Guardiola: “we’ll not be saving ourselves”

Pep Guardiola will not let Madrid’s result in Seville tonight affect the way his team go into Sunday’s game against Espanyol and again insisted: “we just have to take four more points" to win the league.

Sunday’s game could be Barça’s first opportunity to claim the title, should Real Madrid fail to beat Seville at the Sanchez Pijuan on Saturday night. Although Pep is aware that his team would then need a draw or a win to claim their third successive league title, but is adamant that right now he is focussed: “on taking four points to win it and tomorrow we have to take the first three”. 

Guardiola also believes that Madrid will win tonight and that his team need to concentrate on the fact that over the next seven days they face three games, against Espanyol, Llevant and Deportivo: “and we need to wrap up the league in those matches”. 

No letting up 
The boss is also certain that his players won’t be distracted by their upcoming Champions League final: “they know how important this is. It would be a pity if we lost our focus and forget the importance of this game. We will compete well in all the games that are left to play. We’ll not be saving ourselves for anything – nothing has been won yet”. 

Espanyol are a tough prospect 
It’s another big game at the Nou Camp on Sunday as Barcelona’s two top teams meet and Guardiola is cautious about Pochetinno’s team’s danger: “it’ll be a tough match, of the last four games, we’ve only beaten them once”. 

Bojan 
Bojan was back training with the squad on Friday and Saturday and Guardiola commented: “that’s great news for us – he’s better”. 

Madrid is the past 
Guardiola also insisted that all the controversy that surrounded the Madrid games is finished for him: “the Madrid thing is over”, though he hoped: “the legal department will be doing their job” for Pinto’s appeal against his three game ban. 

Responsible celebrations 
The Barça fans are used to celebrating the team’s successes at the Canalates in Barcelona, but Guardiola asked them to show restraint if they are out there this weekend: “a celebration should be about joy and happiness, but showing civic responsibility and behaving well –that’s the last thing we should forget”.


sources : fcbarcelona.cat