MADRID (REUTERS) - Barcelona are fully focused on winning La Liga and if possible want to wrap up the title before next week's Champions League semi-final clash with Liverpool, coach Ernesto Valverde said on Monday (April 22).
The Catalans, who are on 77 points and are nine ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid, travel to Alaves on Tuesday.
If they beat Alaves and Atletico Madrid fail to win against fifth-placed Valencia 24 hours later, then Valverde's side will be crowned champions on Wednesday.
"A lot of people ask me if we want to get La Liga boxed off and that's what anyone would want to do," Valverde told a news conference.
"We want to win La Liga, whenever that may be and we'll see if we can get that done.
"It looks easy on paper: a win here, a draw there, we win it on a certain day but we have a lot of good teams to face with a lot to play for and things aren't easy."
Valverde is likely to give winger Ousmane Dembele a run out as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury suffered last month.
"He's not at 100 per cent. He will be getting his rhythm (back) little by little; he brings us a lot of speed and that will come in useful against sides who want to press high as we can use him in the spaces that leaves."
The 55-year-old was curt when asked whether Dembele would replace Philippe Coutinho in the pecking order now that the Frenchman was back from injury.
"Here nobody has gone in front of anybody. Everyone we have here is a great player and while we might have had situations where one has replaced the other one, that kind of thing happens in all clubs," he said.
"Each player is looking for his place and to be in the best shape they can be. In this case, Dembele has played, or Coutinho has played. They can even play together."
Valverde will be without long-term absentee Rafinha for the trip to the Basque country, while Thomas Vermaelen and Samuel Umtiti remain doubts.
Alaves, who are eighth on 46 points, will be without Jonathan Calleri (suspended) and injured trio Guillermo Maripan, Takashi Inui and Jorge Burgui.
Ambitious Hougang show title promise. While Hougang United have made some eye-catching signings like former Home United strike pair Faris Ramli (right) and Stipe Plazibat, today's Singapore
Football: Ambitious Hougang United show title promise, but
Egyptian football star Mohamed "Mo" Salah has called for change in the way women are treated in the Muslim world, in an interview with Time magazine published Wednesday. The 26-year-old
PSG coach Thomas Tuchel hits out at Neymar after fan attack Neymar says he was wrong to hit fan after PSG's French Cup final Stay up to date on all the latest Football news with The New
Football: PSG coach Tuchel hits out at Neymar after fan attack
Hundreds of people bid farewell to Emiliano Sala (Gustavo Garello/Getty Images) His body was pulled from the wreckage on February 7 but the British pilot, David Ibbotson, 59, from Lincolnshire
Bayern Munich striker Sandro Wagner leaves for China's Tianjin Teda after receiving 'a very attractive offer' Sandro Wagner has had a limited role at Bayern Munich under Niko Kovac
Bayern forward Wagner moves to Tianjin Teda - China.org.cn
We all have, or have had, people in our lives we think we know. People that we trust, that we put our faith in. People we've invested time and emotion into, who make us feel safe and comforted and cared for. These people are our lifelines and connections in a vast world of disinterest.
Football: Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky FA
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has said Eden Hazard is free to leave the club if he wants to but the Italian hopes the forward stays at Stamford Bridge. Hazard has been linked with a move to
Eden Hazard: Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea must respect
MANCHESTER (AFP) - Kevin De Bruyne's timely return to action for Manchester City is a major boost for Pep Guardiola as his team brace for a punishing programme over the festive period.. Read more
Man City star Kevin De Bruyne upbeat as he bids to put
Football: Man United legends thrash Bayern in 1999 charity rematch Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates scoring their first goal with David Beckham. PHOTO: REUTERS
Manchester United Legends Thrash Bayern Munich in 1999
From Madrid - Jurgen Klopp has vowed that winning the Champions League on Saturday night "is only the start" for Liverpool, and that his young team be looking to win more trophies in the years to
Klopp warns Europe: 'This is only the start for Liverpool
> Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the scoring their second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace, at Emirates Stadium, in London, Britain, on April
Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates
Barcelona have one hand firmly on the La Liga title after winning 2-0 at Alaves on Tuesday, leaving them 12 points clear at the top of the table with four games to play. Should second place Atletico Madrid lose at Valencia on Wednesday or against Real Valladolid on Saturday, Barcelona will be champions before they face Levante that evening.
0 comments:
Post a Comment