While most European football fans are concentrated on Euro 2008, FC Barcelona’s are living puzzling, changing times.
Only two years after winning the UEFA Champion’s League, Ronaldinho’s magic, Etoo’s fierce rage and Deco’s tactical witness have all disintegrated in a highly disappointing, hideous season. Neither beautiful moves by Tierry Henry, who is close to his career’s end, nor an intermittent Leo Messi, handicapped by his muscular fragility, were enough to wake up this depressing team.
Under the pressure of a vote of no confidence (as unlike most European clubs, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are the property of their members, who periodically vote to elect their presidents), Joan Laporta’s board of directors intends now to quickly rebuild the team.
Ronaldinho, Etoo, Deco, Thuram and Márquez will surely leave FC Barcelona after Frank Rijkaard’s goodbye. The Dutch coach wasn’t capable of administering the daily life of a star-crowded team.
What about their substitutes? So far, FC Barcelona has strengthened its defence with players such as Keita, Cáceres and Pique and Daniel Alves (who plays as a right back from the good old days). Besides, Josep Guardiola, highly acclaimed among FC Barcelona’s fans, has been trusted to coach the team. What no-one knows yet is who will substitute Ronaldinho and Etoo it the forward line. Benzema, Trezeguet and Hleb are only some of the candidates.
Everything is welcomed to give hope to the fans that have seen how archrival Real Madid has won the last two Spanish championships.
Translation: Martí Purull Photo: Arnau(Bcn) (Flickr.com)
A lovely building stands at a corner in the heart of the Gracia neighbourhood. To go in you have to mind your head and walk towards an oddly small entrance next to the solid wood garage door. The footsteps echo in this big bare hall where the noises sound differently, like in a church. The awe-inspiring aspect of the room contrasts with its rundown conditions. The stone steps are covered with cardboards and the pale light doesn’t dare to shine in. In this flat, the leprous walls chip away and spread their sick crust all over the floor. These deteriorated coloured bits, full of delicately traced cracks, make up abstract paintings of subtle nuances. On the starry floor, a broken tile swings and plunges into a rustling. The decay caused by the footsteps brings out the deep wood grains and the broken pieces of glass of the glazed windows let the damp and the light in.
After long months of drought, Catalonia has eventually received the nature’s godsend of rain. However, it was a fleeting visit and insufficient to quench the thirst of over 7 million people. Several weeks of constant rains would be necessary to reach last year’s level of water in the reservoirs.
'Lonely Karen Drifter'' is an alternative folk typical singer. She composes pure and beautiful music only with a guitar and a nice voice, but especially with a lot of feeling. The other day I was listening to an interview with her on the radio. One of the things that drew my attention about the interview, even more than her music (though it is so lovely), was that the singer talked about how her music has been influenced by her life, especially the places where she has lived in: Goteborg and Barcelona.
About a week ago, on 23rd April to be precise, a great event was held in the streets of Barcelona. It was indeed Sant Jordi’s Day, the patron saint of Barcelona, though you must admit that it does not represent such a colourful festivity. According to the legend Sant Jordi had to kill a dragon to save his beloved princess’s life and a rose sprouted out from the dragon’s blood. On account of this story it is this special day, which makes us think of a sort of Valentine’s Day brought forward in time, that men give a rose to their wives, mothers, girl friends or just to their female acquaintances. In return women give a book to men, since the 23rd April is the anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes’ death as well, the famous writer of Don Quixote and therefore one of the greatest figures in the Spanish literature.
Around a year ago the passers-by in carrer de la Justícia in Rubí (a town in the Barcelona metropolitan area) were alarmed every time they walked past the Municipal Theatre. But why? From the outside they could see men armed to the teeth wearing balaclavas and walking round the theatre. Not until they called the police did they find out that all was part of the new play of La Fura dels Baus, one of the most innovative and controversial theatre companies in Europe.
In a European framework that legitimizes and reinforces State as a unique political player with the ability to participate in the Union, regions with nationalist claims seek to clarify their political future by satisfying their aspirations (sovereignty or greater autonomy) and becoming fully integrated in the supranational structure.
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