Roura hits back at pessimistic Barca critics
Jordi Roura has hit back at pessimistic Barcelona critics as he looks to reverse the club's worst run in five years.
By FOX Sports staff
The Catalans have slumped to three defeats in their last four matches - including a 2-0 loss to AC Milan in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 clash as well as consecutive losses to arch rivals Real Madrid.
This all means that despite Barca's commanding 11 point lead heading into another weekend of La Liga fixtures, Roura's methods have come under the microscope.
Roura is in temporary charge of Barca while manager Tito Vilanova undergoes cancer treatment and it will be up to him to stop the rot when Deportivo La Coruna visit on Saturday in La Liga.
"When things are going well, people are often just too euphoric - but when we lose, there is too much pessimism," Roura told a press conference.
"From what I've seen of the players, they are concentrated on Saturday's game and keen to turn the tie around against Milan.
"This Saturday's game is very important for us, we have to keep the lead we have at the top."
Barca will be hoping for a good performance on Saturday against Depor to take with them some confidence for the second leg with Milan at Nou Camp next Tuesday.
"We hope it will be a better week than the one before last - I look at the players and I'm optimistic," Roura said.
"They are very competitive players and they feel really bad when we are not at the level we want to be at.
"We've trained really well this week and the players look really focused on Saturday and determined to fight back on Tuesday."
Roura will be without Victor Valdes this weekend as the goalkeeper is serving a four match ban following his angry confrontation with the referee at the end of last week's defeat to Madrid.
Jose Manuel Pinto will come in for Valdes but Barca's first-choice keeper will be available for selection in the Champions League.