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24.04.2010 21:20
“The only objective on Wednesday is to be ourselves”
Vanessa Forns
The game with Xerez over, thoughts now turn to Inter. Guardiola has called it “the most important game of the season” and said that “the only objective on Wednesday is to be ourselves”.
He knew today’s game wouldn’t be easy, but the three points against Xerez mean FC Barcelona stay top of the league, and the manager said the players had done what they had to do – forget about Wednesday and concentrate on the job at hand.
Pleased with the players
“We were looking forward to this game and getting it over as quickly as possible. The team responded well, but it was quite difficult. Today’s game was very dangerous because of everything that’s happening. We dealt with it they way we should have done”, said Guardiola. The win at the Camp Nou was also a boost for morale ahead of Inter, something “any professional would want”.
Ready for a “final”
It is now safe to talk about the Champions League again, and the coach
is glad that they now have four full days in which to prepare, saying it is “the most
important game of the season, we have to be ready for Wednesday’s final … and we will
be fighting to be ourselves”.
Early goal important
“We need to settle it as quickly as possible” said Guardiola on the Inter clash. “The game needs that. We can’t sit back and see what happens while the minutes are ticking by. We have lots of goals to cancel out”. He refused to get drawn into the refereeing debate and insisted that “if Barça don’t make the final of the Champions League, it will be because Inter are the better team.”
Fans on the right side
The fans have been organising all kinds of initiatives to show their unconditional support for Josep Guardiola: “The players have won that right. They have the desire to do it. All the members believe in them and know they will be trying hard. With the fans in the stadium, we have extra help.”
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Laporta: “I am sure we’ll make a comeback”
The Xerez game over and Barça top for another week, Joan Laporta said that from now on “we
have to focus all our thoughts on the great comeback against Inter Milan … I am sure we will
turn the tie around” said the president.
Joan Laporta knows that winning a second consecutive Champions League title means that the very best will be required of the Camp Nou. “When we have big challenges like this, the fans always respond. On Wednesday our ticket for the Champions League final is at stake and the Barça people have to react. We have to be united to help the team make a comeback … it will a historic comeback”.
But he also said that even if they don’t make it to the final in the Bernabéu, “all the players and the manager deserve a huge ovation”. Finally, Laporta also commented that Barça have no reason to fear either Inter or Mourinho and that “we just have to concentrate on ourselves”.
Joan Laporta knows that winning a second consecutive Champions League title means that the very best will be required of the Camp Nou. “When we have big challenges like this, the fans always respond. On Wednesday our ticket for the Champions League final is at stake and the Barça people have to react. We have to be united to help the team make a comeback … it will a historic comeback”.
But he also said that even if they don’t make it to the final in the Bernabéu, “all the players and the manager deserve a huge ovation”. Finally, Laporta also commented that Barça have no reason to fear either Inter or Mourinho and that “we just have to concentrate on ourselves”.
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