FCBARCELONA.CAT

28.11.2008 14:00

Guardiola: “I want an ambitious team”

Anna Segura

Pep Guardiola has stated that his FC Barcelona team will not be going to the Sanchez Pizjuán this weekend to try and score a hatful, but he wants instead to see an “ambitious team that looks for its own rhythm”.

While praising Sevilla, the Blaugrana coach showed that he has complete confidence in his side ahead of the tantalising encounter in Andalucia on Saturday evening. “I am calmer than I have been ahead of the previous four matches,” he said. “I am now convinced that we can compete with any team.”

Winning ambition

Against Sevilla, Guardiola knows exactly how he wants to see his team play. “We are going to go out to attack and to win the game,” he continued. “We are going to look to play the game and not to create a spectacle. I want to see an ambitious team that looks for its own rhythm, but we must not forget that the counter-attack is one of Sevilla’s main assets.”

Going forward

One of the keys to the game against Sevilla, according to Guardiola, is to be good going forward. “We have to attack well because it is another thing to want to go forward and another to do it effectively, they are very different.”

Game-by-game

Taking each game as it comes is one of Guardiola’s main aims too and now the trainer only has the game against Sevilla on his mind and he will consider the forthcoming fixture list as each match arrives. While considering that, the coach still believes that both Eto’o and Sergio Busquets should “play with strength, desire and go out to attack” despite the duo having already earned four yellow card each this term.

Praising Sevilla

“Sevilla are one of the greats of the game, a big rival,” Guardiola stated. “They are the team that has let in the least goals and play a direct game, are strong going forward and have a good defensive set-up. They are also very aggressive up front and will look to send in a lot of cross and shoot a lot.”

Alves and Keita ready

Dani Alves and Seydou Keita are set to play against their former club for the first time since they left to move to Camp Nou in the summer and Guardiola thinks that “they are both ready for the game.”

Champions League draw

With first place in the group assured in the Champions League, Guardiola was asked who he fancied coming up against in the next round. “In the next stage there are no easy opponents that we can face,” he said, but did not repeat his request for a big club like he did after Barça progressed in the Copa del Rey having knocked out Benidorm.