FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid

As I have previously stated, everyday here, seems to outdo the next.  Yesterday too was incredible.  We stepped out on the pitch early in the morning to go through a "Tactical" session to better understand the presentations we had previously studied.  It is amazing the training they have provided for us.  Their willingness to show and provide their methods to us proves that FC Barcelona acknowledges us as one of their own, we are "Family" to them.  They truly have rolled out the red carpet for us.  Their coaches have been free to answer and provide explanations  with regards to Barcelona's method and style of play.  Our time on the pitch went by too quickly, as does anything you enjoy.  We couldn't believe we had finished.  

To summarize, we must maintain possession "Keep possession with a Purpose," and "Pass with a Purpose."  For our youth, it shouldn't matter if you win, but "How you win."  In other words, how did you play?  

Carlos Bueno (an Academy Coach) told us, the most important thing we should get and take home with us is, "let the kids have fun."  So many one liners were said during the week to hit home, so I have taken some time to write out those that stood out in my mind:

"Let them be kids, they will only be kids once."

"Coach to play as a team, not as individual players."

"Respect the game."

"Play fairly."

"Quality of play if more important than the final score."

"The most important thing to plan while on defense, how to attack"

"The most important thing to plan while attacking, how to defend."  

and, "The two most important things in the game are the players and the ball, no more."

(Not the Coach, Refs., Parents ...)

Awesome!

We had a private sessions with two of the Academy Coaches, for answering any and all of our questions.  Wow!!!  Great men who respected us and treated us as equals, no matter how crazy our questions were.  Carlos Bueno is well respected here in Barcelona and is a true gentleman. For one and a half hours, they spoke to us one on one.  They teach the classes for the European Licensing Program.  Cool huh?

For dinner we went with our Instructor, Juame, Zizinho and Mazinho.   We went to the hot spot for the all the stars, Casanova Beach Club.  "Umph!!!!"

I'm running late for the game.  We have two more matches for the day to observe.  Barcelona's "B" team and, FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid.

I still haven't spoken about today, hopefully, I'll have time later this evening. 

Adios, 

Coach Greg