Audi Cup 2011 Champs!

There are the serious wars like the Champions League knockout stages and there are those friendlies. The big matches might take away all the news but the 'smaller' ones are the ones which you need to look out for, as these showcases the matches of the future, because these are the matches when today's youngsters are given a major role to play. It is in these matches that the boys make their bones and become the 'men' of the future! And so it was. Barcelona, playing without most of the stars, gave out the opportunity to the number of youngsters in the club, the products of the very prestigious 'La Masia', the youth academy of FCB in the 2011 edition of the Audi Cup.
The first match for Barca was bumpy. True. But then the final against the hosts, Munich was again a smooth and arty affair! Goals by Thiago were not exactly as the style of typical Barca football, carefully passed to the net, but these looked even better! These goals were the artistic ones, to swivel in the air and embrace the net of the opponent. With most of the stars absent, Barcelona was not the clear favorites, but that is how the boys do it! Pinto on the gloves looked classy and proved valuable too!
In the end, with the new 'Qatar Foundation' shirts on, this was a good start to what has to be another great year to come.

More than a cause

Barca is up for all the social causes. The club is about bringing in a change in the world, not just brilliant football. With each of the deeds such as the recent one, I agree more and more to FC Barcelona's motto, "More than a club"!
Barça launched another message of its social commitment yesterday in Washington D.C. with the agreement with The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to end the scourge of polio. The US philanthropist praised the Club's commitment at an event where he was accompanied by Club President Sandro Rosell and first team coach Josep Guardiola.
Bill Gates, who is now dedicating his time completely to his foundation, praised Barça's implication in social work: "they don't just win out on the field, they also have their values off the pitch and those are values which we share" The Microsoft co-founder also called Guardiola "a genius" and had words of support for the Club's commitment to its youth system and the Club's singularity: "a foundation at a football club is really something out of the ordinary".
Pep Guardiola echoed the President's feelings about the power of the game, claiming: "we know that many millions of children throughout the world look to us and we have a great responsibility. When I see what is happening in places like Somalia, it makes me happy that I am at a club which promotes the values that ours does", Andres Iniesta and Eric Abidal also attended the event which was widely covered by the US media.

Campions

That's what "Champions" are called in Spanish!! It was a night which did not produce a tragedy or an upset, it merely gave the truth and the deserving a credential. It just strengthened the belief, the institution. That was the night of UEFA Champions League Final 2010-2011. One of the most famous stadiums of Europe, the Wembley, London, seemed to be a fitting venue, the rich heritage it carries and also considering the finalist from England. It was as good as an away match for the Blaugranas, going into the island monarchy, where football originated and proving to the world how it should be played!
The pages of history will be the witness of the glory Barcelona has brought, not only to themselves, but to football as well!