Pressure A Privilege For Gerardo Martino

[Folami David]

Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino has accepted that pressure to win titles is just part and parcel of his new job as his side prepare to take on Atletico Madrid in the first-leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday.
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Atleti boss Diego Simeone said earlier on Tuesday that all the pressure was on the Catalans as they will be heavy favourites to lift the first trophy of the Spanish season.
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And his compatriot Martino agreed that the expectations are such at Barcelona that anything other than victory over the two legs will be a huge disappointment.
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"Managing Barca the aspirations and obligations are the biggest they can be. You always have to go and win," he told a press conference on Tuesday.
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"We will try to take this title. It is a game over 180 minutes and we will play it as such."
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Barca's 7-0 hammering of Levante in Martino's first competitive match in charge on Sunday did little to dispel fears over the growing disparity in resources between Barca and Real Madrid and the rest of the sides in La Liga.
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However, Martino believes that despite losing Radamel Falcao in the close season, Atletico are capable of pushing Barca and Madrid this season.
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"Atletico, in the way that they play, are a very solid team. They are comfortable without possession and very direct. It is a very difficult test for us.
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"I think they are a side capable of winning La Liga."
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One of the most striking elements of Barca's performance on Sunday was their high pressing – reminiscent of Pep Guardiola's early days in charge at Barca – which suffocated Levante anytime the recovered possession.

[Shola Sholaz]

Pressure is what u expect from a football club like Barcelona...So the coach should expect anything!