Guardiola: We must improve

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola says his side must improve in order to retain their La Liga title.

The Camp Nou outfit are six points adrift of leaders Real Madrid following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Getafe.

Guardiola admitted his side have not been at the same level as Jose Mourinho’s team so far, but the Barca coach is still confident about their prospects in the upcoming Clasico fixture on December 10.

“You cannot always be at the top, but the truth is that this is the first time we are below another side,” he said. “This can happen, also because we are competing against Madrid.”

“We know we have a very strong rival above us and we are ready to try (to beat them).”

“We will have to improve, or we will not reach them. We are at a good level, but it is not enough to be first in the table.”

“We will try hard until the last day of the season. I do not know if it will be enough to be champions, but we will try.”

The 40-year-old rejected suggestions of a crisis at the club and said he cannot explain the team’s sub-par displays on the road this season.

“I do not think that this is the team’s most delicate moment since I arrived,” he said.

“There is not just one factor, because every (away) match is different. We did not play poorly in any match, we always had more chances than our opponent.”

Barcelona host Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday.