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Iniesta expressed his sympathy for David Villa, whose absence from the Euros was confirmed yesterday. Junji Kurokawa/AP/Press Association Images
icing on the cake

Final countdown: Iniesta eager to win for Guardiola

The midfielder is feeling confident ahead of the Copa del Rey final on Friday.

MIDFIELDER ANDRES INIESTA says Barcelona are fully focused on clinching one final trophy for outgoing coach Pep Guardiola.

Barcelona face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final on Friday with a 14th trophy under Guardiola up for grabs in his last match at the helm.

Guardiola has guided Barcelona to unprecedented success in his four years in charge, winning the Champions League twice and the La Liga on three occasions.

“We don’t think about losing this final,” Iniesta said.

“We think about winning, about the feeling you get when you lift another Copa del Rey trophy.

“It is hard to say, but I don’t think people’s view on these four years will change much whether we win or lose, but it is true that we will do all that we can to win this tournament.

“We are going to do all we can to end the season well and close the coach’s years winning the title.

“We would like to leave with a smile and a good taste in our mouth.”

Guardiola will be succeeded by long-serving assistant Tito Vilanova, who will head a new era at the Catalan giants.

“After the Copa del Rey final a new time starts, without Guardiola and with Tito,” Iniesta said.

“It would be wrong to believe Tito is going to win the league, the Champions League and other titles on his own.

“We the players have to be more convinced than ever that we are going to get things done and done well, following the same path we have followed so far.

“He has been at this club all this time, he knows what there is to know and therefore, as we did with Guardiola, we all have to work in the same direction and be convinced it is going to be all right.”

Barcelona will again be without forward David Villa, who has failed to recover from a broken leg in time for the Copa del Rey decider and Euro 2012.

“I feel bad for him, because it is a very difficult injury and he has worked very hard, for many hours, with the only goal of reaching the end of the season and the Euro 2012,” Iniesta said.

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