Martino accepts blame for Barcelona’s late-season slump

Catalan club's injury worries grow as Puyol pulls out of training with knee complaint

Barcelona's Neymar, pictured during the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid at Estadio Mestalla on April 16, 2014 in Valencia, Spain, says he will be fit in time to play in this summer's World Cup. David Ramos / Getty Images
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BARCELONA // Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino has defended Lionel Messi from criticism for his erratic play during three consecutive losses while acknowledging he was not “satisfied” with his own coaching performance.

In the past two weeks, Barcelona have been eliminated from the Uefa Champions League by Atletico Madrid, lost the Copa del Rey final to rivals Real Madrid, and fallen to third place in the league.

Martino dismissed media speculation that Messi’s mini-dip in form might lead to the record goalscorer’s departure at the end of the season.

“That people are talking about Messi’s future surprises us, I don’t take those comments seriously,” Martino said on Saturday.

“A football player, when he finds himself in these types of circumstances, focuses on the game. Sometimes they can play better or worse, but since it is [Messi] everything is overblown. His future must be in Barcelona until he stops playing.”

Martino is approaching the end of a tumultuous first year of a two-year contract. It is widely expected he will be fired this summer, unless Barcelona can pull off an unlikely recovery to overtake league leaders Atletico and Real.

Martino accepted responsibility for the team’s sudden decline, which will likely leave the Catalans without a major trophy for the first time since the 2007/08 season.

“I am not satisfied with my job done,” the Argentine said. “When you don’t get results, you can’t be satisfied.

“This team is accustomed to winning and, leaving aside the Spanish Super Cup, to have no chances in two competitions and almost none in the third means I can take nothing positive from my performance.”

Barcelona host Athletic Bilbao tonight needing to win to stay within four points of Atletico as the season nears its end. They will be without the injured Neymar, Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique and Victor Valdes, while Sergio Busquets is suspended.

Captain Carles Puyol joined a long list of absentees after feeling pain in his knee during training yesterday.

Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde has been rumoured to be a possible replacement for Martino if he is let go.

Neymar said he would be well enough to play in the World Cup in June despite a foot injury that could force him to miss the rest of the club season.

The 22 year old injured his left foot on Wednesday in the 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final. Barcelona said on Thursday he would be out for four weeks and could miss the rest of the club season.

“I always had a bit of fear” that the injury would force me to “stay out of the World Cup,” Neymar told Globo TV.

“But within the next three weeks I’ll be back and I hope to play Barcelona’s last game.”

Felipe Scolari, the Brazil coach, plans for Neymar to lead his country’s hopes for a sixth World Cup title on home soil in June.

Neymar will stay in shape by exercising with weights and in the pool, the medical department of Brazil’s national team said after speaking with Barcelona.

“It’s horrible to be out, without training, without playing, and to see your comrades playing and training,” he told Globo.

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