Barça will return to work on July 18th

Barcelona (FCB).- It’s been an intense season, but with the satisfaction of a job well done FC Barcelona’s first team players are off on holiday. Well, not all of them. The Copa America and the European Under-21 competition mean that some of the international players will have to postpone their holidays for another few weeks. However, the bulk of the squad have been given the date to return to work: it’s July 18^th. The rest of the squad, who have been picked for the national teams, will return depending on their success in the Copa America and the European Under-21 championship. Then the 2011/12 campaign will get under way. On the horizon are 6 exciting challenges: the two Super Cups, the World Club Championship, the Spanish League, the Spanish Cup and the Champions League.

Monaco and Japan

They love their football, and they are the best. The whole world admires Barça players and wants to see them up close. In France, captivated by Barca’s football and the wonderful gesture by Puyol in letting Abidal lift the trophy, they know that at the end of August, once again, they’ll be able to enjoy the presence of Guardiola’s team next to their borders, in Monaco. In this case to face André Villas-Boas Porto, winners of the Portuguese League and Cup, and the Europa League, in the European Super Cup.

Japan will also be able to celebrate FC Barcelona’s fourth European Cup. In East Asia there are thousands and thousands of Barça fans who are already pretty excited about the fact that between the 8^th and 18^th of December they’ll be able to see Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, and company, up close. Five years on Barça are returning to Japan to play in the World Club Championship.

A busy August

Winning the Champions League means playing more games, with the possibility of winning more titles. August will be very busy. The European Championships next year means bringing the start of the different leagues forward, and the Spanish League will start on the weekend of the 20^th/21^st of August. Before that, on the 14^th and 17^th of the same month, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will battle for the Spanish Supercup. Some well deserved holidays, and then, over five months, Guardiola's team will be playing for 3 titles before the end of the year. Barça will have lots of work to do, and it’s a great problem to have.