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Report: Barcelona's veteran goalkeeper produced a stellar season. Pinto was the first choice goalkeeper in the Copa del Rey where he, for the second time in three seasons led the team to the final. The little difference this year was that he wasn't able to lift the trophy.
In the other two competitions Pinto served as the primary backup to Víctor Valdés. Even though he was sentenced to the bench in the Spanish League and the Champions League, Pinto was able to start eight games. The majority of those starts came during the time when Valdés was sidelined because of a knee injury, but two of them also came late in the season when Pep was resting his regulars.
Despite the age of 35, Pinto provided steady goalkeeping and organized his defense very well. Most of the goals he allowed were on shots that not even the best goalkeepers in the world would stop, yes, even the Cristiano Ronaldo one. Jose ended the season on a low note as he got suspended for the Champions League final (and two subsequent CL games) for his role in a brawl during halftime against Real Madrid.
Moment of the season: Like I said Pinto had several good games, but his best one came on 21 May 2011 against Málaga. Barca's youngsters and reserves were struggling against the high-flying Andalusians and found themselves trailing by one at the half hour mark. The team eventually regrouped and scored three unanswered goals to win the game 1-3, but the three saves Pinto made were crucial to keep the score close and allow his guys to stage the comeback.
Pinto's highlights are somewhat hard to find. So here you have his best, and most important save of his Barca career. The saved penalty against RCD Mallorca that sealed a place in the cup final two years ago.
Jose Manuel Pinto funny save penalty (via welitonFCB)
Stats:
| Appearances |
17 |
| Games started |
17 |
| Started on the bench |
31 |
| Substitute in |
0 |
| Substitute out |
0 |
| Minutes played |
1609 |
| Goals conceded |
11 |
| Saves |
32 |
| Clean sheets |
9 |
| Fouls Committed |
0 |
| Fouls suffered |
2 |
| Yellow Cards |
2 |
| Red Cards |
1 |
Record with José Manuel Pinto in the starting lineup: 12-2-3
2011/12 Outlook: Jose Pinto will return to Barcelona as the second goalkeeper next season. He will most definitely be the starting goalkeeper in the Spanish Cup, as he has been in all his three years with the Catalan giant. Everything else will depend on several different factors including health status and the team's position.
Next up: Gerard Piqué