Piqué: “We are Barça, we’ll move forward”

The centre back is confident that the team will be able cut into the lead that Madrid currently has over the reigning champions

Gerard Piqué is confident that FC Barcelona will bounce back after the loss to Getafe. “I’m convinced that the team will give everything they’ve got to be fighting for the title at the end of the season.” The centre defender called on the Camp Nou faithful to “trust us.” While adding that, "there are may games still yet to be played, a lot of points up for grabs. Madrid is doing things a bit better and we have to turn this situation around. We are Barça and we’ll move forward.”

The players are aware that they have no time to dwell on the defeat against Getafe as FC Barcelona will host Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday at the Camp Nou. Piqué said he doesn’t wan’t to think about the game against Madrid but it’s important, with the Clásico looming, that against Rayo and Levante “the team must win six points.”

Víctor Valdés

“We’re disappointed because it was a defeat that wasn’t expected. The team did a good job but we didn’t take advantage of our chances.”

“We knew we had to win here but it didn’t work out. We have to pick ourselves up because we have a game right around the corner.”

“We have to keep on fighting. The sooner we lift our heads the better. We have to work hard because we have a game in a couple of days. We have to concentrate on winning our matches.”

“It’s a really negative result and we have to pick ourselves up as soon as possible.”

David Villa

“We don’t have to make excuses. We gave it our all and we tried to win but it wasn’t possible.”

“The team played well but we didn’t capitalise on our opportunities. They scored off a fateful corner.”

“We’re far away [from Madrid] but there is still a lot of time. This isn’t over. We have a game against them that we can win. We have to take it step by step.”

Maxwell

“We needed to score early on. When time ticks away it gets a bit more complicated.”

“We must be patient and focus on the next match.”

“It’s a big difference but we still have work to do, we need to see where we made mistakes and where we can improve.”

Getafe - FC Barcelona: The show goes on

Guardiola has Alves and Adriano back after they missed the Milan game, but Iniesta is still out

Jordi Clos

Barça are going into the final month of 2011 in fine form, as they showed last weekend with a convincing 4-0 win over Zaragoza and then again midweek in the Champions League at the San Siro, beating AC Milan 3-2. But three days after delighting Europe once more, they travel to the ever-complicated Getafe. It's important to maintain the pressure on Real Madrid, who will have played an awkward derby with Atlético Madrid just before.
The Getafe game is one of five for Barça before they go to the Clubs World Cup. After this game, they face Rayo, Levante, Viktoria Plzen and Madrid, all at the Camp Nou apart from the clásico.
Alves and Adriano return
The league champions go into the game with an almost full squad. Adriano was given medical clearance to play on Friday and Alves is back after missing the Milan game through suspension. So the only absentees are Iniesta, who is rested as precautionary measure, and Afellay. Barça B full back Isaac Cuenca completes the squad of twenty.
So once again there is no clear idea what kind of team or format manager Pep Guardiola is going to opt for.
Getafe strong at home
Getafe, meanwhile, have finally got out of the relegation zone, which has had a lot do with their excellent form at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez, where they haven't lost since September 18. Manager Luis García will be pleased to have Lopo back, but will have to do without the injured Miguel Torres and the suspended Abdel Barrada.