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Guardiola finishes writing new Barca internal code - Feature

Madrid - New Barcelona Josep Guardiola has finally finished writing the club's new internal code - and has passed it on to captains Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernandez. According to the digital version of Sport on Wednesday afternoon, Guardiola has now c...
Posted : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:36:43 GMT
By : DPA
Category : Sports
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Madrid - New Barcelona Josep Guardiola has finally finished writing the club's new internal code - and has passed it on to captains Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernandez. According to the digital version of Sport on Wednesday afternoon, Guardiola has now completed the long-awaited code, which stipulates the responsibilities of the players and the punishments for infringing the rules.

Barca fans and the Catalan media have been demanding a proper internal code for months, as a way of bringing more discipline and professionalism into a dressing-room which appeared excessively relaxed and fractious in the past two years.

One of the reasons why previous coach Frank Rijkaard was sacked in June was this impression of indiscipline and lack of professionalism within the squad.

The Catalan papers are curious to learn the details of Guardiola's new code, which also includes rules about dealing with the media.

The Catalan media have been very positive about the new sense of seriousness and professionalism that Guardiola has already instilled into the Barca squad, after just three months in charge.

Guardiola's new-look team, featuring no less than eight local Catalan players from the club's youth sections, are fourth in La Liga after winning their last four games.

They have also made a good start in the Champions League, winning their first two matches.

Barca captains Puyol and Xavi - both heroes of Spain's Euro 2008 triumph - will now read Guardiola's internal code, and will be able to suggest amendments to it.

They are currently in the Spanish training camp preparing for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches away to Estonia and Belgium.

Another issue that Guardiola will have to resolve is who should be Barca's penalty-taker.

According to Sport, the new coach will talk to strikers Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o, when they return from Argentina and Cameroon duty, about their so-called "penalty pact".

It seems that the two forwards have reached an agreement to take turns with penalties, to the surprise - and maybe even the annoyance - of Guardiola.

Messi seems to have been given the job of penalty-taker by Guardiola. He scored from the spot in Barca's second league game, the 1-1 draw at home to Racing Santander.

However, in the opening Champions League clash against Sporting Lisbon, a 3-1 win, Messi stepped aside and let Eto'o take a penalty.

Messi took the injury-time penalty in that stormy Catalan derby against Espanyol - and scored to secure a 2-1 win.

But in last Saturday's 6-1 thrashing of Atletico Madrid, Messi again let Eto'o take the spot-kick - and again the fiery African scored.

Copyright DPA

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