Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola switches focus to Champions League final against Manchester United

Pep Guardiola – Barcelona (Getty Images)

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Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has shifted the focus on to the Champions League final against Manchester United after his side strolled to an easy 3-1 win over Malaga to end their title-winning Primera Division campaign in style.

A weakened Blaugrana XI came from behind to claim victory despite a number of first team stars, including Lionel Messi, being rested ahead of next Saturday’s Wembley final as the coach wants to ensure his players arrive in London with the correct mindset.

“We have to work during the week for Manchester and we will have to do plenty of mental work,” he told the press after the game.

“We will have a good week and then we will start to get in the mood at the right moment starting from Thursday.”

Guardiola is happy that all his players will be available for the final, and despite insisting that the domestic league title is the most important, he said they will be playing to their full potential as they attempt to repeat history after beating United 2-0 in the 2009 Champions League showpiece in Rome.

“I am happy to recover all the players for the Wembley final. I feel happy to have them available. Everyone will travel to London knowing we represent a certain way of playing and we will try to do it in the best way possible.

“Winning the final is the objective and you have to be faithful. We are competing against a rival and against ourselves. We have to express ourselves to the maximum.

“La Liga is the most important competition, but now we have to play in the most attractive, fascinating game. The world will be watching us, and we have to represent Spanish football.”

Speaking of the win over Malaga, Guardiola said: “It helps us prepare the week with good spirits.”

The Champions League final takes place on Saturday evening at 19:45 BST.