Lionel Messi hit four goals as he inspired Barcelona to a 5-1 victory over Valencia in the Spanish La Liga, but the champions still remain 10 points behind leaders Real Madrid.
Messi took his league goal tally to 27 for the season and 42 in all competitions.
Pablo Piatti put third-placed Valencia ahead before Messi responded with two goals in five minutes.
Barca were in control but some excellent keeping from Diego Alves, as well as reckless finishing, prevented them seeing off Valencia earlier.
Messi completed his hat-trick with 15 minutes to go after running clear of the defence and clipping the ball over the keeper.
Substitute Xavi Hernandez lobbed the ball in for the fifth in injury time.
Manager Per Guardiola considers that, seeing how his players have performed throughout the season, his team doesn’t deserve to be 10 points behind in the Liga.
For the manager, it’s a “privilege” to be able to watch Barça play football. “We’re so lucky to be living in a time when these players play. This team dignifies the sport,” said Guardiola when asked about his take on his team’s performance.
It’s a shame we’re so far away. I sincerely believe that our play isn’t representative of being 10 points down, but we are, and we have to live with it. The distance is what it is, let’s see if we can fulfill our job,” said the manager.
On the team’s current situation in the league, the Barça manager urged his players to keep on fighting: “We must compete well, if we don’t this [season] will be very long for us. We have to try to make sure that these three remaining months in the league aren’t drawn out and we must try and compete the best we can ... we have to go to the Calderón and play a good game, let’s see if we can get any closer to [Madrid]. We’ll start preparing for the game on Wednesday, it’ll be a good test to see if we want the title.”
When asked about the possibility of playing the King’s Cup final in Mestalla and not the Santiago Bernabeu, Guardiola said, “I’d like to go where we are welcome and I’d rather not go to a place where they don’t want us to dignify a competition like the King’s Cup. In the end there aren’t any problems, we’re thankful to Valencia for receiving us. We never want to make anyone uncomfortable. If they don’t want us, we won’t go. It’s clear that we won’t play in a place where we aren’t welcome.”
Guardiola also confessed that he told Cesc Fabregas “you have to score a goal,” when he was substituted. “We had way too many clear chances, it’s not possible. We’re helping the opposing keepers of the Liga make a good case for contract extensions with their teams,” he said jokingly.
The manager also said that he’s convinced that Messi will break César’s all-time goalscoring record. The Argentine only needs 12 more goals.
Turning to the matter of his contract renewal, Josep Guardiola admitted that he has been working on the planning of next season for some time. He insisted that he has yet to make a decision and that it was "a personal question that doesn't have anything to do with the Club".
He admitted that he's better off at Barça than anywhere else but would like to have a little more time to decide: "It has to feel right for me. I can't work in such a demanding Club if I'm not fully convinced that I'll have the strength to do it. I don't want to do something if it doesn't feel right. The Club has every right to set me a deadline, which they haven't done, and I appreciate that. This is very demanding and I have to be convinced."
