Guardiola believes that the draw in Madrid is positive in terms of preparation for the Spanish Cup Final. The Barça manager also acknowledged that the draw was a very good result for "bringing us closer to the the most important title of the year".
Bartomeu: "Mathematically the League is still on, despite drawing here"
Barça’s Vice President of the sporting sections, Josep Maria Bartomeu, was satisfied with the
draw in Madrid: "It was the type of thrilling match that attracts the fans. The draw is a fair
result, although we'd have liked to have won." The FC Barcelona director knows that the draw is
important in terms of winning the title, but "mathematically the League is not won, despite drawing
here". With the first “clásico” behind them they can now concentrate on Wednesday's Cup
Final. Bartomeu said that "the Cup will be totally different because it’s a single match. A
draw is no good".
During the press conference prior to tonight's match, Pep Guardiola warned that Real Madrid was "a
top team", and he repeated that in the press room at the Bernabéu when he affirmed that
"we’re very happy. Coming here and not losing is a good result. Madrid is a top, top, team".
A step towards the championship
"There are six games to go and we’ll try to win every game to be
league champions”. Pep Guardiola knows that with the draw in Madrid the league title is a
little closer, but he doesn’t want to hear the idea of Barça being champions already, "We are
not champions yet, there are 18 points to play for, against teams that are playing for their
lives”. In this sense Guardiola again reminded everybody that "there’s still a lot of
battling and running to be done. I still think the game against Osasuna will be the toughest".
Having said all that, he hasn’t forgotten that "we are closer to the season’s most
important title”.
Good test before the Cup
Although from the first moment Guardiola wanted to differentiate between the
League, Cup and Champions League games against Real Madrid, the Barça manager learned a few things
prior to the Cup Final on Wednesday. "In terms of the Final, the draw is very good for us.....
I’m really satisfied with my players behaviour" he said.
"We did very few things wrong"
Still talking about the game in Madrid, Guardiola said that "we did very few things
wrong, we had the game under control and maybe we should have gone forward more after the
1-0”.