Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: "Copa del Rey" Final is not the match of the season for Guardiola

For Josep Guardiola, it makes sense to hear that Real Madrid will use counterattacks as their main strategy against Barcelona. That's why he said this 'Copa del Rey' Final "will not be the game of the season".

"Our philosophy is to play and move really fast, to get tired of playing great football" said the Catalan coach. "I'm in no position to criticise Mourinho's strategy".

Barcelona arrived at Valencia and visited the Mestalla Stadium, the perfect scenario for such a final. But Guardiola remains cautious. "Beating Real Madrid in a final will not chage history. Such a result will not change everything that Madrid have won."

Puyol: I don't like to hear doubts about Xavi's work

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said today that he is not pleased with some speculations about Xavi Hernandez pretending to have an injury in order to avoid their game against Mallorca.

"It makes no sense. Xavi is always eager to play, to be there for the team. His stats prove it, and if he is not playing this game, is because he really has an injury" Puyol assured

The Spanish defender said that he does not read the news very often but those rumours about Xavi still reached him, and that is a bad signal.

Puyol is happy that Xavi as well as David Villa are recovering from their physical problems and are very likely to play agains the powerful Valencia. "They are both key players" he finished.

David Villa wanted by Josep Guardiola

Valencia super talented striker David Villa is the player Barcelona have lined up to replace Samuel Eto'o.

In fact, with no new contract talks planned until the summer with Eto'o, a newspaper says that the Catalan Club are drawing up plans in the event they're forced to sell the African talented player.

Villa is Barca's top choice ahead of Lyon forward Karim Benzema.

Indeed, Barcelona’s boss Pep Guardiola has agreed with sports chief Txiki Begiristain that Villa is the ideal striker to succeed Eto'o. For his part, Begiristain doesn't see Eto'o as critical to next season's plans and believes the market offers better alternatives - including Villa - should agreement over a new contract fail to be reached.