Barca Buzz: Pep's Plan for the New Year

As 2008 comes to an end, Barcelona remain at the top of the Liga with a comfortable lead over all their contenders. However, with the new year comes a busy schedule for the club: over the next few months the team will be playing an average of two matches a week, as competition resumes for the Champions League and Copa del Rey as well as the Liga. But our always devoted Pep never rests: ever wary of the coming challenges, he’s developed a surefire tactical plan for 2009. Apart from outlining just how Barca will be running this coming year, the arrangements also reveal a lot of hidden sides of Pep’s character.
Firstly, Pep is truly an empathetic and caring individual. He doesn’t want a single member of the squad to feel left out (that includes you, Caceras dear) and plans to give everyone their share of game-time via intensified rotations. This means that we’ll be seeing lesser of such players as Messi, Eto'o, and Dani (awww…) but more of the likes of Bojan, Sanchez and Pedro (yaaay!). This method will continue until March, by which time Pep will have developed a set XI in time for Champions League finals.
Secondly, Pep is considerate of female fans like us. He knows that the gents will return from holidays a tad overweight, and will focus on burning off the extra calories directly when training resumes after the break. That will stretch over a few days, the most vital of which will be December 30th (players are all due back on the 29th), when the players will have a double training session with much physicality in order to regain strength and endurance. Once that is achieved, the trainings will then come to involve less physicality than before, to avoid extra strain considering the tight match schedule, as well as to maintain the players’ physical form, something that will hopefully keep them off the injured list.
Thirdly, Pep knows that form is not enough and that the boys must also keep a winning mentality. That’s why he’s planning a lot of heart-to-heart talks with the players to build concentration and mental strength, and keep them focused on the team’s priorities. Also, he’ll be leaving his office door open to any player who wants to come in and have a little chat.
Pep never rests. While his players are off on vacation, here he is setting plans for the team, attending charity matches, and studying the competition (he’s booked tickets to see Arsenal-Aston Villa in the EPL, as he believe the gunners are a dangerous UCL contender). They should create a most devoted coach ever award just for him.