The Catalan mentor has reassured La Blaugrana faithful that the team will be able to perform without the availability of Lionel Messi.
Pep Guardiola spoke ahead of Barcelona’s clash against Sporting Gijon on Saturday. The current Spanish Champions are set to play hosts to Sporting in their next Spanish La Liga fixture.
The Club World Cup winners will be hoping to secure a victory against Gijon in Saturday’s match as they cannot afford to lose any more points this season.
Many believe that it should be easy for the Spanish giants to take down Sporting over the weekend, despite having to play without their star man, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lionel-Messi-c22296.
Guardiola expressed his confidence prior to the clash and stated that the home team should be able to see the game through.
Many have argued whether Barca significantly depend on the Argentine; however, most people have agreed on the fact that the club is bigger than the player.
While addressing the press, Guardiola was quoted as saying:
"Tomorrow we are without a player who is capable of wrong-footing not only one player, but many and many times. He is the one who helps us push forward right from the start, and in an intense way. And we don't have him tomorrow, so the player in his position
will be performing differently. What we will ask from him is to do what he can do."
"It has been four years in which http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Leo-c22011 (Messi)'s performance in the attacking third has been important. He is the most decisive player in the world. But we always try to adapt, give, demand or ask the players to do what they can do best on the pitch."
The current UEFA Champions League title holders are 10 points behind Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga standings. They will look to keep the title race alive over the weekend and try to put a little pressure on Jose Mourinho’s men, as Los Blancos play their
weekend fixture on Sunday.
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