FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.05.2010 14:30

Guardiola ready for decisive game

Vanessa Forns

Pep Guardiola made it clear that only an FC Barcelona victory against Sevilla at the weekend will do as the Catalan outfit continue their quest to regain the league title.

The Blaugrana boss has no plans to go to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán and try to play for anything other than a win as he believes that the race for the championship could "almost be decided" and that now it is "a question of making one last effort and to finish the season like we deserve to".

Sevilla strengths

"It looks like Sevilla are in their best form of the season," Guardiola explained. "But the truth is that you never know how things can go in games like this. Sevilla are a side that have had a very good season. They are battling to play in the Champions League and have been strong for a number of seasons and are a stable club. We will go into the game playing like we always do and will go forward to try and win the game. That is our plan.

"They are a team that are quick on the counter-attack," the Barça coach said as he continued with his analysis of Sevilla. "They have many other strengths too that we will have to stop. One must remember that they are playing for a top four finish and that is very important for them. Real Madrid lost there and we will try to ensure that the same thing does not happen to us."

Optimistic

Guardiola is feeling "very optimistic" ahead of the game and admitted that he was "happy" and "privileged to be able to be part of this and to be going for the league title until the very end". If Barça were to slip up against Sevilla the trainer will not hold anything against his squad. "I will tell them to go out and play," he said. "I cannot expect anything else. They have already given everything. We have the feeling that we have been exemplary in so many things. Obviously, both Sevilla and ourselves want to win and the best team will do that."

More than satisfied

If Barça were to miss out on retaining the league title then Guardiola believes that he would still be very proud of his players and everything that they have done this season. "We are going for our fourth trophy of the season because we have already won three," he explained. "If we do not win it though I would be more than satisfied with the way my players have performed. But we want to win, of course."

Abidal could play

Ahead of what could be a title-winning encounter Guardiola has chosen to take every member of the first-team squad to Sevilla, including the injured players. Éric Abidal has been included and could make his return. "If I want to I will be able to include him," Guardiola added.