FCBARCELONA.CAT

25.04.2009 23:59

Guardiola: “It’s a valuable point”

Vanessa Forns

Once again, Barça have shown their fighting spirit, and their reward was a draw five minutes from the end. That’s why Guardiola values the point won in Mestalla.

FC Barcelona fought bravely to end with a draw in a game that became complicated for them just before half time. But with five minutes to go for the end, Thierry Henry scored to give Barça a point which could turn out to be vital in their bid for the league title.

Satisfied with the team’s fighting spirit

“We fought hard throughout the game, and in the end we got our prize. It makes me feel hopeful about what’s to come,” explained the Barça coach. He publically congratulated his players, and went on to express his satisfaction with the point won. “We’ll see how this weekend’s games finish”, he said in reference to Real Madrid’s game this Sunday against Seville.

The importance of keeping control

In just three minutes right before half time Barça let in two goals and went behind in the match: “Nothing happens by chance in football. It’s true that we didn’t control all the game, and sometimes we lost our control. We lost possession a lot, and that’s dangerous when you’re playing against a team like Valencia, who take advantage of counter-attacks”. Guardiola praised Valencia’s high level, and wished them luck for the future.

“Here comes the most important week of the year”

Once the game was over against Valencia, the Barça coach focused on the crucial first leg Champions League semi-final tie this Tuesday against Chelsea. “We now have to concentrate on the English club. We have to rest and recover because next week is most important week of the year. First Chelsea, then the Bernabéu.”

On form

Finally, when questioned about whether the Valencia game will take its toll on his players’ physical fitness, Guardiola simply answered: “The players didn’t look tired. We’re a powerhouse”.