Pep Speaks, a.k.a. “Eto’o, you gotta go!” (edit)

By: Kevin | July 20th, 2009

It’s the season! Pep Guardiola is back, and the world has blown up, thanks to his press conference. Here’s everything, so live it up! This is a cut-and-paste from the official site, and my comments will be in bold. I’ll think up some fancy piccie later but for now, off we go.

The biggest news, of course, is Eto’o, and boy did Guardiola upset the apple cart on that one, saying that he takes “full responsibility” for developments with Samuel Eto’o. He says the decision to do without the player is due to “feeling” and has nothing to do with football or behaviour issues.

“Without him we wouldn’t have done what we did last year. There are no football or personal or behaviour issues here. It’s just a feeling I have. I think there is a need for change. Maybe I’m wrong but it’s my responsibility and decision.”

Guardiola had not one bad word to say about the striker. He said Eto’o is an “exemplary” player willing to play out of position on the wing and a “marvellous” footballer. He thinks Eto’o was crucial in winning the treble and is “very grateful” for all he’s done for Barça over the last five years.

He also did not criticise his character: “There are no personal issues and I’m not here to change his character”. Doing without the player is just a “feeling I have.”

“I think there is a need for change,” said Guardiola. He didn’t specify what he meant by this, but did refer to “lots of things that bring it about.

“After winning what we’ve won and after five years, I think we need to change things which my experience as a footballer tells me we need to change.” Recall my nattering about taking a risk.

Guardiola is aware that Eto’o has the whip hand as well, saying “he’s fully entitled to accept or reject Inter’s offer, and if he stays we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

But….”It’s my responsibility. Maybe I’m wrong and maybe it won’t work out.”

Guardiola was asked if he’d thought about signing Ibrahimovic if Eto’o stays. “We’re rich, but not that rich,” he replied with a smile. “It won’t happen. You don’t want too many players in key positions and both of them are starters.”

Guardiola also had things to say on many other players, and here we go. This guy is a news smorgasbord!

Henrique: “He’s here to stay. He’ll help us a lot. He’s adapted well at Bayer Leverkusen and played a lot. I’ve heard good things about him and we’ll see how he fits into the squad.”

Cáceres: “We might put him out on loan because next season maybe he won’t have that much game time.”

Maxwell: “He’s been at the top for years. He’s played at Ajax and Inter and he’ll bring us a lot.”

Keirrison (Palmeiras player): “He’s very young and has very good stats. It’s hard scoring. The club has decided to get him but in principle that’s to send him out on loan and he’s not in my plans for this season.”

Messi: “He wants to train and it’s great for me that he’s here.” He came back a week early, ready to go. That’s the kind of message that the team leader needs to send. Awesome!

Puyol: “He’ll renew. Carles isn’t going anywhere. If he’s thinking about moving, he can forget about it I’m sure there was much laughter. He’ll play where he’s told because he’s great in all positions.”

Márquez: “He’ll renew. He’s getting over his injury, he’s come along and he’s very enthusiastic.”

Gudjohnsen: “I’ve spoken to him and for the moment he’s staying.” Because there is that hole in the midfield, if Hleb is part of this Inter deal for real and for true.

Henry: “His role depends on him. If he’s okay he’ll play a lot. He’s Henry.”

Sylvinho: “To be sure he might be angry with me. When he played he was great; in the Champions League final we saw that when everyone, Ronaldo, Rooney and Park was on his side.”

Ibrahimovic (Inter player): “He’s still an Inter player.”

Ribéry: “I reckon no way. He won’t come, firstly because Bayern won’t let him and secondly because his agent wants him to go elsewhere.”

Villa (Valencia player): “I spoke to him.”

Wow! But wait….there’s more!

“We shouldn’t go around saying how good we were last term. “We already celebrated that in April and May when we were doing it.”

“The team is a joy, and if we can we’ll do some fine tuning. I’d like to have 16 or 17 reliable players to rotate and so people can’t guess our line-ups.” Like we were doing last season.

“Touré Yaya and Seydou Keita will be away for some time (at the African Cup of Nations in January) so we’re looking at [signing another midfielder]. It’s an option. He has to be good and cheap”

“I don’t want large squads like those at Madrid or Inter.” [And if necessary] “I’ll nick some players off Luis Enrique” and rely on the Barça Atlètic squad.

Guardiola says this season won’t be like the last one, especially in terms of relations with the players.

“Now we know each other. Everyone says the same: the second year’s tougher than the first. I have to do what I can so that they have the same stimulus and humility to continue winning. I have a lot of faith in my team.”