BARCELONA, Vilanova: "The most important thing is that we’ve got nine points"

© foto di Hernandez/Alterphotos/Image Sp

Now that the international break is over, Barça return to Liga action on Saturday in search of the fourth win out of four at the ever-difficult Getafe, where they lost last season.

Asked what he’ll do about the three players that are out for the game at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, Vilanova admitted that “it changes things a bit. It doesn’t just affect the starting eleven, but also possible changes in the second half … There’s nothing we can do about it, but the best way to beat the FIFA Virus is by beating Getafe”.

Considering who’s missing, this might mean chances for Thiago and Villa. On the former, Vilanova said that “he’s been training very well over the last few weeks and is in good shape,” while on the Asturian he commented that “he can play more than 45 minutes, he’s getting better every day”. He also spoke about Cesc Fàbregas, “a top level player that would be in the first eleven of any team in the world,” and also Puyol, who has been declared fit and “feels confident with the protection and is ready to play”.

Nine points what matter most

Three matches before the clásico, Barça lead Real Madrid by five points. Vilanova reckons “the objective is to worry about each game … It’s no use looking further ahead. The most important game right now is against Getafe. It’s a difficult ground, against a team that not so long ago beat Madrid, and we know all about the difficulties we’ll face … The most important thing is that we’ve got nine points … It’s still early, and there are a lot of points left to play for and the gap is still small. The time will come when we’ll be able to think ahead, but it’s not this time”.