01.01.2011 15:19

“We’ll try to get back into shape quick”

Jordi Clos

Pep Guardiola has called on the fans to get behind the team against Levante, and is pleased with the condition of his players after the Christmas break.

In his first press conference of the new year, he said “2010 was a great year and we hope this one will be too and that the people feel happy. The rest depends on what we get right … We’ll try to get back into shape quick … I get the feeling that they have come back in good shape, and are on form, just like they were before they left”.

Potential banana skin

On the game with the Valencians, he said “there is always a risk after the holidays, like we had in previous years against Mallorca and Villarreal … but the good thing is that I have had time to look at the opposition … I don’t think they are a team that deserves to get relegated, they have had some good results at home. We’d be wrong to imagine it will be easy because they lost 8-0 to Madrid in the cup. That was a different competition, and I guess they’ve forgotten that and we have to be careful with any team that comes to the Camp Nou”.

Gaurdiola added that “I’d like anybody that is near to Barcelona to come and support us because we need to get back into our rhythm, and that’s always easier with fans behind us”.

Happy with Afellay

None of Messi, Piqué, Puyol or Afellay will be playing. “We knew that the market doesn’t open until the 3rd. It’s a shame, because he would have been useful to cover for missing people … But is good that Afellay has come, he’s been well received. Then urgent thing now is for him to learn the language”.

“The first thing that struck us is what a good player he is and the different things he can offer. He rarely loses the ball, he can play inside, he uses space well, he can play on both wings, he can shoot with both feet and he very willing … He has all the time in the world. Patience. He needs to integrate and when we can, we’ll give him time on the pitch”.

Congratulations for Xavi

As Ibrahim Afellay can’t make his debut, all eyes will instead be on Xavi Hernàndez, who could equalise Migueli’s record for appearances. Said Guardiola, “it’s an incalculable value … first of all you have to value what Migueli did. It shows what a career he has had, you have to play through the good and the bad times, suffer few injuries, and always be on top of your game. It’s a spectacular reward … it is privilege to have played with him and now to have coached him. May he play for many more years!”