Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has assured the club that
he will not walk away from Camp Nou at the end of the season.
The Argentinian was last week reported to be considering
cutting short his reign with the Spanish champions after coming in for
criticism as a result of Barca losing top spot in La Liga.
Martino signed a two-year contract when he was appointed
as Tito Vilanova's successor last July, and the 51-year-old has denied
speculation that his tenure could come to a premature end.
Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed earlier on
Tuesday that Martino had given assurances that he will not quit at the end of
the current campaign.
And the coach himself stated "I always respect my
contracts" at a press conference on the eve of Wednesday's Liga clash with
Real Betis.
Lionel Messi's hat-trick in Sunday's enthralling El
Clasico at the Bernabeu secured a 4-3 victory for the champions as an intriguing
title race continues to throw up twists and turns.
Martino is determined to ensure his side kick on
following that stunning victory over title rivals Real Madrid by overhauling
the one-point gap between themselves and Real and Atletico Madrid at the top of
the table.
He added: "It is important for us to be in the right
frame of mind for this run-in to the end of the season, and we are still
competing on all three fronts (Barca are also in the UEFA Champions League
quarter-finals and Copa del Rey final) and finding our form, so it's all
positive.
"We have to make the most of what we achieved at the
weekend, because it has put us back in contention for the league title."
Culled from Soccerway
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