FCBARCELONA.CAT

12.12.2009 23:38

“We’re tired and it must be noticeable”

Jordi Clos

Coach Pep Guardiola congratulated his players on their win against Espanyol, and called on them to keep their spirits up for the Clubs World Cup.

Guardiola was proved right in his pre-match prediction saying that it would be a hard-fought game. “It was just as I thought. I knew it would be a closed-down game”. After getting the three points, the coach praised his players: “We’ve beaten a great side. It’s an important win”.

The Barça coach said: “We played well in the first half, it was a close thing. In the second, Espanyol created problems for us. We’re tired and it must be noticeable”.

The penalty and substituting Ibra

About the deciding penalty, Guardiola stated that Xavi had assured him that it had been a foul, and the coach believed him. He seemed resigned to what some of the headlines would say. “I can imagine what will happen. We’re used to it by now”. In reference to substituting Ibra, the Barça coach justified it by saying: “They were trying to get him sent off. I didn’t like what I was seeing”.

And now the Clubs World Cup

Barça’s next challenge in their quest for the five cups is the Clubs World Cup next week in Abu Dhabi. “We’re not going to automatically pick up anything. We have to win our right to be in the final”. After yet another long journey, the Barça coach has clear intentions: “We’re going to train a little, rest as much as possible and see if we can win”.