FCBARCELONA.CAT

11.04.2009 23:16

“These are the games that can win you things”

Vanessa Forns

Josep Guardiola is very pleased with this Saturday’s win over Recreativo as he thinks that it is games like this one that “can win you things”.

This Saturday’s game was tricky as coming down off Wednesday’s Champions League win wasn’t easy, but the team did it. “Today it was vital to win,” said Guardiola. “It was tough but everyone tried hard. It’s a really important win as we now have 75 points and are a bit closer to our goal.”

Job done

Josep Guardiola made his view of the match clear. “Wins like the one against Valladolid after the break for international games, and this one after a Champions League fixture; it’s games like these which in the end win you things,” he said. “We were lacking a bit of drive but we came back and now we’re nine points ahead, though no doubt tomorrow it’ll be six. We’ve done our job and we deserved to win.”

Caution

Guardiola also spoke about next Tuesday’s second leg Champions League quarter final game at Bayern Munich. “It’ll be a good test,” he said, “and we’ll have to be really careful.”

“Bayern can score four goals and even more so when they’re on the back foot,” he added. “I don’t believe it when they say the tie’s over. I’m sure they’ll be up for it and Ribéry and co. are dangerous players. We need to go there thinking we have to win, because otherwise they’ll be all over us.”

Touchline ban in Munich

UEFA have given Guardiola a one game touchline ban after the first leg. “I’d been told that UEFA usually turn down this sort of appeal,” he commented. “I’ll be in the stand but that’s no problem and a secondary issue. The fact that I won’t be on the bench doesn’t affect things much and Tito Vilanova will do a great job.”

Praise

The scorer of Barça’s first goal, Andrés Iniesta, was praised by his manager who said that all the players put in fine performances: “I’m pleased for Iniesta. Sometimes he’s a bit down because he wants to score more goals than he does, but as long as he keeps doing what he does we’re more than happy. He’s special in so many ways.”

“I do care what Madrid does”

Finally, Guardiola said that Real Madrid’s results do matter to him: “I do care what Madrid does. I’d prefer results that are good for us. We still have to get a lot of points to be champions and I reckon they’re not going to drop that many.”