Tito Vilanova: “Excitement is guaranteed against Málaga”

Barcelona (FCB).- Barça Manager, Tito Vilanova, believes that the Spanish Cup quarter final playoff against Málaga will be different from the match played this Sunday at La Rosaleda. “The other day in the league we played a great match but we know who were coming up against [on Wednesday]. It’s a match worthy of the Champions League. They’ve shown what they are capable of.” He added that Málaga “have many virtues and I believe that it will be much more difficult in a two-leg tie. It’s more difficult when it’s a playoff because your rival plays with the result.”

A full Camp Nou

Barça Manager hopes that fans attend tomorrow’s match at the Camp Nou in order to help the team get a good result ahead of the return leg in Andalusia. “We have the chance to watch a game worthy of the Champions League. It’s going to be exciting, in addition Leo Messi will offer up his fourth Ballon d’Or to the Camp Nou. It would be good to have a full stadium so he can be properly recognised.”

Málaga won’t alter its approach 

When asked about tomorrow’s game against Málaga, Vilanova noted that he believes Manuel Pellegrini’s side won’t change its approach. “Pellegrini’s teams all play a very similar style of football and that’s why I don’t think their approach will be different.”

The Catalan manager confirmed that tomorrow’s line-up will be different to the starting XI he sent out on Sunday. “We’re lucky that the players that don’t get a lot of minutes have helped us win so many points in the league. Any team that we send out will be competitive. Each one of the players transmits confidence.”

“There are many games left”

When asked about the Spanish League and the advantage over Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid, Vilanova said, “there are a lot of games left.” He added: “Madrid are capable of winning their remaining matches and we can lose our advantage.” Therefore the goal isn’t to rely on that advantage; rather, it’s “to increase it. The best way to maintain our form is to consider that each and everyone of our matches is important. The day we rely on our advantage is the day we lose.”

Sergio Busquets and David Villa 

Tito Vilanova finished his press conference by praising Sergio Busquets. Despite the fact that the midfielder is often overlooked for individual awards, the manager believes that “what’s important is that he feels valued by us. For me, in that position, he’s the best player in the world.”

On David Villa, who will miss tomorrow’s match against Málaga due to injury, Tito explained that “against Spartak he had some physical problems that hampered his progress. Now he’s sustained other physical problems that have nothing to do with his injury.”

Pleased Guardiola is returning to football

Tito Vilanova was visibly pleased when he talked about Pep Guardiola’s anticipated return to football. “It’s great news that Pep is eager and ready to return. Football needs the best coach to manage again. I’m sure it will go very well for him wherever he goes.” The manager also reminded the press room that he’s not competing to best the numbers put up by Pep’s Barça. “I feel very much part of what was done before and therefore I’m competing against myself. I haven’t won anything, on a general level I would lose in any comparison [with Guardiola].” Finally, when asked to highlight his best memory from when he was Guardiola’s assistant, Vilanova said, “the 5 to 0 over Madrid and the final of the Champions League in London.”