07.01.2011 14:36

“Deportivo at the top of their game”

Vanessa Forns

Josep Guardiola has warned that Barça’s next opponents, Deportivo, “are at the top of their game”, stressing the fact that “they’ve received just five goals at home all season”.

With Wednesday’s Cup success behind them, Guardiola has called up all of the squad for the trip to La Coruña, as well as B team youngster Thiago.

”I need all the players”

With a busy schedule ahead, Guardiola was clear about what he would be demanding from his players: “we’ve got a month ahead with a lot of games, especially if we get through to the Cup semis and I need all the players. I want my players to be focussed and feel a part of the team, so I’m taking all of them to Galicia. I also want the three players I’ll have to leave out to be there on the ground, watching the game and watching how we try and correct the mistakes we make”.

”I want them all to feel a part of this”

Guardiola continued: “I want everybody to feel a part of this. It’s not easy to put out the same team over 9 games and it’s up to the players to show what they can do and they know what they have to do”,

Deportivo

The boss also stressed the “experience” of the Deportivo manager, Miguel Ángel Lotina, and warned his team: “Deportivo have taken 17 out of a possible 27 points in their last 9 games and they’ve conceded just 5 goals at home. They are very strong and solid and they are at the top of their game right now”.

Betis

Asked about playing a second division team, Betis, in the next round of the Cup, Guardiola insisted: “we are playing against a team that is really a top flight side, but who sometimes slip into the second division. There are always upsets in the Cup because it’s a completely different competition, where teams go all out for everything. That’s what makes it fascinating, dangerous and interesting”.

Big points score needed

The boss is also clear that his team will need to repeat last year’s fantastic points haul if they are to take the La Liga title this season. “there are two games to go to the half way point and if we win them both, we will have more points that at this stage last year. To be Champions with a team like this Madrid behind us, we’ll have to pile up the points. We’ll have to put in a very good second half of the season if we want to win the title”.

Afellay

Finally, Guardiola had words of praise for the efforts Ibrahim Afellay has been making to fit in with the rest of the squad: “he’s really adapted well to his teammates. He wants to be open, to help and to learn. It’s still early days, but he’s made an impeccable start”.