Martino's future in limbo

Gerardo Martino said he will reflect on whether he will continue as Barcelona coach next season after seeing his side's title hopes all but ended by a 2-2 draw at home to relegation-threatened Getafe.

The Catalans now look set to end the campaign without a major trophy for the first time in six years as they lie three points behind La Liga leader Atletico Madrid with just two games remaining and having played one match more.

As well as the onfield disappointment, Barca has had a difficult year off the field as former coach Tito Vilanova died after a battle with cancer and Sandro Rosell was forced to resign as president due to his role in the controversial signing of Neymar last year.

"Overall the season has not been a good one on a personal level, nor for Barcelona as a whole. It has been a very difficult season with a lot of external questions that we couldn't overcome," said Martino.

"There are times when you ask for a second chance and other times when you don't think you deserve it.

"I still believe there is time to think about it. We have just finished a game and now is not the time to say anything."

Martino also said he was unhappy to have dropped points at home to a team fighting relegation.

"In reality it was not what we expected," he said. "There was a chance that we wouldn't achieve our objective in winning the league, but not because we didn't win our games. Today we committed some errors and it cost us.

"If you don't beat a team fighting against relegation at home then you don't deserve to remain in the fight for the title till the end. Of the three teams in the title race, we have been the least consistent."

- Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 05/05/2014 page24)