Guardiola: My hardest test yet
Posted Saturday, February 11, 2012 by ESPN
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has issued a rallying cry to his team ahead of Saturday's trip to Osasuna in La Liga.
For the first time during his reign, Guardiola's men look set to relinquish the league crown to bitter rival Real Madrid. The Catalans currently trail the outfit from the Spanish capital by seven points with 17 games remaining and Guardiola knows that losing further ground this weekend would be disastrous.
He told the club's website that the players need to overcome the "extreme situation" they currently find themselves in La Liga and that the game at the Reyno de Navarra "is one of the hardest tests we have left this season"
"We're in an extreme situation, the only good result is victory," Guardiola said.
"We have to move forward with a fighting spirit, effort, and belief."
Guardiola, who has led Barca to 13 titles since moving up from B team coach to guide the first XI in 2008, added that he would not allow his players to "give up" until the end of the season.
"It's one of the hardest tests we have left this season ... we went [to the Reyno de Navarra] a month ago to play in the Cup, and it wasn't easy. In fact, it's always been difficult for us in that stadium." he said.
The trip to Osasuna follows hot on the heels of Barca's midweek Cup triumph over Valencia where they booked their spot in the final of the Copa del Rey.
"When you get to a final it always reinforces you," Guardiola said.
"We started with six titles; we won three, in the other [competition] we're in the final and we have two more competitions to close out the season. We have to keep doing our work to maintain people's faith in us."
La Liga leaders Madrid entertain fourth-placed Levante on Sunday.
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