La Liga
LUIS SUAREZ’S BARCELONA FAREWELL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The 33-year old Luis Suarez could not hold back tears as he said goodbye to his colleagues and fans of FC Barcelona.
Everything got emotional. Some of his colleagues were around. So also was the embattled president of FC Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu. At the end, the now former Barcelona striker faced the press in a question and answer session:
Has everything gone better than you expected at your presentation?
Arriving and fulfilling the dream of playing for Barça is a dream come true. I never imagined reaching these numbers. At Barça you have to constantly be performing at your best and I am proud to have endured so much.
Did you imagine that your exit was going to be like this; is there anyone you feel has done things untowardly?
Now I have to feel proud. There are going to be people who want to agree and those who don’t. Now what I have to do is change things up and be grateful to Barça for giving me unforgettable moments.
It’s been a crazy month which is ending with two brothers (you and Messi) separating. Who was responsible for your separation?
I agree it was a crazy month. Many things have been said. Things have been made up; things have been leaked that are not true. Sometimes you are outraged by that, but you have to try to not get involved. When you arrive at Barcelona, they said be careful with Leo, the strikers … And now it turns out that the striker is bad for Leo. We are aware that we try to do our best.
Do you think you still have something to give at Barça?
I’ve already thought that, but now that is in the past. Obviously I feel good enough to continue competing in La Liga. I’m looking forward to it, more so after the injury, which leaves me with a bittersweet taste. I leave the way I’m leaving, as a competitor – with a new dream and desire to show that I can continue competing.
How would you like to be remembered by the fans?
With the feeling that I have lived up to expectations. Surpassing players like the ones I surpassed, I never imagined it. I am happy to leave a nice mark.
How, when and with whom did the option of signing for Atlético come up?
It sounds ironic but when Barça told me that they would no longer need me, there were many calls. I felt qualified to compete for two teams like Madrid and Atlético.
Have you ever imagined playing against Barça?
No. I still haven’t digested that this is goodbye. I am looking forward because I am attracted to this new challenge. I already told someone that they know me and I also know them. It will be nice.
What do you think about the Barça attack that you leave behind now?
From what you see in training, it is like at the beginning of every year. There are many young players that contribute. I think there are more options to rotate than before. I think it will be a good year for Barça and that the youngsters will achieve important things.
Barcelona turned the Clasico into a coronation on Sunday, swatting aside Real Madrid 2-0 at a roaring Camp Nou to claim their 29th LaLiga title.
Hansi Flick’s side moved to an unassailable 91 points, 14 clear of second-placed Real with three games remaining.
The triumph capped a dominant campaign in which they lost only four league matches. Villarreal are third on 69 points.
Real arrived needing victory to keep their wafer-thin title hopes alive, but Marcus Rashford crushed those aspirations just nine minutes into the game.
Antonio Rudiger fouled Ferran Torres just outside the box, and Rashford bent a superb free kick into Thibaut Courtois’ top-left corner, giving Barcelona the early lead and sending the home crowd into raptures.
Nine minutes later, Barcelona doubled the lead. Fermin Lopez crossed into the area, and Dani Olmo produced a clever backheel that sent the ball into the path of Torres, who rifled a fierce strike into the top corner.
The win completed back-to-back league titles for Flick, who also delivered the LaLiga and Copa del Rey double in his first season last year.
Both sides were heavily depleted. Barcelona were without Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Jules Kounde from the starting lineup.
Real’s list of missing players was longer, with Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Arda Guler and Rodrygo all absent. Federico Valverde also missed out after suffering a head injury following a midweek changing-room fight with team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni, with both players fined 500,000 euros over the incident.
Kylian Mbappe did not travel because of a leg muscle injury, forcing manager Alvaro Arbeloa to start Vinicius Jr alongside academy striker Gonzalo, with Jude Bellingham and Brahim Diaz pushing forward in support.
Real threatened through Vinicius and Gonzalo before halftime, but Barcelona carried the greater menace. Courtois kept the visitors alive with fine saves from Torres and Rashford before the interval.
Barcelona continued to press after the break, Rashford repeatedly tormenting left back Fran Garcia down the right, while Courtois produced another sharp stop with his left foot to deny Torres from point-blank range in the 56th minute.
Bellingham had a goal ruled out for offside in the 62nd minute, and Joan Garcia was quick to deny Vinicius in a one-on-one, preventing the Brazilian from lifting the ball over him.
Real kept probing late on, but there was little bite in their attack, and Barcelona calmly saw out the win before the title celebrations began.
“This title is even more special because we won it at home against Real Madrid. Now it’s time to enjoy it with the fans,” Frenkie de Jong told Spanish broadcaster Movistar Plus.
“Every title has to be celebrated in style. Especially LaLiga, which is a year-long competition. We’ve clearly been the best in Spain.”
-Reuters
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Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada was sent off for punching Huesca captain Jorge Pulido in a fiery Spanish second division clash on Sunday that descended into a mass brawl, with Huesca keeper Dani Jimenez dismissed for punching Andrada.
Zaragoza’s Dani Tasende was also dismissed after a VAR review of the brawl.
With tensions simmering in a relegation scrap, Argentine Andrada lost his composure moments before the final whistle. Ignoring the run of play, he approached Pulido and struck him in the face with his right hand, sparking chaotic scenes eight minutes into stoppage time.
It was an ugly flashpoint in a match already short on finesse and heavy on nerves, and could carry serious consequences for the goalkeeper.
Huesca manager Jose Luis did not attempt to defend the scenes.
“It’s hard to explain; I think it’s a complete loss of control. I can put myself in their shoes, given what was at stake and all. But it’s unjustifiable. It’s just that I don’t know what to do or how to stop it; a brawl breaks out,” he said.
“It’s ugly; this was supposed to be a celebration of Aragonese football. I’d like people to talk about the match, even though it was ugly, with little play but a lot of hard work.”
Oscar Sielva’s goal secured a 1-0 win for Huesca, lifting them to 36 points in 19th place, while Zaragoza remain second-bottom on 35.
-Reuters
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Joan Laporta has been re-elected as Barcelona president after winning over 68 percent of the vote and will begin his second consecutive term, and fourth overall, from July 1, the club said on Sunday.
The 63-year-old took office in March 2021 and stepped down last month in line with club statutes in order to seek re-election.
Laporta described the election as a “celebration of democracy and civic responsibility” and said the tasks ahead included finishing work on the Camp Nou and strengthening the men’s team.
-Reuters
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