Tata accepts it’s been a poor season for Barca

Andy West 09:47 16/04/2014
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  • Togetherness required: Barcelona have it all to play for in the final against Real Madrid.

    Beleaguered Barcelona coach Tata Martino has ruefully admitted that even victory in tonight’s Copa del Rey final over Real Madrid will probably not be enough to save his team’s season or turn around perceptions of his managerial abilities.

    Martino has come under fire following his team’s exit from the Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid and Saturday’s 1-0 La Liga defeat at Granada, which has left them four points behind leaders Atletico.

    Those losses came as the latest blows in a fractured and fractious season which has seen the Nou Camp club generate a series of negative headlines off the pitch as well as enduring repeated suggestions that they are a declining force on it.

    Responding to last season’s brutal Champions League demolition at the hands of Bayern Munich – a tie that was seen as a watershed moment for Barca’s ‘tiki-taka’ playing style – Martino has regularly tinkered with his team’s tactical approach, including repositioning Lionel Messi on the right wing in an attempt to give him more space.

    The team’s recent string of failures has resulted in a torrent of criticism for both the players and Martino, but the Argentine retained his habitual sense of humour as he said: “When I arrived in Barcelona, people were saying I wouldn’t be eating Christmas pudding here – but now I’m getting ready to eat a nice Easter egg.

    “Whatever happens, the analysis of my performance will not be positive. That’s the price you pay for being here.”

    Martino refused to yield to the temptation of claiming that a trophy tonight would compensate for recent disappointments, adding: “I don’t want to cover my back for what we didn’t achieve in other competitions. This competition has its own merit but it doesn’t mean that we can forget our feelings from the others. I don’t see it as a way of making amends.”

    Aside from the tactical role he selects for Messi, Martino has significant defensive problems. With Gerard Pique almost certain to miss out, Marc Bartra struggling to recover from a thigh injury and captain Carles Puyol desperately short of match practice, Martino faces the prospect of fielding a drastically reshaped back four.

    Sergio Busquets played at centreback against Granada on Saturday, but considering the lack of form shown by Alex Song he will almost certainly be picked in midfield tonight, with versatile Brazilian, Adriano the most likely replacement in the heart of defence.

    Despite his defensive uncertainties, Martino attempted to instil confidence into his team by reminding them of their two league victories over Madrid this season. He said: “We have to think about the good moments we’ve enjoyed in our other games with Madrid. If we play well, we will win.”

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