Just not Gud enough
Last updated: 9th April 2008
I think it's too easy an excuse to say 'we've had injuries and important players are not there' because when they have been playing we have lost as well.
Eidur Gudjohnsen on Barca's inconsistent season
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Eidur Gudjohnsen told Revista that injuries to Ronaldinho and Messi cannot be blamed for Barcelona's inconsistent season.
It's been an unusual title race in La Liga this season as every time the Champions and leaders Real Madrid have slipped up, Barcelona have not managed to take full advantage.
Bernd Schuster's team have been criticised for their form since the turn of the year yet they still remain seven points clear of their rivals.
Barca striker, Eidur Gudjohnsen spoke to Revista about his team's inconsistent form, and warns Madrid about Villarreal.
He said: "Every time that we've come close to Real Madrid we've sort of slipped up, Madrid haven't used the opportunities to run away with it.
"And the danger is always the silent one - Villarreal - which nobody is talking about and who have a great team.
"They showed that when they came here to the Camp Nou and beat us.
"We just have to try and find some regularity in our games, try and go unbeaten until the end of the season and hope that will be enough."
The Catalan giants have a 1-0 advantage heading into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Schalke and Gudjohnsen believes that may be the best avenue to success.
"People see a bigger chance of winning the Champions League than La Liga at the moment," he continued.
"But who knows - on Monday things might be different again, all of a sudden we might be a few points closer to the top again and it opens another big challenge to win the title.
"I don't think we have priorities but realistically at this moment the Champions League for us might be a bigger chance to win, even though it's a very difficult competition to win in itself."
No excuses
With the Camp Nou club bringing in Thierry Henry to bolster an already formidable attack, many felt that they would run away with La Liga, but injuries to Samuel Eto'o, Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho have slowed their title challenge, although Gudjohnsen believes that cannot be used as an excuse.
"We should have a squad capable of filling gaps but unfortunately in the league we have let ourselves slip a little bit.
"At a time when we thought we could apply great pressure on Madrid it went the opposite way.
"I think it's too easy an excuse to say we've had injuries and important players are not there because when they have been playing we have lost as well so we can't look to that as an excuse.
"Of course they're important players and can be influential but the problem doesn't lie on the injuries we have had I think it's another problem and we have to find a solution quickly."
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