25.01.2011 14:44
No such thing as an easy semi final
Jordi Clos
Pep Guardiola expects the game with Almeria to be tough. The manager knows how important this week is and just how special the Cup is.
Barça are one step away from another cup final and on Tuesday at midday, in his pre-match press
conference Guardiola spoke about how “it is an important week. We have the chance to play in
another final and then we travel to Hercules, who are very strong at home.” Speaking in more
depth about the Almeria clash, he said “I have never seen such a thing as an easy semi final.
They are always tough, they are a big issue”.
League match irrelevant
The famous rout of the Andalusians at the Juegos del Mediterráneo in the
League is not something Guardiola feels will have a bearing on this rematch. “Some time has
passed since the 8-0 game. They have a new manager and you have to look at what they have done
since Oltra has been in charge … I’d settle for a lot less than that result …
just because one game went one way does not mean that the next will be the same … They drew
with Madrid, and they won their last two cup matches”.
He added that “the way Crusat and Piatti use spaces … and the goalscoring form of
Ulloa” are reasons why Almeria have been doing so well in this tournament. “They have
won six out of six in the cup, and scored ten goals away from home. And this is the most important
cup tie in their history”.
Special competition
Once again, the players will be looking for support from their amazing
fans. “The more fans come the better, just to see them filling the stands is a motivation to
us. There are enough motives. It is very hard to win the cup and we are one step away from another
final … there are no easy competitions … the cup is special, the teams have nothing to
lose and go for it. It has been very interesting until now”.
Waiting on Puyol and Alves
The manager was also asked to explain the current situation regarding two key
players that are struggling with injuries. On Puyol, he said “we’ll see how things
develop. He is going to be out for a few days. There are no targets, it depends on how things
develop”. As for Alves, Guardiola said “he is much better, he almost did all of the
training today, but Almeria might be a little bit too soon. We have to take things calmly”.