Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola wary of title prophecies – La Liga news
Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola is wary of being handed the La Liga title of the ongoing 2010-11 season already by Jose Mourinho, claiming that anything could still happen in the remaining eight games of the campaign.
The Spanish champions all but ensured that they would go on to retain their crown after Saturday’s 1-0 win against Villarreal. Title competitors Real Madrid had earlier lost to Sporting Gijon at the Santiago Bernabeu, allowing Barcelona to open up an eight-point
lead at the summit of the La Liga standings.
A second half goal from defender http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gerard-c14664 Pique gave Barcelona the vital lead, and the visitors held out until the final whistle to take a huge step towards the Spanish championship.
Even Real coach Jose Mourinho has been forced to concede the title race, saying that it would be ‘practically impossible’ for his side to catch up with Barcelona now.
Speaking after Madrid’s defeat to Gijon, the enigmatic Portuguese had said, “Until the mathematics say otherwise then no, but looking at things pragmatically and objectively, if today [Saturday] Barca increase their lead to eight points [Barca beat Villarreal
1-0 in Saturday's late kick-off] you could say it's practically impossible.”
However, Catalan coach Guardiola is not as easily convinced. The Spaniard believes that it still too early to claim that his side will definitely go on to win the crown. He urged his players not to become complacent, warning them that anything can happen
in the final few matches of the campaign.
Speaking after his side’s victory over Villarreal, the Barcelona boss refuted Mourinho’s claims that the Catalans had already won the title. He said, “In the end leagues are won when they are won. There are some terribly tough games to come. We have gained
the biggest advantage of the season and it's very good, but in sport anything can happen.”
He added that Madrid always fight until the end, though he added that it was better to have an eight-point lead than a five-point one.
Though Barcelona may not have won the title yet, they have undoubtedly taken a huge step towards the La Liga title.
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