Barça drew a game they looked to have won when it was 2-0. Two isolated actions by Real Sociedad in the 59th and 61st minutes salvaged a draw for the Basques at Anoeta. Josep Guardiola opined that “sport is very hard … the teams are good and well prepared.” Results like this, he reckons, go to show just what an immense achievement all Barça’s recent successes have been. But he did admit that “we are going to have to do things better.”

Coping with setbacks

He then said that “in football you always need a high level of concentration, especially in the First Division … we played a good first half but after the goals we found it hard. That was a very good lesson for us for the future”.

Guardiola also commented that if Montanier’s side had managed to get a point out of the game, it was not because Barça had thrown it away but “because they did things well. Of course, we got things wrong, but they deserve the credit … we were playing a good team who have every right to score goals. In fact, we were only saying at half-time that the game was anything but over”.

“If we draw or lose there is a reason. Football is very competitive, very demanding. We have to take things as they come, knowing that it’s all very hard. We have to make a huge effort.” Asked about this unusual choice of starting eleven, Guardiola said “we all have to make it to the end of the year, and all the players have made an effort”.

Alexis injured

The Barça manager ended with words of sorrow regarding Alexis Sánchez, who picked up an ischiotibial injury in his right leg, and who pending further tests on Sunday looks likely to be out of action for between six and eight weeks.