Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino insists his side will not
be distracted by the fall-out from the club's FIFA-imposed transfer ban.
The Catalan club were slapped with a transfer embargo
effective for the next two windows for irregularities in their dealings at
youth level earlier this week.
Barca were found to have breached rules in making 10
signings between 2009 and 2013, but have since confirmed their intention to
appeal the sanction.
Martino's men host La Liga's bottom club Real Betis on
Saturday hoping to keep pace in an enthralling three-way title race.
Second-placed Barca are one point behind leaders Atletico
Madrid and two ahead of third-placed Real Madrid, and could also claim the Copa
del Rey and the UEFA Champions League trophies this term.
And Martino knows that Barca cannot afford to be affected
by the off-the-field controversy that has enveloped the club.
"It is much easier for the players to focus on
football, because ultimately that is our job," Martino said.
"We are informed, but our attention is on the match
against Betis because that is the most important thing.
"For a team that faces the possibility of 12 games
in three competitions it is important not to deviate from our objectives."
Barca were dealt a blow with defender Gerard Pique
suffering a hip injury in the 1-1 Champions League quarter-final first leg draw
with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Pique's injury, which is set to keep him out for around
four weeks, came less than a week after Victor Valdes suffered a cruciate
ligament tear in the 3-0 win over Celta Vigo.
But despite those blows, Martino is adamant his side will
have no excuses for any potential slip ups in the title race.
"There is no possible or valid excuse, neither
injuries nor problems outside of the football," he added.
"If we win we'll have had a good season and if we
don't win we won't have had a good season. We are the first people who don't
want excuses and we accept the situation as it is."
Culled from Soccerway
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