Barcelona vs Getafe preview - Martino won't say Tata to the title

Posted Friday, May 02, 2014 by PA

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has promised his players will fight to the end in the pursuit of the title.

They go into Saturday's match against Getafe four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid - who they face on the final day of the season - with three matches remaining.

The odds are against them but one slip from Atletico would put Barca back in the driving seat with that final day clash to come at the Nou Camp.

Midfielder Sergio Busquets on Thursday described Barca's season as "a disappointment" while the players have endured a difficult week, attending the funeral of their former coach Tito Vilanova the day after their come-from-behind 3-2 win over Villarreal last weekend, and since then defender Dani Alves has faced questioning over the pre-planned nature of his protest against racism.

However, Martino is confident they will emerge full of fight on Saturday.

"These players have never tired of competing and winning," he said. "When there are serious difficulties and situations, they still compete."

The league is Barca's last chance to salvage something from this campaign after they lost in the Copa del Rey final and were knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico at the quarter-final stage.

Martino has come under plenty of pressure in recent weeks with the impression remaining that he will be replaced in the summer.

"The season has been intense, but that is not a problem," he said. "The first is always a difficult year because you are exposed to everything. I learned a lot this season. Here you learn very fast and that is how it should be."

While the players have been deeply affected by the death of Vilanova, who died aged 45 after a long battle with throat cancer, Alves has also faced questioning in recent days over the anti-racism campaign he has spearheaded.

The Brazilian had a banana thrown at him by a Villarreal fan and was immediately praised for his response as he picked it up and took a bite before continuing with the game - setting up Barca's equalising goal moments later.

But it has since emerged that much of the response to the incident on the internet - which saw players worldwide post pictures of themselves eating bananas in support - was orchestrated by a marketing company in Brazil.

Alves has been forced to defend his actions, even as Villarreal announced a life ban for the fan who threw the banana.

"It is hypocritical to criticise a campaign against racism," Alves told BBC Brasil. "The critics are focusing on the context and not the objective, which is to make people aware that we are all humans and all the same.

"I did not expect so many people to get involved with this. It did not happen on other occasions when racism was denounced. I was very pessimistic about that part."

Getafe head for the Nou Camp just two points above the drop zone, having climbed away from trouble with a 1-0 win over Malaga last time out.