Random: Pep Stars In A New Book, Recovery Training & A New Record For Vic?

- Barca coach Pep Guardiola stars in a new book entitled "Paraula Pep", or "The World of Pep". The book is the result of the success of a television program by TV3 under the same name, which was broadcasted in the week before Barca's CL victory in Roma. Editor Ernest Floch was quick to take the initiative to commision the book, which records the phrases that have been considered outstanding in the path of Guardiola on the bench of FC Barcelona, and that define his philosophy.

- Following Barcelona's goalless draw with Inter Milan, Samuel Eto'o admitted that he felt strange playing against his old team. After the game, Samu also paid a visit to the Barca dressing room to greet his old teammates, and ended up leaving there with a bagful of Barca shirts.

- Yesterday morning, hours after the draw on San Siro, Barca was back on the pitch for training, with just two days to prepare for the next match. Bojan and Milito didn't train at all due to their injuries; Valdes, Pique, Ibrahimovic and Yaya had to spend the session doing recovery work in the gym; while Xavi, Puyol, Alves, Keita, Henry, Messi and Abidal worked seperately with fitness coaches. The rest of the team trained normally, along with B-teamers Edu Oriol, Espasandin, Oier, Ilie and Rueda.

Pique's form for the game against Athletico Madrid is doubtful, and he and Puyol might be rested, with Chygrynskiy and Marquez taking to the pitch in their stead.

- Victor Valdes is seventeen minutes away from a new personal record for consecutive minutes without conceding a goal. He's kept a clean sheet for the past five matches, and now, during Barca's upcoming Liga clash with Athletico Madrid, he could break his past record of 542 minutes for a new personal best.

- Brazilian football legend Pele believes that Leo Messi should be named FIFA's world player of the year for 2009, saying: "After giving it to Ronaldinho, Kaka and Ronaldo, now it's the turn of Messi." What is that supposed to mean? That Messi should only have it now since those others have already won it? The FIFA award isn't a thing of turns, regardless who had it before him, Leo deserves that award for all his achievements during the past year.