Friday, 28th March, 2014
Barcelona manager Tata Martino is confident that goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto will step up for the rest of the season for the club, after Victor Valdes was ruled out due to injury.
Valdes suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Celta Vigo, which will keep him out for the rest of the season. This puts the spotlight on the squad’s second goalkeeper, Pinto.
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Martino is confident that Pinto will step up and prove his worth; he was supposed to start the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid even if Valdes was available.
"He was going to play in the final of the Copa, and now he will do, plus 13 more finals", Martino said in a press conference.
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The Argentine confirmed that he is constantly in conversation with the Spaniard about the details of the game and changes he would like to see in the defensive set-piece routine.
"I like to speak with him in order to go over changes in dead ball situations, strategic plays. I asked him if he would like us to change anything to make him more comfy.
"There were some details. The rest is all under control. It's not a new situation for him".
Pinto has made 15 appearances for Barcelona during the course of the current season. Eight of those 15 starts came in the Copa del Rey.
Barcelona take on Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final at the Mestalla on Wednesday 16th April.
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