Barca eye Ayestaran

[AFII]

Barcelona are interested in securing the services of former Liverpool assistant manager Pako Ayestaran, according to reports in Spain.

Spanish radio station 'Putno Radio' claimed Barca initially made contact with Ayestaran in an attempt to lure him to the Camp Nou during the summer, but Liverpool rejected the move.

However, Spanish press now claim Barca will renew their attempts to attract Ayestaran following his recent departure from Liverpool.

Ayestaran is credited with masterminding Liverpool's UEFA Champions League success in 2005 alongside manager Rafa Benitez.

The 44-year-old, who joined Liverpool in 2004 with Benitez, was a popular figure among the Reds squad with a number of players admitting their disappointment at his departure earlier this season.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...783659,00.html

[Morph]

good for him

[thesilverfoxlfc]

As long as he's not in England i dont mind

Great job for him

[bobbyfallon]

best of luck to him...... can only say he has helped the club progrss to where we are today........

we give them pako, he sweet talks messi into joining us, result

[Joe King]

Barca haven't been the same since losing Henk ten Cate but this will be good for him. Not sure Rafa will be happy being a Real man.

[Tee]

That would be a great move for Pako.

I wish he was stll with us though... does not seem the same without him alongside Rafa on the bench.

[desertscouser]

No matter what Rafa says, Paco needs to be replaced. I don't buy all this stuff from Rafa that we're not missing him and his departure has no bearing on our recent results. The fact that Barca are after him proves that he's the dog b@llocks.

[Guest]

No matter what Rafa says, Paco needs to be replaced. I don't buy all this stuff from Rafa that we're not missing him and his departure has no bearing on our recent results. The fact that Barca are after him proves that he's the dog b@llocks.

I think Rafa had something on his mind when he recruited Paco de Miguel and Antonio Gomez. Did he see something that Pako was doing wrong ?

The end result have been the fact that Pako had less control over team affairs and he probably didn't like it.

[sid]

Slan!!

[Morph]

No matter what Rafa says, Paco needs to be replaced. I don't buy all this stuff from Rafa that we're not missing him and his departure has no bearing on our recent results. The fact that Barca are after him proves that he's the dog b@llocks.

Depends, as a fitness coach pako is most definitely regarded as one of the best in the world, i think it was evident that we were the fitter side when we played barca, pretty sure we ran collectively further than them in both fixtures, so barca will deffo benefit. I don't think lose out on the fitness side of things as the players know what to do and Rafa will know Pako's workouts etc.

I do think he needs a sounding board for his ideas tho, whether that person can be one of our current staff who knows, but he'll wait till the summer and I do think someone will be brought in then

[sid]

No matter what Rafa says, Paco needs to be replaced. I don't buy all this stuff from Rafa that we're not missing him and his departure has no bearing on our recent results. The fact that Barca are after him proves that he's the dog b@llocks.

[AFII]

No matter what Rafa says, Paco needs to be replaced. I don't buy all this stuff from Rafa that we're not missing him and his departure has no bearing on our recent results. The fact that Barca are after him proves that he's the dog b@llocks.

I think we miss him most as the link between Rafa and the players.

[desertscouser]

Depends, as a fitness coach pako is most definitely regarded as one of the best in the world, i think it was evident that we were the fitter side when we played barca, pretty sure we ran collectively further than them in both fixtures, so barca will deffo benefit. I don't think lose out on the fitness side of things as the players know what to do and Rafa will know Pako's workouts etc.

I do think he needs a sounding board for his ideas tho, whether that person can be one of our current staff who knows, but he'll wait till the summer and I do think someone will be brought in then

Do you not get the impression that Pako was more than just a fitness coach to Rafa? I definitely do. The fact that Atletico Madrid were sounding him out as a director of football tells me that he clearly is very highly rated in many departments.

A fitness coach is replaceable. There must be many out there who are as good if not better than Pako...it's what else he brought to the table that we may now have lost that worries me. Of course this is nothing more than speculation but it's just a gut feeling I have as to how important he's been to our success.

[Guest]

I feel that Pako leaving has been a massive factor in our recent form. No doubt for me whatsoever.

[AFII]

I think Rafa need to get in a replacement for Pako, someone who is closer to the players than Rafa is.

Rush would be a good choice IMO.