Being four points behind leaders Real Madrid, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola believes his team’s situation in La Liga is delicate enough to take the Levante match as seriously as possible.
At this point, it is vital for the Catalans to extend their tally game by game, if they are to keep the pressure on Los Blancos. This simply means that they are compelled to make extra efforts in the remainder of their league campaign so as to stay in contention for La Liga title.
But unfavourably, Barcelona are met with such a demanding task at a wrong moment in their season. In fact, between April 18 and April 24, Barca will be playing twice against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League semis and once against Real Madrid in La Liga’s last Clasico in the on-going term.
Surely, physical form and behaviour are two factors that will partly determine whether the Catalans will come out of their “tough 6 days” on a positive note. Under normal circumstances, it would have been fair enough for Pep Guardiola to rest some of his players against fifth place Levante.
Nevertheless, the 41-year-old believes his side missed enough opportunities in La Liga this season to decrease their upcoming match’s importance. Thus, he refuses to see his challenge against Chelsea as more significant for the time being.
“If the difference (in La Liga between Barcelona and Real Madrid) was ten points, we could make one competition a priority,” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference.
“But given the situation we are in, the game with Levante is more important.”
Guardiola went on to explain that the outcome of Los Cules’ match against Levante will actually determine how useful El Clasico will be for his side: “If we don’t win the game against Levante, we’ll have nothing to play for against Madrid.”
“We’d lose the little chance we have. There is only one way to extend competitions, and that’s by winning”.
With already three players unavailable - excluding the doubtful Gerard Pique – Guardiola informed fans that he was aiming for a strong side that would be capable of getting the job done: “I’ll be playing what I think is the strongest team - the team that can adapt best to the opponents and the ground.”
But unfavourably, Barcelona are met with such a demanding task at a wrong moment in their season. In fact, between April 18 and April 24, Barca will be playing twice against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League semis and once against Real Madrid in La Liga’s last Clasico in the on-going term.
Surely, physical form and behaviour are two factors that will partly determine whether the Catalans will come out of their “tough 6 days” on a positive note. Under normal circumstances, it would have been fair enough for Pep Guardiola to rest some of his players against fifth place Levante.
Nevertheless, the 41-year-old believes his side missed enough opportunities in La Liga this season to decrease their upcoming match’s importance. Thus, he refuses to see his challenge against Chelsea as more significant for the time being.
“If the difference (in La Liga between Barcelona and Real Madrid) was ten points, we could make one competition a priority,” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference.
“But given the situation we are in, the game with Levante is more important.”
Guardiola went on to explain that the outcome of Los Cules’ match against Levante will actually determine how useful El Clasico will be for his side: “If we don’t win the game against Levante, we’ll have nothing to play for against Madrid.”
“We’d lose the little chance we have. There is only one way to extend competitions, and that’s by winning”.
With already three players unavailable - excluding the doubtful Gerard Pique – Guardiola informed fans that he was aiming for a strong side that would be capable of getting the job done: “I’ll be playing what I think is the strongest team - the team that can adapt best to the opponents and the ground.”
