighty fall from grace? I follow Juande Ramos' Spurs - you must be sick of hearing from fellow Tottenham fans by now - and was wondering whether you see Ramos sticking with us for a number of years? I have noticed he doesn't seem to stay with a club very long - although in this day and age who does? Darryl.

GUILLEM REPLIES: For Juande Ramos, this is probably the biggest challenge of his career and I don't think he's going to stay for just a couple of years. He plans to be there for a long while, but it also depends on the ambition of the club. They seem to be matching his ambition, despite some doubts early on, and I think he'll finish his contract. This is probably his last big team and after that, who knows? He may realise he's been at the top and it's time to retire.

As for Villarreal they don't have enough financial muscle to win the league. The position they're in now is the best they could ever hope for, but they would like to be regulars in the Champions League and I feel they have the ideas and the consistency to do so - both on and off the pitch. They're doing it very cleverly and without going into too many details, they will not be the new Deportivo. They won't fall from grace because they're not going beyond their means. In fact, they are growing as a club from the bottom up in a way that will guarantee a long stay at the top.

HARD TO SAY GOOD BUY
Hey Guillem Balague, I enjoy reading your articles every week. My issue concerns Real Madrid, and how the club is run. It seemed like when the new presidency was elected two years ago, that Calderon had very clear objectives, some which also are completed. But I still feel like the buying policy has no real goal, and that we are just buying players for the sake of it. The best example is Drenthe, who is a boy with great potential, but we already had Robinho and we went out and bought Robben as well. My question to you is if you think Mijatovic is the right person to run the sporting section of Real Madrid. Ivan Moses of Denmark.

GUILLEM REPLIES: I had doubts about Mijatovic, some of the choices seemed odd, but to be honest a huge percentage of his signings have been good ones. I disagree with you because I feel there is a foundation of a team for the future. They've signed 17 players in the last two years - some were good and some were not so good - but they now have a young side and in the middle of that transition they have won the league twice. They only need two or three players of quality - a striker, a central midfielder and if they can they will go for Kaka or Cesc Fabregas if he feels it is time to leave Arsenal.

In the first year especially when Mijatovic had to rush into things it looked like a very unbalanced side and this year he has still got things wrong. For example, not enough good midfielders - they all seem to be too creative and not defensive enough - but they know what is needed and they will have to sort that out now. Sometimes you go for players without knowing if they'll be successful - as in the case of Drenthe - but all in all you can say Mijatovic has done a decent six-out-of-ten job. He's also done really well with selling players - if you look at the list of people he has sold nobody has succeeded in a big way - Raul Bravo, Roberto Carlos, David Beckham, Ronaldo - you can say they haven't improved their careers. So I would say well done to him.

Got a question for Guillem? Then send it in here.

Comments

David Lomer (Liverpool fan) says...

I agree with the last comment. Henry had proved himself for many years on various stages and against various teams, including Real Madrid and then Barcelona. If you were to watch any of Barcelona's matches you would see several occasions where Barca players would spend 5mins at a time passing the ball around in squares as opposed to passing the ball to him with only a single player and space in front of him. On other occasions Messi would get the ball, dribble the entire opposition and then 10% of the time score, 20% get fouled and the remaining 70% lose the ball via last ditch interception from the one person he didn't dribble, or shoot the ball out. Ironically in their last match against Real, the one time Messi passed the ball quickly to Henry, result 2 touches one goal..... All i can say is if Barca doesnt want him i am sure there are enough Arsenal fans who would. Having watched a couple of their matches this season, i'd point out the 4 one on one first half chances against Man U would have had different outcomes, as well as the numerous other occasions that Adebayor and the other strikers wasted and they would probably be the team celebrating today...... Enough said.

Posted 00:30 12th May 2008

A Barca fan (Blackpool fan) says...

In response to the last comment: Henry is trying to fill a desperate spot left by Ronaldhino, I can understand why Barca are playing him on the left because he, apart from Messi is the only one with the pace that can come near Ronaldhino.. I think Eto is on the famous hit list of 10 that are leaving Camp Nou this summer and Guardiola will them shift Henry up front, solo where Eto plays now. Henry will then be the player he is famous for and will show his true potential.

Posted 23:47 11th May 2008

Nafaz Ahmed (Arsenal fan) says...

If Raul does not make the Spain squad for Euro 2008 i think and hope Luis Aragnes will be sacked. The reason being, i don't think Spain will win the Euro anyway, and he will have added pressure from dropping Raul. Its a fact that Raul has had an amazing season, you could argue he is Real Madrid's best player this season, he's revitalised at the age of 30!! Surely, Luis Aragones can't deny the King of Spain his Reign and Glory for much longer? It's an abomination, its treason, its Wrong !! HALA RAUL!!!

Posted 13:01 11th May 2008

David Daisley (Celtic fan) says...

I have to laugh when I hear Henry isn't doing well for Barca. I'll tell you why. I think he is an amazing player but I detest the man's arrogance. No sooner had he scored an absolutley amazing goal against Celtic at parkhead, for which I took my hat off to him did he ruin it all by giving the "shh, be quiet!" gesture towards the Celtic fans. Why not just celebrate with your teammates and own fans? So for every Celtic fan in the ground that night would just like to give him the gesture back. Pride and arrogance come before a fall, maybe he should get some hard work in and stop being an ego maniac, use the talents he has, inject some humility into his life then maybe he can stop sucking so hard at Barca. Celtic fans are laughing at you now Thierry.

Posted 12:44 11th May 2008

Sunil Parmar (Arsenal fan) says...

Why did Barcelona buy TH14?.......One thinks they did because of what he did at Arsenal but as "Thapelo" said above they play him in a position where he is not accustomed to playing in. Great players can adapt of course so correct me if I am wrong but Barcelona have scored 97 goals(all comps) and TH14 has contributed to 26 goals(17 goals + 9 Assists) which is not bad considering all the different factors; position, personal, injuries and what's generally being happening to FC Barcelona recently. Was it a bad time for TH14 to join Barcelona? Only time will eventually tell. We all want to see the best of TH14 because is in full flight he really is one of the best players in the world. Being a life long Gooner I want the best for TH14 whether it be at Barcelona or another club. I hope TH14 shines at Euro 2008 and shows once again what he is capable of.

Posted 19:16 10th May 2008

Thapelo Kgoadi (Manchester United fan) says...

I really think its a pity for such a great player like Thiery Henry to be disrespected the way he is at Barcelona. They are treated him like a low grade player. For them to play him in a positoned were he is not suited and then expect him to perform miracles is ridiculous, why no play him were he is suited then make your judgement from there. Barcelona knew about Thiery before they bought him and I really think they ruining a lengendary player who in my opinion deserves more respect than he is getting. Anyway if he does leave it will interesting to see were he goes, I hope Barca give him another chance though. The other thing is I think even though Real Madrid deserve to win the championship there was no real contender, Barca had numerous oportunities to put pressure on Madrid but they failed to do so, I honestly think La Liga, a league I really love, was average this year, the champions were not that impressive, once again reliying on the heroics of Cassilas to save them on numerous occassions, the competitors failed to flatter overall an average season as compared to England, Italy and France were the league tittle is being contended for until the last week.

Posted 16:51 9th May 2008

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