FCBARCELONA.CAT

30.10.2009 16:22

Tourmalet starts in Pamplona

David Puig

Josep Guardiola has said that the game with Osasuna marks the start of the most decisive part of the season. Camacho’s side will have to bring out the best in Barça.

The “Tourmalet”, a name coined last season for the toughest stretch of the season in honour of the infamous Tour de France stage, starts at the Reyno de Navarra. Barça have games against Osasuna, Rubin Kazan, Athletic Bilbao, Inter and Real Madrid. Guardiola believes “the next games will determine the future and we’re starting at a ground we have traditionally found very tough. I will hope to see a cause and effect in the next few games. Osasuna are in top form. They have only lost one game at home, against Sevilla, and they have very clear ideas about what to do. It will be a game to test ourselves and a warning ahead of the next few games”.

Osasuna attacking aggression and quality

Guardiola described his views of the Pamplona based side. ”Pandiani is a natural goalscorer; Camuñas and Juanfran are two very good wingers in the one on one, and they’ll try to make the most of set pieces like corners and throw-ins. They are a very aggressive team in the good sense of the word, and will put us under pressure from the first minute and force us to work very hard”.

Henry and Chygrynskiy

Guardiola also spoke about Thierry Henry, who is about to return from injury. “Henry will do a lot for us this season. I have no complaints about him until now. He has always been disposed and willing. I am sure he will appear at the key moments of the season”.

As for adaptation of the Ukrainian Chygrynskiy, Guardiola said ”he’ll be giving his next press conference in Spanish. That says it all. It is a shame the injury has taken some of the edge out him after he arrived from Donetsk but he is a player who works hard and he’s adapting very well