Guardiola: We will play Copa final anywhere

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is not fazed about the venue for his side’s Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid in April.

There had been reports one of the two sides could play at home in the final, which will be played on Wednesday April 20, going against the standard practice of staging a cup final at a neutral venue.

Whatever the authorities decide, Guardiola insists his men will be ready.

“We will go wherever they decide,” Guardiola said. “We will turn up wherever the federation decides that we will play.”

“It doesn’t worry me at all. If it is at the Bernabeu, then we will go there. If it is the Camp Nou, then we will play here – they decide.”

“The normal thing to do for a cup final is to play it at a neutral venue. But the federation are in charge. With the help of (Real president) Florentino Perez and (Barca president) Sandro Rosell, they will decide where we play.”

The Barcelona boss is hopeful of some heavy scoring when his side plays host to Atletico Madrid in La Liga action on Saturday, and said that despite the Europa League champions’ poor form of late, he was looking forward to a tough encounter.

“Atletico Madrid want to beat Real Madrid and Barcelona, but they are professionals who have won the Europa League and the European Supercup,” Guardiola said.

“They are a team who had to perform miracles in order to get a chance on goal four days ago (in their 2-0 home loss to Athletic Bilbao).”

“They are a very good team on a bad run of form, which happens at times, but they are one of the big sides in Spanish football and they come here tomorrow.”

“With it being a Saturday game against Atletico Madrid, I expect and hope that the stadium will be full.”

“I hope that it is a game like those between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have always been, and that there are a lot of goals. We will do our best to make that happen.”