Francesc "Tito" Vilanova

[hellsangel1]

I must say the team doesn't look to press like hell to recover a ball like they used to the last couple of years. Now it is 1 or 2 players putting pressure on the ball... Or am I wrong in noticing this?

You are not the only one to notice this. For me , Iniesta last season at times looked a little fatigued and Xavi at times showed his age. Xavi's off the ball movement is incredibly slow compared to a few years ago. Just go and watch the games from a few seasons ago and the difference between Xavi's speed and movement is remarkable.Messi doesn't press as often as he used to as well.

The thing with the pressing style is that it only works when everyone buys into it and does their job. There is no use trying to half-ass it as it will not work. We're definitely not pressing as much or as as effectively as we used to and that;s mainly due to fatigue I feel (playing that style after a few years really wears the players down I feel and nobody has played as many matches over the last 4 seasons than the Barca players)

That;s also why it will be interesting to see how Madrid cope phsyically with this high-pressing style which they incorporated into their game last season. It will be interesting to see how things turn out for them especially once they get a few injuries and aren't able to rotate players. Their work-rate last season was off the charts but a few players already look a little fatigued or lacking in intensity at the moment (it could be that they are defending champions and that has maybe taken a little bit of edge off their game).

 

[Corb]

Tito & Sandro:

 

[Barcaman]

Hats off for Tito and Roura for the confident diplay at Getafe

 

[Poor_Sunyol]

Definitley an improvement. Now lets see some consistency.

 

[mitkoa7x]

Happy birthday Tito, hope you achieve Guardila status in a few years :beer2:

 

[Meitux]

Happy birthday titooooooo

 

[XaviMessiGirl]

 

[Poor_Sunyol]

Happy B-Day Mister.

 

[BarcaGirl]

Happy Birthday

 

[mixer]

Happy Birthday, boss!

 

[Corb]

Happy Birthday, Pito!

 

[Flavia]

He's giving a press conference right now:

@FCBarcelona
Tito: "It's too early to start thinking about the final at Wembley"

Tito: "Emery has always made it difficult for us, he's always been brave. I don't know if he'll be brave with Spartak"

Tito: "We'll see how Jordi Alba and Alexis are doing when they come in for training today." [in reference to their injuries]

Tito: "With Puyol out [4 to 6 weeks] it's clear that Mascherano and Piqué can't always play." (I hope Bartra gets some minutes, and not Song as cb)

Tito: "I don't think the players are euphoric [in reference to La Liga], they're accustomed to winning four games in a row."


@barcastuff
Vilanova: "It's very early to start thinking about Wembley. We should first start the group stage in a good way. You have to start well."

Vilanova: "Eight-point lead on Madrid in the Liga? The Champions League is a different competition, we're focused on that now."

Vilanova: "Villa could start against Spartak tomorrow? David has been doing great in the minutes he has played so far."

Vilanova: "We'll see how Alba and Alexis are doing today. If Alexis can train well, he'll be available for tomorrow."

Vilanova: "Thiago has grown a lot the last years, works harder, is more decisive going forward, but he'll still make a lot of progress."

Vilanova: "We'll wait for Abidal as long as needed. In his situation, nobody would have the strength to try to come back."

Vilanova: "To repeat what this team has done over the past 4 years is maybe not impossible, but it's very difficult."

Vilanova: "Barça and Real Madrid are two teams to take into account, but it's too early to talk about favourites. Other teams got stronger."

 

[numero]

BOSS

 

[Corb]

 

[Barcaman]

If they were looking to overdo Mou, they should have added him horns too.