Jet-lagged Barcelona won't be caught napping
Reuters - Tuesday 13 December 2011, 12:57
Barcelona
midfielder Javier Mascherano has promised that the Spanish
giants will not be caught napping at the Club World Cup in Japan
despite struggling to adjust to jet-lag.
European kings Barca face Asian champions Al Sadd in the
semi-finals on Thursday after a pulsating 3-1 'Clasico' win at
Real Madrid last weekend.
Mascherano told reporters on Tuesday that the long flight
and quick turnaround were tough and Barcelona would not
underestimate their Middle Eastern opponents.
"It's difficult to sleep well," the former Liverpool
enforcer said after training in Yokohama, the bags under his
eyes testifying to his problems.
"We are trying to adapt with [sleeping] tablets but it's
difficult," added the Argentine. "We know the team from Qatar is
very physical. They're strong and have had more time to prepare.
"We played on Saturday and arrived [in Japan] after the
game, 13 hours flying. It's not easy to beat a team like [Al
Sadd] in this kind of a tournament."
Before training, Mascherano, Lionel Messi and the Barcelona
squad presented personalised replica shirts to a group of
children from Fukushima, the area north of Tokyo hit by a
nuclear meltdown triggered by March's deadly tsunami.
"It was nice to be able to do that for the kids," said
Mascherano. "We will try to put on a special performance for
them on Thursday."
Mascherano said Saturday's win, which pushed the Spanish
champions above their fierce rivals at the top of La Liga, had
given them an energy boost ahead of their Far East trip.
SERIOUS BUSINESS
"It could be a plus," he said, scratching the stubble on his
chin. "It was an important win but we have to forget that game
and focus on this tournament. It's really important to win this
trophy."
Barcelona will be bidding to win the seven-team Club World
Cup for the second time in three years after beating Argentina's
Estudiantes in the 2009 final in Abu Dhabi.
"We will do everything to win the trophy because it will
mean we are the best team in the world," said Mascherano, twice
an Olympic gold medal winner.
Al Sadd beat Tunisia's Esperance 2-1 in the quarter-finals
at the weekend to earn a crack at Barcelona, who are expected to
face Brazil's Santos in Sunday's final in Yokohama.
Santos, who were crowned South American champions for the
third time in June, almost 50 years after Pele inspired them to
back-to-back titles in 1962 and 1963, face J-League champions
Kashiwa Reysol in Toyota on Wednesday.
"Everyone [else] is thinking about Santos," said Barca
defender Gerard Pique, looking more refreshed than Mascherano
after a sightseeing trip to Tokyo and a sushi lunch.
"First we have to qualify for the final. But definitely
beating Real Madrid has made it much easier. If we lost that
game it would be really difficult to fly here.
"It's really important to win the Club World Cup. A lot of
people say we're playing the best football or are the best team
in the world.
"But you have to show why and win these titles. They will
remember you in history, 20 years from now, for the titles, not
how you play. If you don't win people won't remember.