FC Barcelona News: 15 January 2013; Andres Iniesta Named World's Best Playmaker, Marc Muniesa Resumes Training

Piqué: "we mustn’t think we are unbeatable" | FC Barcelona
Careful, but clear - Gerard Piqué was adamant about the need to reduce any hint of triumphalism after the team’s incredible first half to the season: "we mustn’t have the feeling that we are unbeatable, because the moment you start to think that way you are most likely to lose. We have to continue with the same dynamic and way of playing which has given us so much confidence.

Sandro Rosell: "Tito Vilanova is no surprise to us" | FC Barcelona
Looking back at the season so far, Rosell reckons that the manager’s illness "was the worst news of the season … But we should respect his privacy." The best news has been the return of Abidal, who will be receiving a federation license before January 30. Commented the president: "he has set an example and displayed extraordinary mental strength.

Iniesta, world’s best playmaker | Football Espana
Andres Iniesta has been voted as the world’s best playmaker by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics today. The Barcelona midfielder has been selected by the FIFA-recognised organisation as the game’s best for 2012 by a team of ‘selected editorial staff and experts from all the football continents’.

Muniesa back in training | FC Barcelona
The main point of interest in the session was the re-appearance of Marc Muniesa, who was back in training five months after he had an arthroscopy by Doctors Ramon Cugat and Ricard Pruna to fix a ligament problem in his right knee at the end of last July.

Lionel Messi has scored in each of the last 9 league games | FC Barcelona
Leo Messi’s goal at La Rosaleda means he’s now scored at least once in the last nine games – one short of the record set by the Brazilian Ronaldo (1996/97) and Mariano Martín (1942/43).

Messi to offer Ballon d’Or on Wednesday | FC Barcelona
Leo Messi will be presenting the Ballon d’Or to the fans on Wednesday night before the Copa del Rey quarter final with Malaga at the Camp Nou. The Argentinian won the award for the fourth time in Zurich last week, finishing ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Andrés Iniesta. The Barça v Malaga match kicks off at 21.30 and tickets can still be purchased from 9 euros (members get a 50% discount).

FC Barcelona figures outshine the rest of Europe | FC Barcelona
18 victories, 1 draw and no defeats, with 64 goals scored and only 20 conceded: spectacular numbers from Barça’s first half of the league season, with 96.5% of games won and an average of 3,37 goals a game. The figures set a new record in La Liga and are far ahead of those of the leading teams in Europe’s other top leagues –in England, France, and Germany- in the first half of the season.

Arsenal abandon pursuit of Barcelona star Villa - Goal.com
Arsenal have abandoned their pursuit of Barcelona striker David Villa, Goal.com can reveal. Arsene Wenger had made a formal approach for Spain’s all-time leading goalscorer but has reluctantly accepted that he will not be able to sign him this month.

Mourinho: I'll come back to England - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
"My memories are great. I loved it from the first day to the last. I don't regret my last day because after that I was lucky enough to enjoy Italy and to have and enjoy some success there and also in Spain. "But I know that one day I will come back because English football means a lot to myself."

Siqueira salvages Granada point | Sky Sports Football
Two penalties from Guilherme Siqueira, the second an injury-time equaliser, earned struggling Granada a point at Getafe on Monday night. The visitors moved out of the Primera Division relegation zone on goal difference as they punished their opponents for twice handballing in the area.

Struggling Sevilla sack Michel, hire Emery - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
"Unai Emery is Sevilla FC's new coach for the rest of this season and one more campaign, replacing Michel, who has been sacked today due to the first team's poor run of results," Sevilla said in a statement on their website. Emery will take charge of his first training session on Tuesday and select the squad for Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg at Real Zaragoza.

Swansea swoop for Osasuna winger Lamah - Yahoo! Eurosport UK
The Belgium international, 25, completed a medical on Monday and Swansea say they can make the move permanent at any stage of his lengthy loan. Lamah has made 15 appearances in La Liga this season, scoring twice and claiming two assists, and says he is excited by the chance to join Swansea’s Iberian-inspired squad, and work under former Barcelona and Real Madrid star Michael Laudrup.