Pep: Málaga Will Be A True Test

Barcelona only just overcame Benidorm in the Copa Del Rey in mid-week but that should not disguise the fact that they are in a rich vein of form at the moment.

The Catalan side have won their last ten matches on the spin and thrashed Almería and Basel 5-0 last week in dominant displays. They now face Málaga at La Rosaleda this weekend and manager Pep Guardiola knows that with the island side having won their last four matches it will not be an easy game.

"It will be a true test against Málaga," he said, "It is a nice stadium and they are a physically strong, dynamic and very aggressive side all over the pitch. They have won four games in a row and when you watch them it is easy to see why."

"The past does not serve the future and tomorrow we have a new test, a new validation to see where we are," he declared.

With the Málaga the opponents Pep was also asked whether he thinks this match will be similar to that which they lost on the opening day of the season against another newly promoted side, Numancia. The manager says that he does not believe it will be because this time their rivals will attack more.

"They will not close down at the back, they will go forward more and try to score goals. They have a very direct style and they will play with their strategy. If we go there saying how good we are and how well we are playing then we will come out badly," assured the manager.

Aside from the upcoming match Guardiola also spoke about other issues such as Diego Maradona's probably appointment as Argentina coach and rumours of Xavi moving to Arsenal in exchange for Cesc Fabregas. The latter of those topics he quashed straight away by saying, "With me as coach Xavi remains here, that is non-negotiable," and then he spoke about Maradona and any possible changes regarding Lionel Messi and playing for his country.

"I am convinced it will be very good for football," he said of Maradona before saying about Messi, "For the time being he will not go to play Scotland (19th November) or France (11th February) as he still lacks time."

"It is clear that I prefer to have the matches here rather than further away but neither are ideal. However, it is not the same thing to be going to play in Argentina, Uruguay or Paraguay as Europe," he concluded.


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