Pep Guardiola sought to calm the euphoria surrounding his FC Barcelona side after the incredible derby win at the weekend as he believes that there is still a long way to go in the season before anyone can start celebrating.
The Blaugrana’s 1-5 win at Espanyol on Saturday continued the team’s superb run of form and give the fans even more reason to be optimistic that the coach and his players can add another trophy this season to their already impressive haul. Guardiola, however, wants to keep his feet on the ground and explained that nobody within the club will be carried away. “There is still a long way to go and people want us to just continue to do as well as we have been,” he said.
Staying focussed
“We are grateful for the compliments, but if we have one bad game on Tuesday and we could be out of one competition,” the coach stated as he warned that complacency could cause problems in the Copa del Rey match in midweek. “We have to win things again and to keep things going at the club,” he added.
Improving things
“There are always small things that can be done better,” Guardiola continued. “We should be attentive not to let anything drop. What ensures that sportsmen maintain the required tension is the fear of losing. We will keep on going though.”
Athletic tie
Barça meet Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday and Guardiola thinks it will be a tough game despite Fernando Llorente being out for Los Leones. “He is a key player for them, but they have played without them and they have other stars,” he explained. “If we think that only by playing with the same 11 players that have played recently then we can win any game then we would be making a mistake. Every player in the squad wants to win things.”
Games against Athletic are never easy and Guardiola wants the players to refocus. “This will be completely different,” he said of the cup encounter. “Ties against Athletic are always difficult.”
Striker confidence
Asked about the successful youth system at Barça in the press conference, Guardiola believes that it is because “we give them a chance” that they have such success. On Pedro, he added: “He is a great player, perfect. He has everything to help the team.”
Dani Alves’ contract renewal is still up i the air but Guardiola believes that “It will not harm the team or affect Dani”. He concluded: “The best thing would be that it is resolved soon, but sometimes this is how negotiations go.
