Barca waiting on Guardiola contract decision

Playing today Levante    vs    Racing     19:00 Mallorca    vs    Betis    Getafe  vs  Real Madrid    21:00    Barcelona vs Sociedad    23:00

Friday, February 03, 2012
SILENT; Barcelonau2019s coach Pep Guardiola. Net photo.

Playing todayLevante    vs    Racing     19:00Mallorca    vs    Betis    Getafe  vs  Real Madrid    21:00    Barcelona vs Sociedad    23:00Playing on Sunday    Sporting vs    Osasuna  13:00Granada vs    Málaga     17:00    Sevilla  vs  Villarreal    19:00    Zaragoza    vs    Rayo   20:45    Atlético  vs    Valencia    22:30 MADRIDBarcelona are in the unusual position of having drawn their last three matches as they prepare for Saturday’s home La Liga game against Real Sociedad and Pep Guardiola’s unwillingness to commit to a new contract is not helping settle jangled nerves.The spectacularly successful 41-year-old coach prefers to renew his deal with the Spanish and European champions on an annual basis and as the season has slipped by mutterings about the possibility of him leaving in June have grown in volume.Barca president Sandro Rosell is desperate to persuade Guardiola, who has led the Catalan club to 13 trophies since taking over in 2008, to agree an extension, although he has so far refrained from putting too much public pressure on the former Barca and Spain midfielder.Guardiola waited until Feb. 8 last year before inking a new deal and went on to capture a third successive La Liga title and a second Champions League crown, as well as the Spanish and European Super Cups and the Club World Cup."The sooner the better,” Rosell told reporters on Tuesday when quizzed about the issue. "That would always be a massive boost, it would be great,” he added.This season, Guardiola faces perhaps his stiffest test from Real Madrid, who have been honed into a fearsome attacking force by Portuguese Jose Mourinho, an assistant coach at Barca when Guardiola was a player.Real, who play at city rivals Getafe on Saturday, have a seven-point lead over Barca with just over half the season played and are fiercely determined to end their arch-rivals’ domestic and European domination.