Barca, three Champions League semis in defense problems

FC Barcelona has managed to reach the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League in the last four years: in 2008, with Frank Rijkaard, lost to Manchester United in 2009, the first year of Guardiola, Chelsea and eventually eliminated by raising La Romaine, in 2010 succumbed to Inter Milan and finally in 2011 is in a unique position to leave the ditch and planted to Real Madrid in the final at Wembley.

With the arrival of Pep Guardiola FC Barcelona bench, the club has acquired a dimension that may not be reached or the time of the Dream Team, with internationally recognized and unanimously as the team practiced the game more offensive and attractive in the world and recent decades. The six titles achieved in 2009 led some to brand him as the best team in history, but I think most agree that it lacks win, at least one more Champions to aspire to that title. And in the arduous journey to the throne European who has traveled in the last three years, has encountered a problem by always reaches semifinals suffering a plague of casualties in its defense.

In 2009 came the final leg of the season with Rafa Marquez and the injured leg of the semifinals, Stanford Bridge, were without their captain, Carles Puyol, suspended, so Guardiola decided to delay the position of Yaya Toure defensive pivot to the center of the rear, a circumstance that was forced to repeat in the finals and Champions Cup. In that game against Chelsea defensive quartet was formed by Alves, Piqué-Abidal Touré.

In that game Eric Abidal was sent off and saw a yellow Alves brought punishment so that the defense blaugrana stayed for the final table to Manchester United in Rome, unable to count on their sides or with Marquez. The rear end had to improvise Guardiola was composed on the right side Puyol, Piqué and Toure as central and Sylvinho on the left, with Caceres and Muniesa as the only spare parts. The Red Devils managed a shot at goal only twice.

A year later she lost the first leg of the semis 3-1 in the field of Inter Milan for the second leg will be reunited with problems on defense: Abidal Puyol was injured and had to meet sanction for accumulation of cautions , so that the club formed with Alves, Piqué, Milito, Touré. During the meeting, injured Argentine Maxwell taking his place, the only replacement available alongside Márquez coming from a long time to be stopped.

But this year the situation is even more complicated because the Blaugrana will have accumulated more setbacks than ever. Barca went to Madrid to play the first leg of the semifinals of this year's Champions League without any of its left side: Abidal, Maxwell and Adriano is out injured for the remainder of the season. So Puyol had to rush his recovery after injury again in the league match at the Bernabeu a fortnight ago. The captain was formed on the left side, Alves in place and Pique and Mascherano in the middle, while the only parts I had in stool were Milito and Font.

A few months ago because of the long-term low of Puyo and Abidal, coupled with the physical and football inconsistency Milito, Guardiola as he picked up Busquets central position in which he played more than half a dozen parties. But arriving at the hot spot of the season, Santpedor considered that, despite how well he was paying Mascherano as a pivot, the role it plays in the fabric tactical Busquets was too important to ignore him, so returned to Busi to your site and Mascherano as he reinvented the central position that it is complying with a vengeance.

But there were still more misfortune to be discovered just around the corner, at the meeting in Anoeta this weekend, the Barca rearguard troops lost two more: Milito injured Montoya finishing off the door and the young side of B could be an alternative on the bench for the final leg, broke his collarbone after falling ill following a ./><> Tamudo input emdSo that Guardiola will have grown the dwarfs, four of the defenses of its staff may no longer play for the remainder of the competition, Abidal, Maxwell, Adriano and Milito, so Madrid to face tomorrow in the Nou Camp only will sound three defenders: Alves, Pique and Puyol. Whereupon, the captain will have to play left back and Mascherano will do the same as central improvised. In the dock will Fontás and another youth squad which pull Guardiola. At least, has no sanction apperceived player, with the risk of missing the final if she qualifies for the Madrid can not say the same: Cristiano, Albiol, Di Maria and Adebayor are on the line.

And for the remainder of the season, wrap up the league, eliminating the Madrid and play a Champions League final hypothetical, Guardiola has what it is and nothing more, because it is expected that none of the injured will recover in time. Zubizarreta should walk up to Montserrat or put candles Joan Gamper: they are three defenders and one of them, Puyol, a player who by his mere presence inspires strength and comfort to his team is very touched by injuries this year.

Photo | Isabel60