FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.04.2008 14:35

Gaby Milito: “We’re giving our all”

Berta Brau

The Argentine defender understands the reaction of the fans who showed their disappointment during the game against Getafe: “You expect people to react when the results don’t go your way. We aren’t happy with the way things are going either.”

Gaby Milito knows what this Sunday’s draw at the Camp Nou means, so he can understand why the crowd showed their displeasure by waving white hankies at the end of the match. “People were showing what they felt as results haven’t come up to expectations,” he said, but went on to point out that the players are giving their all on the pitch.

Complete commitment

Despite recent results in the League, described by Milito as “not the best you could have hoped for”, the Argentinean made it clear that the players are fully committed and have a very positive attitude: “You can’t question the effort, commitment and attitude of this team.” Plus he still thinks Barça are in with a chance: “In football anything can happen and things can change at any time. I think we’re still in with a shout because it’s mathematically possible for us to take the title.”

Analysis of the situation

Without a second’s hesitation Gaby Milito said that he wouldn’t swap Barça’s situation for Madrid’s “because we’re still in with a chance in two competitions”. He admits that the position in the League has got harder over recent weeks, yet he still thinks there’s hope: “There are still seven games to go in the League, including one against Madrid, and in the Champions League we have a match that might get us through to the semi-finals.” He went on to add that “I believe and hope that we’ll get good results in the run-in to the end of the season.”

No time for looking back

“We have been a bit hit and miss in the last few League games,” said Milito, “but looking back isn’t going to help us.” The Argentinean thinks that instead the team have to move on with the aim of winning all their remaining matches: “We have no choice but to play the last 7 matches and try to win them all, and I’m convinced we can do that.” He spoke about the team’s areas for improvement: “In some games we haven’t been able to hold onto a lead by playing possession football, and I think we need to control matches more, especially when we are ahead.”

Looking at Europe

Gaby Milito described Wednesday’s game with Schalke 04 as a “tough” and “massive” game. The Argentine defender doesn’t think Barça can be described as favourites as “you still have to do the business on the park” although he admits that the result from the first leg in Gelsenkirchen makes life easier. The return match is on Wednesday in the Camp Nou and Milito hopes the supporters will get behind the team: “I understand the fans aren’t happy, but I hope and believe that on Wednesday they’ll be supporting us just as they have done up until now.”

Physical tiredness

Milito only played half of Sunday’s game against Getafe because “I’d picked up a thigh strain and even though I wanted to go on it seemed more sensible to come off”. He thinks it is “normal” that at this stage of the season the players should be feeling tired “but now we’re in the home stretch and you’ve got to make that final effort.” He went on to point out that this effort is a group thing, and that “everyone is pulling their weight and no-one is taking it easy.”

Milito thinks he will be able to play against Schalke though he won’t know for sure until tomorrow: “The doctors have seen me today and it doesn’t appear to be that significant, just a small muscle spasm, so I hope I’ll be able to play.”