retired_puly1364

15th of June 2017

I reached home. Martin & Maria were already ahead of me and waiting at home by lake Como.

I told them of what happened around in Cuba.

In the last few days or so, me and John decided to check some of the historic stuff around there. Okay okay, we only checked it for two days. The third day we again had some hot Carribean party by beach in Havanna and next day we healed from hangover and then plane.

But not telling Maria about the drinking ofcourse. I then showed some pictures we made.

Though son was carefully listening to my talk about the stuff with Luis & Miquel.

16th of July 2017

My phone rang.

Stranger: "Hello, I call you from France."
Me: "Hello. How did you get my number and who are you?"
Stranger: "I'm the president of Strasbourg football club so I have few connections to get numbers."
Me: "Oh well... what do you want."
Strasbourg guy: "I want you to become our new manager. We can offer you huge wage. You still have your villa in Valenciennes so your family can move there."
Me: "Well... I'm out of football business."
Strasbourg guy: "But we could do anything to get you here."
Me: "Wait for a second."

My son stepped by me. And told me, "Daddy, why can't you manage football team again?" I had to explain him why, but he really wanted me to get back into football even after that. Then I took back the phone.

Me: "Well... I don't think that I'm coming back to be honoust. But I let you know about final decision tomorrow."

Then when Maria put Martin into bed, she came to me and told me, that she would have no problem with me turning into football management.

I wasn't happy with the idea, eventhough I seriously thought about it in the night, as reasons why I didn't return to football management were Maria & Martin...

retired_puly1364

17th of July 2017

I picked up the phone almost the first thing when I woke up. Went through old numbers and found the one of the Strasbourg guy.

Me: "Hello, good morning."
Strasbourg guy: "Hello."
Me: "I want to talk about the job offer you made me."
Strasbourg guy: "Yes?"
Me: "Well, I thought about getting back to football management, but there's that other offer that I fancy a bit more."
Strasbourg: "Oh well... okay. Thanks for considering our. It's honour for us."
Me: "I could say the same. Okay... goodbye."
Strasbourg: "Yes... goodbye."

I shouted for Maria. Asked has she washed my Cuba laundry yet & she answered with yes. So then I was interested did she clean the pockets of my black & blue Inter shorts. I'm a clean person, I put my garbage to my pockets.

She shouted back that it's in the burnable things garbace pin. So I had to dive into the world of stinky socks etc. But there I found it! Miquel Pons visit card.

I dialed the number, it was calling for ages, but then I got the answer.

Miquel: "Hello, who is it?"
Tanel: "Hello, Miquel. It's Tanel Tursk here."
Miquel: "Oh... What's bothering you?"
Tanel: "That job offer.... I accept it."
Miquel: "Wow! That's a sudden change of moods."
Tanel: "Well... my son wants me to get back into football and Maria has no problems with it."
Miquel: "But can we afford you?"
Tanel: "Money is not a problem for me. If I'd need money I would've sent you to hell before."
Miquel: "And when do you plan to come?"
Tanel: "What about tomorrow?"
Miquel: "Tomorrrow... hmmm... I think I can arrange it."
Tanel: "You now should have my number on your cell. Call me if need to discuss anything. I'll take a phone-call to you certainly when I land down in Barcelona in the afternoon."

I didn't pack many things as of yet as I go there for couple of days only. Check out some houses, talk with Miquel and see what we can arrange.

retired_puly1364

18th of July 2017

I landed my lovely bottom in Barcelona 1 PM local time where I had a one and half hour drive to Lleida, which was more innerlands than Barcelona.

I called Miquel Pons in the cab and he explained me where the club headquarters are basing in.

He was there waiting outside to shake my hands and we immediately rushed in as it was raining in Lleida.

We discussed the contract terms as the first thing. He explained me quite a lot of things which are making life tough there. He said I can only get 21 000 pounds per month.

The situation is rough. The club is in five million debt, they are paying off loan of 15 millions, 1/4 of their first teamers are guys who have been loaned in and some of them were very important this season. I cannot have any money for transfers whatsoever.

It's not an easy situation, but I told to him, "It's not the first time I've faced the mission impossible."

He is a nice guy, atleast it seems like that. So I have to play the rough guy myself this time.

I also met famous former player and now coaches of our's - Daniel Van Buyten and Angel in the headquarters.

The squad was set to come back from the holiday in around week's time. They didn't give me exact date.

I looked out for houses around the neighbourhood that were for sale and there was that one big house that I liked. So had to spill out the millions again, but hey, a villa-like house in Spain is worth it even without me managing a club.

It's based few kilometers outside of Lleida and it has small neighbourhood around there who seem to be rather rich all. Also a little football stadion is fine for Martin, eventhough now I'm worried about his footballing future. I most likely have to smuggle him into Barcelona's youth team or I don't know what. He in the end is one of the star players in Inter's youth.

But then again - I don't need him to become a Barcelona fan. I have to assess all the options with Maria as Martin also speaks Italian very fine and we actually we're planning to put him into regular school of Italian children. I believe we either bring Martin here, get him into a nice youth academy around here, get a home-teacher for him or the second option is to me live seperately a bit, which I though don't like at all. It isn't useful for a coach to have a young boy and a family, but what can I do.

I was now going back to Italy for few days to organize the last things and then return with the squad for pre-season.

retired_puly1364

Authors Note: I've mixed up with dates in last 2 updates. It should be June, not July

24th of June 2017

I was already settling in Lleida as I decided to arrive a bit earlier that first I thought I'd arrive.

I had rather tough time with Miquel as I needed quite a huge financial thing. I needed to change all the back-room staff as eventhough they were known ex-players, I was unhappy with their coaching skills.

Miquel wasn't pleased as it was a over million pound investment we had to make, but I promised to him that it'll pay off in long run for sure and I'll earn that money back five times.

Also I asked for the club secretary to translate the article from morning's Marca about us.

From Marca

retired_puly1364

14th of July 2017

For past three weeks I had been working hard in office and on training ground. I finished off the building of the squad on 14th of July as my final signing arrived at our training ground.

Lot's of players went and came in to make sure this squad will be ready for new season.

I also played three friendlies. Two of them I won and one lost.

Now to the new players.

Johann Ingi Runarsson (Free Transfer)
Karim Elbai (Free Transfer)
Brad Guzan (Free Transfer)
Julian Gonzalez Garcia (Free)
Armando (Free)
Ruben Nieto (£475 000 from Atletico Madrid)
Jony (Free)
Daniel Kuffour (Free)
John Jairo Mosquera (Free)
Alberto Gonzalez (Free)
Hugo Gimenez (Free)
Souleymane Faye (Free)
Maxime Josse (Free)
Santos (£350 000 from Atletico Paranaense)
Pereira (£50 000 from Vitoria)
Alejandro Acosta (£625 000 from Boca Juniors)

We signed 16 new players. Around 5-6 of them were ordered by previous manager, but I'm not too unhappy about the players he wanted. Two players of them were promising (Elbai & Kuffour), I got a goalkeeper that I wanted (Guzan), also two talented center-backs (Garcia & Nieto). Eventhough Jony was rather unneeded & also Runarsson we could've done without.

But I pulled couple of old connections to get few players. Espescially Alberto Gonzalez I got thanks to my time in Inter and with Boca I also have great relationship so it was easy to get Acosta.

I have hopes high on Guzan, Gonzalez, Mosquera (he scored 20 goals in Grasshoppers last season), Gimenez of the free transfers. Josse & Garcia may turn out to be key figures also from free's. Of the bought players Acosta & Santos will probably wear the first team shirt.

Though to get money and room I also had to sell. I gave away 10 players and sent like five lads to the B team. All together I earned five millions if counting in future fee's. I didn't sell any of the guys who I planed to make into first teamers this season though.

I had a meeting with Miquel also few days ago, and he was happy with the way I was handling the transfer market and eventhough the wages may turn into problemic, the team looks better than last team and at the moment thanks to sells and 3 500 000 of TV money we're rather okay with the finances as they are close to 0.

Though the minuses of the league are that I need to register 25 players and I have few more, but I don't think it'll be a problem for me and also I managed to overcome the 3 foreign rule as I was closely looking for second nationality EU players.

Our squad for upcoming season.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Name | Position | Nat | Height | Weight | Age | Value | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Vincent Enyeama | GK | NGA | 180 cm | 79 kg | 34 | £2.2M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Brad Guzan | GK | USA | 194 cm | 96 kg | 32 | £2M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Andreas Hjalmarsson | GK | SWE | 181 cm | 75 kg | 24 | £850K | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Maxime Josse | D RC | FRA | 184 cm | 83 kg | 30 | £2M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Ã�lvaro MejÃ*a | D RC | ESP | 181 cm | 82 kg | 35 | £250K | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Armando | D R, DM, M R | ESP | 186 cm | 82 kg | 32 | £1.1M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Alejandro Acosta | D LC | ARG | 185 cm | 83 kg | 20 | £875K | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Kistian Bo Andersen | D C | DEN | 187 cm | 82 kg | 29 | £750K | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Julián González GarcÃ*a | D C | FRA | 184 cm | 79 kg | 24 | £1.7M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Rubén Nieto | D C | ESP | 178 cm | 78 kg | 17 | £800K | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Jesús Rojas | D C, DM | ESP | 179 cm | 74 kg | 23 | £1.7M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Nhlanhla Davids | D/WB/M L | RSA | 181 cm | 78 kg | 23 | £1.3M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Alessio Grillo | WB L | ITA | 179 cm | 76 kg | 22 | £1.2M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Pereira | WB L, AM LC | BRA | 179 cm | 73 kg | 23 | £1.1M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Fernando DÃ*az | DM | ESP | 180 cm | 72 kg | 24 | £1.4M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Souleymane Faye | DM | SEN | 177 cm | 75 kg | 26 | £2M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Santos | DM | BRA | 183 cm | 79 kg | 22 | £1.6M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | José Antonio Villa | M C | ESP | 179 cm | 78 kg | 24 | £2.2M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Hugo Giménez | AM RC | PAR | 182 cm | 78 kg | 29 | £1.1M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Alberto González | AM R | ARG | 181 cm | 79 kg | 20 | £2.9M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Jóhann Ingi Rúnarsson | AM RC | ISL | 177 cm | 74 kg | 27 | £3.4M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Sergio MartÃ*nez | AM RLC | ESP | 177 cm | 73 kg | 30 | £1.9M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Per Weirauch | AM R | DEN | 181 cm | 78 kg | 29 | £2.9M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Karim Elbaï | AM RC, F C | MAR | 180 cm | 77 kg | 21 | £825K | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Alfonso Jiménez | AM LC | ESP | 178 cm | 72 kg | 22 | £2.1M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Carlos Marcos | F C | ESP | 178 cm | 75 kg | 22 | £2.9M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | John Jairo Mosquera | F C | COL | 189 cm | 85 kg | 29 | £2.7M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Marcos Castro | ST | ESP | 180 cm | 77 kg | 19 | £3.5M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Jony | ST | ESP | 177 cm | 74 kg | 30 | £2.8M | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Daniel Kuffour | ST | GHA | 178 cm | 75 kg | 21 | £575K | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_puly1364

23rd of July 2017

From Marca

25th of July 2017

Maria & Martin finally joined me in Lleida. I was very happy that they arrived finally after I basically was alone for one month in the evenings.

They had been here once before to check the house, but that time we were just giving it the interior so we stayed in hotel for that one night they stayed in here.

I immediately draged them around the city and tomorrow I'm taking Martin to the team training. He was very excited for me to get back into football.

I was negotiating around with Barcelona youth academy to take him there and we already took a home teacher for him who was Italian and also speaked English so our son would keep on learning Italian also.

On the evening I took Martin to the little soccerfield that was in our neighbourhood and we played a bit there, me the goalkeeper, he the striker. I'm a bit rusty at goalkeeping so not going to tell you how many goals I conceeded... to be honoust I lost the count. Damn boy is better than me at 7 year olds than I've ever been.

retired_puly1364

25th of July 2017

The season was just about to start. We were making our last training in Lleida before we hit the bus to travel to Barcelona for our league opener. It's hard, but yet it appealing to start of your career with a derby match.

Our pre-season was going well and the team obviously looked better every day with the two months of training.

Maria & Martin were travelling with us.

Before the trip, I met with Miquel who told me to go and give my best obviously and also told to me that Lleida is yet to collect a win againist Espanyol and the best result over the past years is one draw.

I also asked my secretary to translate the morning's Marca again to read another news from Lleida. I'm taking my Spanish courses, but with 2 months you don't learn that much and in the end, secretary gets paid nicely for the job she does.

From Marca

26th of July 2017

I had quite a trouble choosing the match squad, but in the end I managed to pick one. The Espanyol home stadium was packed up with both sets of supporters and we weren't that outnumbered.

Chants were heard around the stadium two hours advance... From both sets of supporters.

It was quite a test for us anyway as Espanyol finished the Primera Division as 11th last season. Around the same area where we are hinting at, but thing is that I've got no idea where is our level compared to other teams.

For my first time, I picked starting line-up of - Guzan; Josse, Garcia, Rojas, Acosta; Faye; Gonzalez, Jimenez; Gimenez; Mosquera, Castro

Primera Division, Week 1
Espanyol 2:0 Lleida

Our first game together didn't go well when it came to result. But we were promising with our display and in case Espanyol is at the level of fighting for 10th place this season then we're at it too since we dominated the game mostly and ruined few golden chances.

Few changes in next game will certainly come, but I don't know what to do with the second striker problem I left us to deal with as Mosquera's possible partners all have finishing of a center-back it seems.

retired_puly1364

13th of September 2017

We were hunting for a victory againist Alaves in our first home game of the season. I obviously made some subs, eventhough I had some unplanned changes also with first choice Alberto Jimenez collecting a two month injury at the end of August. Also one of his back-ups, Pereira, got injuried, but he isn't first choice substitution.

Primera Division, Week 2
Lleida 1:2 Alaves (John Jairo Mosquera)

Just like Espanyol game, we got an undeserved loss. We played much better than Alaves and in espescially in the first half we should've scored atleast two, if not more goals. Then at the start of the second half we faded away and conceeded two goals and one we scored back wasn't enough for a draw.

17th of September 2017

In our next game, we met with Osasuna who in the first week of the new season beated Barcelona 5:3. Eventhough, I should say that things in 2017 aren't like they used to be and the powers of Spanish football have changed. With Pereira & Alberto Jimenez continuing in the physio room, I was even more sceptic about our chances of winning this fight.

Primera Division, Week 3
Osasuna 2:3 Lleida (Jony 3)

I was amazed by our performance. We deserved to win this game and we finally turned the chances into goal. The thing which we struggled with in the first two chances. Great win no doubt. Some of the guys were impressive. Jony showed that our strikers do & can score. Overall assumptions over the three games would be that I should have no problem fighting around the place that I wanted to achieve.

20th of September 2017

We had a direct fight of relegation at Camp d'Esports. Eijdo who will certainly be around the 16th-20th place this season was a must win game for us. Eventhough our right-back Maxime Josse got injuried in the last game. I also decided to swap our goalkeepers. Brad Guzan fell to the bench & Vincent Enyeama who is defenders favourite took the no. 1 gloves.

Primera Division, Week 4
Lleida 3:1 Eijdo (John Jairo Mosquera 2, Souleymane Faye)

Another good performance from the team. The goals were nice and Mosquera is really pleasing me this season with his performances and he shows that his wages aren't paid for nothing as he is assisting and scoring. Faye meanwhile became the first guy to score from us who was not a striker. He converted a penalty in the 70th minute, earned by Mosquera. He had fallen to the bench behind Santos for last two games, but with this substitution performance he earned himself a place back as he also assisted one of the Mosquera goals.

24th of September 2017

We had a better test ahead of us now. Villarreal was one of the teams who was going to be in the Top 10 for certain. They had few very good players who I knew from my Italy days. Most notable defender Andrea Musolino who I had my eye on, before I opted for other choices in Inter. He costed too much. Josse was still sitting out & obviously Jimenez was doing the same. Pereira was fit, but he didn't even get into bench.

Primera Division, Week 5
Villarreal 1:0 Lleida

We had brilliant chances. I don't know how we lost. It was rather even game when it came to number of shots and possession, but we had much more chances. Around 75% of the 9 shots we made were goalscoring chances. But this injected us even more self-belief as we look very good againist any team in Primera Division. Hopefully our midfielders will start to convert the shots also to make things easier.

1st of October 2017

We were favourites to win againist Malaga at home. It was certainly another of the must win games as Malaga wasn't surely going to play part of the high places game. Their team was rather average to be honoust and I thought in case we can convert our chances we will win this game. Maxime Josse was almost fit and he sat in the bench while Vincent Enyeama got injuried againist Villarreal so Guzan returned into goal. Jimenez still was on his injury vacation.

Primera Division, Week 6
Lleida 6:2 Malaga (Jony 3, John Jairo Mosquera, Sergio Martinez, Hugo Gimenez)

An amazing win for us. We conceeded in the 16th second, but quickly bounced back and fought hard to win this. Malaga was fighting back in the first half, but in the second they faded away. Mostly thanks to one of the Fabio's of the Primera Division getting a second yellow, but that happened in the very end of the half.

And finally our midfielders scored also. Hugo Gimenez is fighting hard for Runarsson for the place behind the strikers and that goal certainly gave him a slight extra edge.

Jony at the moment is sharing the top scorer place, but Lleida has one more match than most of the teams as all the week 2 matches got moved fowards, but our match vs. Alaves and Deportivo - Espanyol were pushed foward only for three days while others were going to be played much later.

I changed some opinions with Miquel at the end of the game also...

Miquel: "Congratulations once again...."
Me: "Thanks."
Miquel: "I need to praise you. Things are going just as you planned."
Me: "Oh, they are yes. They are even better."
Miquel: "Could be... It's pleasure to see us playing such great football."
Me: "It is, it is. I'm having few problems here and there though."
Miquel: "For instance?"
Me: "I'm still not happy with our scoring, eventhough Malaga game was improvement. And also, Rojas & Acosta aren't getting along with eachother. It's rather risky to play both of them in a same defence line, but what can I do... I have no better players."
Miquel: "Hopefully they'll get over it soon..."
Me: "They usually do... Could we go to some closed room now."
Miquel: "Yeah sure... let's go to my office."

So we stepped into his office as we had to talk about few things there.

Me: "How's with the passports...?"
Miquel: "I still haven't paid the money... I'm having to count the penny's."
Me: "How much do they want?"
Miquel: "10 000 euros per piece."
Me: "I give you that money. But you pay me this back!"
Miquel: "Are you sure you want to spend your money on that?"
Me: "We can't risk this coming out. They are mafia for god's sake. They have enough connections. They either kill some-one or let it come out on public."
Miquel: "Okay... I pay you back next month."
Me: "I'll bring the money to the trainings tomorrow..."

retired_puly1364

2nd of October 2017

Mobile rang in my pocket. Checked, it was Miquel.

Miquel: "I delivered the money."
Tanel: "Very good. Did they say anything?"
Miquel: "Yep, "you guys are in the good list now"."
Tanel: "Hehehe... that's an honour. I tell it to the guys. Anyway... now you remember. Nothing has never happened."
Miquel: "What are you talking about."
Tanel: "I don't know."
Miquel: "Okay.... bye and see you in a week as I'm off to Cuba once again."

19th of October 2017

We started off our cup campaing from the third round. Our first opponent was Conquese who were fighting in the very low leagues, so even with few guys tired from internationals I was supposed to have no problems againist them.

Copa del Rey, 3rd Round
Conquese 0:4 Lleida (Johann Igni Runarsson, Marcos Castro, Jony, Jose Manuel Carrasco og)

We went through without no problems and I gave some guys playing time in the second half, which though made me be with 10 guys with most of the second half as with three subs made Sergio Martinez got an slight injury that will leave him out for 1-2 weeks.

22nd of October 2017

In our next game in league I was hoping for a win againist Levante who were ahead of us in the table. I had many important lads out, including two first choice left wingers Martinez & Jimenez. The odds were slightly againist us, but seeing how we have played this season I was 75% that we can the result we want from this one.

Primera Division, Week 7
Lleida 1:2 Levante (John Jairo Mosquera)

This was an very unfortunate loss. Goalkeeper Enyeama totally ruined our game when he failed to catch the cross of Levante player that made it 0:2. We owned them for like 85 minutes, but we gave 5 minutes away and that lost us the match as our strikers and midfielders looked more than clumsy upfront.

25th of October 2017

Our cup run continued againist Segunda Division side Pontevedra. The bookies were giving rather nice odds for Pontevedra with us still being favourites, but anything but win would've been cathastrophe from this game.

Copa Del Rey, 4th Round
Pontevedra 1:4 Lleida (Hugo Gimenez 2, Jony, Santos)

Santos scored his first goal for us which was very pleasing for me. We had a great match and the win was 100% reflecting our hard work showed in this game. It was also a certain confidence booster ahead of the game againist Real Madrid.

For next round the big guns join the cup and we have to meet one of them - Sevilla.

28th of October 2017

We were going to Santiago Bernabeu with intentions to show some of our class. We were going to meet Real Madrid who had started falling like a rock with past few years and now they were below us going into this game with even one more match played.

I had few problems here and there. But my wingers were all back. Only player missing of the first team was again right-back Maxime Josse who got another minor injury againist Pontevedra.

Primera Division, Week 8
Real Madrid 3:3 Lleida (Hugo Gimenez 2, Jony)

It was amazing display from our guys. But unfortunately from a strings of induvidual mistakes Real got gifted the goal in the 93th minute of the game! First Grillo made a too short pass for Faye, who still could've got the ball if it would've not been for such slow brain. Real player then cutted the ball from us and immediately sent fowards. Enyeama tried to get the ball then, but the ball flew over him to the path of Obafemi Martins who scored to the empty net.

But it was a great display and we were probably even better side. Slightly, but better. It showed that relegation & Lleida won't go into the same sentence this season.

5th of November 2017

The period of tough games had started. In the Camp d'Esports we welcomed the league leaders Sevilla who had many of the guys who I had to greet before the match. Claudio Mengoni & Mirko Russo came through the youth ranks of Inter when I was in charge.

Sevilla we're one of the new powerhouses of the Spanish football finishing in high positions for past few years.

Maxime Josse was fit enough to be on bench, but very sad news came from the trainings few days from the match as our top scorer Jony was going to miss games until the new year.

Primera Division, Week 9
Lleida 1:2 Sevilla (Marcos Castro)

We fought hard, but it wasn't enough. Sevilla was better and totally deserved their win. Our second half display was very ugly. We failed to hold the pass the ball for more than 5 times in a row. And the second goal we conceeded in 78th minute came from ugly thoughts of Jesus Rojas who decided to run away from the central defence and leaving a huge hole behind him.

But atleast Marcos Castro scores his first league goal for us. Hopefully it was a confidence boost for him ahead of a very important game againist Barcelona.

retired_puly1364

7th of November 2017

We were starting our preparations for a very big game. A Catalonia derby againist Barcelona. It wasn't a rivalary dozen years ago, but now with us in Primera it is a big rivalary. And we are based quite close to eachother. We were 13th, they 7th.

The pre-game trainings went well. We practiced fast flowing attacking moves and shooting in the last training as I thought we need them the most. The mood around the training groun was getting high and it was a positive sign.

I called Maria & Martin before we set off to Barcelona. They promised to come watch the game. They are slowly settling in with the life in Spain. We're building a villa near Lleida at the moment as we sold our house in Valenciennes. I had to decide between Valenciennes and Como one and I decided to keep Como as that my son could use in future maybe and also it's some use in winter when I want to go skiing etc. And also I've got lots of friends in Milano. So it was a logical choice.

8th of November 2017

I was walking around the dressing room. Telling my engouraging words to the players (the speach which was partly written by my secretary, but I'm making huge steps in my Spanish) -

"The starting line-up is... Enyeama in goal. Josse, Garcia, Rojas, Acosta in defence. Faye, Martinez, Gimenez and Gonzalez in midfield. Castro and Mosquera in attack. Now guys... Barcelona has some great players. But they have huge weak links. Their defence - old, clumsy, slow. I'm not going to talk about their goalkeeper. Midfield is okay, but we can't let them have the ball, since the strikers are the only place where they are world class. Hmmm.... It is a derby match! There are thousands of Lleida fans out there. But five times as much Barcelona fans. Today, we need to have eleven extra Lleida fans. I want you to imagine playing a derby much in the shirt of the club you love the most if you can't get the importance of this match. Today we need to be the most passionate Lleida supporters. We need to play our hears out. If we do, we get the result!"

Primera Division, Week 10
FC Barcelona 1:6 Lleida (John Jairo Mosquera 3, Marcos Castro 2, Hugo Gimenez)

What a great day in the history of Lleida. The match that will be remembered forever. Our players answered to my request of becoming lifetime Lleida fans for this match. What we did today was incredible. Barcelona didn't have anyone sent off or injuried, it was just pure class display from Lleida.

The moves were fast and flowing, just like I wanted. We looked technically great on our tries to go past Barcelona defenders. Our finishing was world class for today. Our defence & goalkeeper made super performance also and the one goal we conceeded after grabing our 6th goal didn't grab anything off our happiness.

Mosquera & Castro showed how great strikers they can be as now Mosquera is sharing the top-scorer place in Primera with we having one game in hand. Barcelona is now 9th with us being 11th with a game in hand againist many of the Top 10 sides.

After the match a part continued with the Lleida fans as I was waving around with a huge Lleida flag, desperately trying to sing along with the chants. On one of my shoulders was sitting Martin doing helicopter with the Lleida fan-scarf.

Chants in Barcelona were heard for very late as we had no plans of leaving the town as of yet. It was time to tease our little opponents. Ole! Ole! was heard everywhere where you saw a guy with Lleida shirt. It was few thousand fans.

I imagined tomorrows newspapers title's already. All the praise I was going to get.