You do not know how proud I am of Mexican Rafa Marquez who has come to be counted on by the Camp Nou faithful and see his return from an absence from the line-up as a positive. A man who provides an air of stability to the Mexican back-line internationally and stands out a head above his paisanos around him, I am proud to say I saw him play phenomenally at Atlas in 1999 on one of the most entertaining sides Mexican league football has ever seen.

Alongsides Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o, Gio van Bronckhorst, Deco, etc., how does the common Barca supporter see him? I catch matches on Gol TV to see his progress and he continues to impress me, and it is good to see a Mexican triumph in the not-always friendly pitches of Spanish football.

Do the Barcelona faithful see him as a commodity, or just a good player of a stock that is easy to replenish? I'm interested to know as I am not so well-versed in Spanish football and would like to begin to expand my knowledge of the scene in Spain.

I'm no expert Ramon, but Rafa is easily one of my favorite players. He really has come into his own this season, at first glance I thought that he wasn't Barca material but he really has proved his worth this year. He is a great player with a wicked shot, funny thing is that I think that he has performed better this year in the DM position. He has what it takes to be one of the best in that position, but CB is apparently his position of choice.

He's also a hit with the ladies... everytime my girlfriend and her friend watch the game with me they ask "ooh who is that? He looks like Benicio del Toro but better." According to them he's the most attractive guy in a Barca shirt, Larsson comes in second.

i thought maybe ronnie would have been first....?

Great player ,always found he was an excellent player since seing him play at monaco.

I also think he is an awesome player. Adds stability to our team. He is versatile, has great passing, tackles, and works his ass off all the time. I hope to see him in our starting lineup next year, either in CB or CM/DM. If van Bommel comes then I want Marquez as CB. If he doesn't, then I want to see him as CM and Edmilson or a new player in CB.

Early in the year they had Marquez at CB with Puyol and Edmilson or Motta at DM and it was working well. I think that would be great. I do like how well Marquez does in the air on our corners... so DM is nice as he can get up the field a bit more. For me though, we need to take him back to CB unless we get a VERY good one to play with Puyol back there.

Back on topic, I love Marquez, one of my favorite players in La Liga. I'd like to see him at Barca for 5-6 years. He is only 24 or 25 if I'm not mistaken. He could become a real rock for us at the CB or DM position to build around.

El Qaizer, he's become one my fav players. This season (especially the second part of it), he's easily been one of the top 3 most important players in our squad. His successful adaptation into the DM spot has been a blessing. We'd be pretty lost if he didn't display that level of play as a DM. I quite like him at the CB spot but he's done just as well playing in midfield. Next year I think we can experiment between him and Edmilson at CB/DM.

Last year I wasn't too impressed though. I thought signing him might've been a mistake. It took him a while to adapt, and when he went down injured Oleguer was playin' well so Rafa never got his starting spot back. I remember people saying, "Rafa's signing just goes to show you that you can't get a quality CB for 6 million dollars". That pricetag looks like mere pennies right now though, and I'm glad that he's finally proving all his true worth. I'll be delighted if he stayed with us for years to come; he is still only 25.

Rafa, he is essential in our defence along with
Puyol.
Everyone saw how the Betis game fell apart without that duo.

In my opinion, he is one of the best players to ever come out of mexico.

Márquez Criticised Barcelona Doctors
Barcelona stalwart Rafael Márquez has hit out at the club's medical services, stating that they have long since failed in their duty of care to the players...

A series of injuries has hampered the Mexican international's progress over the past couple of seasons, not least this time around. Indeed, he's managed just twelve starts and nine substitute appearances in the Liga so far.

As a result of this, Márquez has now laid at least some of the blame for his problems at the door of the club's medical staff.

Speaking to Catalunya Ràdio, he looked back on the bruising that engulfed his foot after his side's win over Celtic in the Champions League.

"It was a painful issue because it's my right foot - my work tool," he said.

""It gave me much pain. I wasn't able to do anything except wait, and the doctors did not explain it well, which is one of the problems that we've had at the club for a long time."

More Support

Ronaldinho, he feels, has been similarly afflicted, although the fans have rounded on the Brazilian far faster than they have Rafael.

"Players are gods one day then the next day they are the worst," he rued.

"I believe that Ronaldinho does not deserve to be treated as he is."

As for his personal life, the 29-year-old has been criticised for spending too much time in Madrid, where his partner lives.

"My personal circumstances are mine alone and I have no reason to tell anyone my reasons," he said.

"In my life, I do what I want. I answer only to the club. In training I give 100% and that's what matters. Beyond that, I can do what I want."

This was part of a broader theme about a "lack of support" and "unfair treatment" given to the current squad.

"I believe we have made history in our time. True, we are not happy with the last two seasons, but people have forgotten that we won a European title," he noted.

There's still scope for another one as Manchester United loom large in the Champions League.

"They are strong offensively, and are favourites," he said.

"If we keep the ball and play a compact game in defence and attack, we can win.

"To not concede at Camp Nou is key, but we'd also love to take an advantage to England."

the record of our medical staff and the training regimen has come into question, in my mind atleast, quite a few times in the past couple years...sure injuries are going to happen, but the level at which we have been sustaining chronic, niggling tears and pulls has become ridiculous. to quote "more than a club, more like a hospital". this is one area that I would hope a new manager would clean house with right away, and I'm glad one of the players has come forward with his complaints.

free kick champion in Houston,USA

he won 1 mln $ i read


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feFbkKI20Y4...e-free-kick.php



http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?...;name=chang_jen

i had forgot to watch it .. but now i watched it .. and congrats to him .
henry,ronnie,xavi,marquez,messi,d.alves,yaya

all these can score from free kick's

Márquez feels sense of responsibility


Barça centre back Rafael Márquez is starting become one of the veterans in the team and this year claims to feel the “responsibility for being one of the pillars of the team”.

Márquez appeared committed and focused in today's press conference, and hopes this year he doesn't suffer any of the injury problems that have made the last two seasons so difficult.

“I feel a special commitment”
The 29 year old Mexican defender is about to start his sixth season with FC Barcelona and feels like one of the veterans. “I feel I have a special commitment to living up to the expectations being made of me” he told the press.

After two injury-plagued seasons, Márquez wants to perform at his best and play as much football as possible. “We are working with the fitness trainers to prevent possible injuries. After these two seasons I feel I have a major responsibility to fulfil and I have to make the most of this stage of my life” he commented.

Demanding but trusting trainer
Rafa Márquez admitted that this summer, as is normal when there is a change of coach, he was unsure as to whether Guardiola would have plans for him or not. But the new manager quickly made it clear that Marquez was needed and the Mexican was “`proud and happy that he had such good references about me”.

As for the new coach and his methods, Márquez said: “From the day he was named, we have all seen what character he has and he has shown that to us. He makes the maximum demands for thing to work out well”.

Marquez speaks on...

His possible transfer "My priority was always to remain here, it's true that things came out in the press, but nothing formal that came from a director of coach. Whenever a coach comes there is some uncertainty until you really know what he wants from you, though. But Pep just talked to me before the holidays, so I remained calm. I don't like to think too much of the future.

I like to live day by day, trying to do my best at all times, and if good things come later and I get to continue here then I'll do so, but we'll see. All I can say is that I'm comfortable with the club, who have always treated me pretty well, and I look forward to continuing here for a long time.

The difference between Guardiola and Rijkaard "Between him and Frank Rijkaard, everyone has their own way of working, all coaches are different and have their own rules. But talking about their differences leads to putting one ahead of the other, and I don't believe in that. With Frank we won a lot, and when everything was going well nobody talked about how he needed to manage his squad."

Squad competition and the title race "Squad competition? We have young players with a lot of quality - they need to learn many things still, but they come here with a great deal of enthusiasm and desire, which can only be good for us. And as for the title race, Atlético Madrid have been reinforced greatly; Sevilla perhaps not quite as much, but they remain strong; Real Madrid are always there; and Valencia are beginning a new cycle."

Márquez: "Vital for us to win"

QUOTE

Valdés misses training:
Víctor Valdés was the only first team member missing from the FC Barcelona squad that trained on Wednesday morning. The keeper has a slight illness and was allowed to sit out the warm down session. The next training will take place on Friday at 10.30am.

Rafael Márquez admitted that he was pleased to have scored against Sporting Clube on Tuesday, but admitted that the team winning was the most important for him.

The Mexican international headed home the Blaugrana's first goal in the 3-1 win against the Portuguese visitors. "Right now, it was vital for us to win," he told reporters after training on Wednesday morning. "We needed three points and to play well. It does not matter how we played as much as the fact that we won. Sporting only broke through our defence on two occasions and overall I thought we did well at the back."

Winning ambition

Barça's second official win of the new campaign could be crucial, Márquez believes: "We put pressure on ourselves and we are conscious that a win was our only aim," he said. "At the moment we are not concerned with how many fans come along and watch because we know that when we are at our best everyone will want to come and see the team again."

Set pieces

Reflecting on his goal against Sporting, the defender continued: "We practiced that move on Tuesday morning. Now we work on the details more and not just have a set number of moves for free-kicks and corners, there are more variations, above all going forward. But I know that we need to improve more at set pieces when we are defeating."

Equal opportunities

Pep Guardiola's team selection process was put to Márquez and he thinks that everyone has a chance of playing. "The job of the coach is to value everyone equally and he shows that day-by-day, as much in training as in the dressing room. We all feel important and feel that we have a chance. Everyone has a great relationship whether they be players or coaching staff."

Creating chances

Márquez then stated that he believes that Barça have been harshly criticised. "I think it is strong, especially if you compare the amount of chance we are creating in comparison to the number of chances that teams create against us. This can create distrust. If we create 20 chances and have trouble scoring then everyone suffers. Against Sporting we began to change the situation that came about after the games in Krakow and Soria and against Racing."

I heard Rafa was great in Medellin.

This is what I like to hear. I hated thinking that set pieces were off the cuff everybody-in-the-area trying to get on the end of something moves. I suppose it was never in doubt, but confirmation that Guardiola is focusing training sessions on set pieces and gaining goals from them rather than winning them but never using them to any grand effect. I mentioned in another post that Barcelona as a side, have looked much more dangerous on corners than previously where a headed goal was a dime a dozen.


I heard that somebody told him to give Al Pacino his accent from Scarface back.

New mentality, new motivation



Rafa Márquez has explained that “in a new period, with a new coach and a new mentality” there is now a “new motivation”, both individually and for the whole team. The Mexican stated that “it’s important to keep up the level we have achieved so far."

The Mexican defender affirmed the he was going through a good moment “in a new period, with a new coach and a new mentality”, and that there is now a “new motivation”. “Things have gone well so far”, he added.

League leaders

Márquez explained that the team has gone through “ a change of mentality” at the start of the new period”. For Márquez, the key to success has been “wanting to be on top”. “It’s not that we didn’t want to win last season”, but he believes that “there’s a new sense of ambition in the changing room”.

Keeping up the good run

The Blaugrana defender believes that now Barça are league leaders it is essential “to keep up the current standard, and carry on with the present good run”.
“Difficult but not impossible”

Márquez said the Guardiola’s message to the players is to be prudent, take it game by game, without looking too much at the long-term: “There’s a lot of competition, but we have to keep up with our style of play. Our sights are only set on the next match. At the moment, this is working, and this is what the coach wants. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible”.

A complete coach

Márquez has described coach Pep Guardiola as “complete, ambitious, a motivator with a winning mentality”. The Mexican believes that the Barça coach has what it takes for success: “With his experience as a player and the team he has behind him, it’s more than enough to be team leader”.

Although I really like Marquez this season, I'd still be up for selling/trading him to buy another different player. He isn't getting any younger and we can get quite a lot of money for him. Your thoughts?

No, he works well with Puyol. Pique isn't ready for the big time just yet, and Milito isn't as good, in my opinion. Pique will give him options to rest though, as he will need rest on occasion.

Agreed, I think Rafa is much better than Gabi. If one should be sold, I'd go for Gabi tbh.

Marquez on Eto'o being a destabilizing element

"He hasn't changed. Samuel is still the same person. We all know his character and his way of being. He's ambitious and he always wants to be the first. He puts his heart and soul in everyting he does. He is still here because he's a quality player."

Marquez on PepG's Philosophy of working

"Not as much as people are saying. But it's true that he is much more demanding when we have to work. He's firmer. Since he has been part of such an important club, this has made him focus more on some things. Regarding aspects like the discipline and the mentality, you can see that."

Full Interview

Just wanted to say that Marquez is briliant lately.

If one day they create a DVD for beginners in the art of defending, they should include his tackle against Higuain during the first half as one of the major lessons.

Calm, cold-blooded and solid - he looks better than ever to me.

Marquez has been to his brilliant best this season, he is the most in form defender in the world imo. Welcome back Rafa!

He very quietly, IMHO, had a great game...Loved the way he dealt with Raul's BS and loved his long balls...Very strong, again, yesterday

Marquez totally impressed me yesterday and throughout the season so far, i really wonder the effect pep made on Marquez , fro being a subpar player who was to be sold to be as our best defender along with puyol .



Amen to that

And if I recall, Pep came out relatively early to secure Rafa's place on the squad which, frankly, I felt was in doubt after how he has looked the last couple of seasons...Love being wrong about that

Don't worry , Pep made each of us being wrong about anythings

Him and Ferdinand are the classiest defenders atm. Great game yesterday, his sliding tackles were imense. Loved his aggression.

2 pages, thats insulting. He deserves another 50 pages easssy

Three now.

And here's the moment to say that Marquez hit 200 games for Barca yesterday:




200 games in six seasons

2003/04: 31
2004/05: 41
2005/06: 37
2006/07: 37
2007/08: 36
2008/09: 18

Great career so far for this man here at Barcelona. When he first arrived I didn't rate him very highly but he has proven himself this season, especially after it seemed he regressed a bit last season. Once Milito gets back we are going to have plenty of depth in the backline.

Marquez played well. Him and Puyi make a great partnersihp.

Maybe too much considering the fact that Henrique will come back from loan.

Not really. Consider that by next season Márquez will have joined Puyol in the 30s club. Also consider that players need substantial time to gain form back from long term injuries, as will happen with Milito, while also keeping in mind that Milito is also in his late 20s. Another factor to take into account is that, despite the depth in the centre of the defense, there is not a lot of cover for the fullbacks, especially for Alves, so Puyol and Cáceres must use their versatility to be an option for all defensive positions. Considering that, it's not all that much. Yes, there is Victor Sánchez who can play in defense, but I would really rather him specialize in one position.
All in all, with Márquez, Puyol and Milito becoming the senior members of the squad, I applaud the staff's great vision in bringing in youth to this part of the team, with Piqué, Cáceres and Henrique. The transfer of power will probably happen over a span of 2 or 3 seasons.

But yes, Márquez is totally bad ass. His tackle on Higuaín was... how do I put this... I need poetry to describe how I felt that instant.

Rafa missed training today as he is dealing with a hamstring 'injury'...Racing to be fit for Villarreal apparently

Marquez uncertain for Villareal game





Márquez has done some pool training today and the availabiliuty of the Mexican player for the league game against Villareal on Sunday will depend on the development of the injury over the coming days.

FCbarca transfers Blog

Apparently he trained just fine today, so I think he'll be alright.

Yeah I just read that ,, good news

Marquez wants to renew until 2012



Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona central defender and Mexican international Rafael Márquez (29) wants to stay with Barcelona until 2012.

At that moment, the player plans to retire at the highest level before maybe playing a last season with his former Mexican club Atlas de Guadalajara.

The current contract of the player expires in the summer of 2010, which means that Márquez would like to close a deal with Barcelona on a two-year extension. The defender has therefore given instructions to his agent to start talking with Barcelona.

Márquez' agent Enrique Nieto was in Barcelona over the last days but didn't met with the club since Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain is still in Japan. The negotiations on the contract renewal are now scheduled to start in January when Nieto will meet with Begiristain and Barcelona general director of football Raül Sanllehí.

Last summer, Márquez seemed on his way out before talking to newly appointed manager Josep Guardiola, who has put his trust in the Mexican. Márquez had two interesting offers from Italian top clubs, one of them from AC Milan, and an offer by Atlético Madrid.

Márquez, who joined Barcelona in the summer of 2003 and who played already 200 official games with the Barcelona shirt, has always prefered to stay in Barcelona. The player is very well integrated in the city, with one of his last investments being becoming a shareholder of the popular Mexican restaurant La Coronela.

Until 2012?...Not sure if he'll make it that long...2011 maybe

He's already in for 2010 (up to June 2010)... May as well extend him to 2012. It doesn't mean he'll be starting for all that time. It's only next season as his contract stands now, and if he's not renewed, he'll have his mind on other places and not be focused. I say extend him to June 2012 (next year plus 2 more) that way he'll be clear headed, devoted and focused.

Márquez: “I am enjoying the way the team is playing”

Laura Aparicio/David Puig

Rafa Márquez has celebrated his 200th official game for Barça with the team in splendid form. In an interview with Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat, Márquez recognised that it would be unlikely for Barça not to win something this year.

The Kaiser of Mixoacán has good reason to feel happy. He has played his 200th game for Barcelona against Real Madrid and team is doing brilliantly, top of the league with stunning statistics. All in all, Márquez is highly optimistic about the immediate future, but is aware of the need not to start getting over-confident.

When you signed for Barça in 2003, did you think you would go on to make 200 appearances?

I don’t know. I’m one of those who just enjoys the moment, the present, and perhaps I don’t think much about the future, but I have to say that holding down a first team place in such an important team for so long has not been easy, it’s been a lot of work. If I have come this far, it’s because of the confidence the managers have shown in me, both Frank Rijkaard before and Pep Guardiola now, and also the directors and the fans who have always supported me.

If you had to make a balance of what you have given to the club and what Barça has given to you over the years, what would weigh the most?

I think that altogether, Barça has given me many more things but perhaps I have also given a lot to the club. I don’t think it’s a matter of who gives more or less, but what we do together, and for us both to be happy.

After 200 official games with the first team, you have good and bad experiences …

Yes, of course. I think I have good moments and bad moments, this latest phase we’re having is magnificent, I wish there were more moments like this instead of bad ones. As a great experience I’d have to go for the Champions League. It was the biggest thing I have achieved with Barça and I will always remember it.

You are one of the veterans in the squad, and one of the ones who has been in the first team the longest. Do you feel like a leader, an important player?

Yes, I have been here for several seasons and the truth is that the team and the coach have made me feel important and that gives me confidence and of course more responsibility to make sure I do my job well.

Thanks to Márquez, is there more support for Barça in Mexico?

I think so. A lot of people follow me in Mexico and there are people who might have supported somebody else before and now follow Barça. But I think that is also because Barça is a great club and has achieved important things.

You have had two hard years with the team, winning no titles. Now the dynamic seems to have changed and the good results and good football have returned.

Yes, I think that starting a new phase with a new manager has turned over a new leaf and the whole team has resurged. We are also ambitious to win and that’s important because for two seasons we weren’t good and let important things go by.

Guardiola has always supported and confided in you. Are you grateful for that?

Of course, he has trusted me from the start. We had a chat at the end of last season when he became the coach and it was nice because he gave me a lot of confidence and I’m grateful for what he did. Now I have to repay him for the trust by playing well for the team.

Guardiola has changed some habits and routines such as not staying in a hotel before ten o’clock fixtures. Is the team grateful?

It really is better for us. Spending so many hours in a hotel is a real drag and being with the family and getting some rest gives you more confidence and motivation and even more responsibility. The team has taken the idea on well and that is reflected on the pitch.

This season, the results are coming. The team is top of the League and into the second round of the Champions League. There is excitement in the air …

You have to take things bit by bit, game by game, which is what we are doing. I think we have to stay humble and work with the sacrifice we are putting into games, and in the end we’ll be rewarded for that. But it is important to stay calm, that’s essential right now.

Do past experiences affect you?

We have to be prudent because we cannot start believing we have won anything yet, because anything can happen in the end, but let’s hope not. But the way things are going, game by game, things are going well.

The team seems to be enjoying itself and providing enjoyment with its football.

Yes. We enjoy all the games, the results, the type of football we are playing, but then we need to be calm and collected in order to keep working with the same level of concentration. That is basic in ensuring things stay on the right path.

Barça have scored more goals than anyone in Europe, and also let in the least. Is the team solid at the back?

We are all working hard, from the strikers to the goalkeeper. We are working very hard in defence, helping each other, there’s a lot of support. All that means we don’t let in many goals. It also helps to have a good goalkeeper like. Valdés, that’s essential.

This year you have scored a lot of goals from set pieces. You have scored two goals yourself from corners.

Yes, because those actions are important to us. Strategy is always important as it brings wins, important points. We work on them before games and this is an area on which Guardiola puts a lot of emphasis on in order to get results.

We are seeing the best of Rafa Márquez. We can see you are enjoying playing again.

Yes. For the last two seasons perhaps I was not at my best but now I am lucky enough to be injury-free, I have no problems, and I’ll try to stay that way and at this level. I am helping the team and enjoying the football we’re playing. I think if it all stays that way, it’s unlikely that we won’t win any titles this season.

source: fcbarcelona.com

Words of wisdow from the Kaiser ,, Thanks xaviesta for the post