Messi: Pedro deserves Super Cup winner

 

Lionel Messi says Barcelona team-mate Pedro merits his Uefa Super Cup winning goal against Sevilla for the contribution he has made to the Catalan outfit over the years.

The winger pounced on a rebound of a Messi free kick and slotted home deep into extra-time to make it 5-4 to Barca just hours after the club's technical secretary Robert Fernandez had said that the player wants to leave.

Pedro, though, has insisted he does not want to depart and Messi admits he does not know what lies in store for the 28-year-old. Nevertheless, he was happy to see the Spain international fire in the winning goal against Sevilla.

“He deserved it for everything he has given and continues to give to the club," he told reporters. "I don’t know what will happen with him - it’s a decision he has to take - but whatever he does, he deserves it."

Messi was not, however, content with the performance of his side as a whole. Having led 4-1, they were pegged back and required an additional 30 minutes to seal the first major honour of the season.

"We started very well and we took a significant lead but then we relaxed and a game that we had practically won became more difficult. We did everything to see the game out but we relaxed and ended up suffering in a game that we had all-but won," he said.

"The important thing was to win the Super Cup and to start the season well. Now we have another important title to go for against Athletic [in the Spanish Super Cup]."

Pedro: I don't want to leave Barcelona - but my situation is difficult

 

The 28-year-old, who came off the bench to score a late winner in Tuesday's Uefa Super Cup, says his discontent springs from a desire to play more regularly

Pedro has denied claims that he has asked to leave Barcelona but admits he remains in a "difficult situation".

The 28-year-old was omitted from the Catalan giants' starting XI for Tuesday's Uefa Super Cup clash with Sevilla in Tbilisi, with the club's technical secretary Robert Fernandez telling TV3 that the winger had asked to leave the club.

Despite coming off the bench to score a dramatic extra-time winner in a 5-4 Barca win, Pedro appeared reluctant to join the rest of Luis Enrique's squad in the trophy celebrations, fuelling speculation that he is set to complete a long-awaited move to Manchester United to fill the void left by Angel di Maria.

But when questioned on his situation after the match, Pedro rebuked Fernandez for commenting publicly and insisted that his feelings are more complicated than simply wanting to leave Camp Nou.

"I am not completely happy in the situation. Robert Fernandez said something he doesn't know. I spoke with the captains, the president, the coach... just a few seconds with him. I don't understand why he said I asked to leave using these words, he doesn't know how I feel in this team.

"I will always be a Barcelona supporter, no matter what finally happens.

"When there are rumours that I can leave it is not an easy situation for me. I have always tried to give my best to the club. I am ambitious and I want to play as much as possible.

"I was angry when I knew I had to stay on the bench, having had a chance with Neymar's illness.

"I don't want to leave Barcelona but it is a complicated situation. It is not a money question, but a continuity question. I want to play. Luis Enrique preferred other players and I have been waiting a lot of time."

When questioned about omitting Pedro from his starting XI after the match, Luis Enrique replied: "Pedro couldn't train two days ago for a muscular pain and we already know his situation.

"I chose what I thought was best and I would make the same decision again."

'Van Gaal is DESTROYING Manchester United'

   

Hristo Stoichkov has urged Barcelona winger Pedro against linking up with the "bad person" he says nearly ruined the Catalan club

Hristo Stoichkov has blasted Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal in an attempt to convince Pedro to remain at Barcelona, claiming that the "mediocre" Dutch coach is now "destroying" the Premier League club in the same way he "destroyed" the Catalan outfit.

The Spain international is poised to move to Old Trafford in search of more regular game time, with his first-team opportunities at Camp Nou having been restricted last season by the sensational form of the Blaugrana's front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Pedro is expected to link up with Van Gaal in Manchester after the Supercopa de Espana, with Neymar's contraction of the mumps leading to Barcelona asking the 28-year-old to delay his £22.3 million transfer in order to provide cover the double header with Athletic Bilbao.

However, Bulgarian icon Stoichkov, a five-time La Liga winner and European Cup champion with Barca who fell out out with Van Gaal in 1998, says that Pedro need only look at the way in which former Blaugrana goalkeeper Victor Valdes has been ostracised at Old Trafford to understand how perilous playing under the Dutchman can be.



"I would never be under the orders of Van Gaal," the 49-year-old told Spanish radio Onda Cero. "He's mediocre.

"He destroyed Barca and is destroying Manchester United.

"With what he has done to [Victor] Valdes he has shown he is a bad person. Hopefully Pedro listens to me and doesn't leave."

This is not the first time Stoichkov has taken aim at Van Gaal as he blames the ex-Barca boss for his Camp Nou exit 17 years ago, branding his former boss as "scum" in an interview with French newspaper L'Equipe in March.

"I have no respect for him," Stoichkov added.

"One day, when I was injured, I was with my wife at Camp Nou and Van Gaal went up to her.

"He asked her how it was possible that she married someone like me. She responded that I was a Ballon d'Or winner.

"My departure in 1998 was the fault of Van Gaal, for sure."

Odemwingie out with hamstring injury

 

The Nigerian, who came on for the last ten minutes as his side lost 1-0 to Liverpool last weekend, could be out for up to a month according to his manage

Peter Odemwingie will miss Stoke City's clash away to Tottenham Hotspurs at White Hart Lane on Saturday after sustaining a hamstring injury in training, manager Mark Hughes revealed in his pre-match press conference.

The Nigerian, who came on for the last ten minutes as his side lost 1-0 to Liverpool last weekend, could be out for up to a month according to his manager.

“Unfortunately Peter has got a hamstring strain and is likely to miss the next couple of weeks,” Hughes said.

“It’s disappointing for him because he has worked tremendously hard throughout pre-season.”

Meanwhile, Hughes is hoping to have winger Marko Arnautovic and defender Marc Wilson available for selection against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The duo was absent from the squad in last Sunday’s curtain-raiser at the Britannia Stadium after suffering injury setbacks in the build-up to the fixture with Liverpool.

 

Michael Babatunde joins Dnipro

 

The Super Eagles midfielder has signed a deal with last season's Europa League finalists after quitting Volyn at the end of his contract

Nigeria midfielder Michael Babatunde has signed a three-year deal with last season’s Europa League finalists Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk after canceling his contract with Volyn.

The 22-year-old, who has spent five years in Ukraine, will wear the jersey No.9.

Babatunde who turned down top teams that failed to meet his valuation disclosed that the conversation he had with manager Bohgdanovych Markevych swung the decision for him.

“There were discussions with nearly all the top clubs,” Babatunde said.

“I have played against Dnipro in the past and he has wanted me ever since but the teams I played for (Krybass and Volyn) never wanted me to go,”

“Teams from France, Spain and Germany but none of them were ready to meet my valuation and in the end Dnipro came out on top.

“I spoke to Markevych and he totally convinced me. He gave me the feeling that I was very important for him. Not only as a player but also as a person – and then it was clear that I would sign for Dnipro.”

Babatunde, who is expected to make his official debut for the club in the Ukrainian League against Shaktar Donetsk, also admitted that the prospect of featuring in the Europa League was another reason he joined.