Standing up against Barcelona ...

Football-loving D.Arul Rajoo had a memorable day today when he got the chance to watch the visiting FC Barcelona  in training at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

“Yes, (I’m) thrilled…the current and future best are here,” he said when queried on Bernama ED-Team WhatsApp  after he had posted a photo of the training session.

Some 3,000 Barcelona fans turned up at the stadium to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars  especially Lionel Messi, Neymar and Gerard Pique.

The hour-long  training session was conducted by newly appointed Argentine coach Gerardo Martino after  Tito Vilanova resigned to undergo treatment for cancer.

The Spanish Primera Liga club giants will take on the Malaysian team tomorrow night to wrap up their 2013/14 Asian Tour before flying home.

Asked if the Malaysian team could create “something sensational”, Arul, a sports reporter himself at one time,  doubted so.

“If we can keep the score under 5 is already good. Thailand lost 1-7,” said Arul, now attached with Bernama TV .

“Barca has the highest ball possession rate in the world, even higher than Brazil. So getting the ball from them itself is a challenge.

National head coach Datuk K. Rajagobal wants his players to remain steadfast and not be intimidated by the might of the Spanish world-class team.

This is despite the fact that Argentine maestro Messi, voted FIFA World Best Player four times, would be at his best despite suffering from fatigue due to the hectic travelling schedule with the team.

"I want the players to take this opportunity to give their full commitment while playing against one of the best football clubs in the world, just like how they played against English Premier League club Chelsea, recently," he said after the team’s training session Friday.

"I do not want the players to think of the big wins FC Barcelona had recorded in their previous matches like whipping Santos (8-0) and Thailand (7-1) before coming to Malaysia. I just want them to play their normal game,"  he said.

"For me, playing against this team (FC Barcelona)  is also part of our learning process and, most importantly, the local fans will get to be entertained by Saturday's match," he said.