Thursday 4th February 2010
Keita: We are better than Real
Barcelona's Seydou Keita has dismissed claims that referees have helped the team reach the summit of La Liga.
Keita's comments came in the wake of Barca's controversial 1-0 win over Sporting Gijon on Saturday.
It has been suggested in both Marca and AS (newspapers with a heavy focus on Madrid based football teams) that the goal scored by Pedro was offside.
The publications went on to claim that the Catalans were recepients of favourable refereeing decisions at the behest of Angel Maria Villar, head of the Spanish football federation.
Keita, however, was having none of it. "If [Real] Madrid are behind, it is because we are better. If one speaks of referees it is probably to destabilise us, because we are leaders and we are better," he said, according to AS.
The midfielder emphasised that referees "are human and can be wrong but they are there to work and not to help Barca, Madrid or any other team".
Speaking on Barca's need to keep their focus, the Malian said, "Less than two matches separate us [from Real Madrid] and there are 18 left. We can only continue to work hard and fight to win all of our matches."
Keita was also quite forthcoming with his views on the ban imposed on Togo following their withdrawal from the African Cup of Nations.
"I hope that CAF lifts the decision. One goes to the African Cup to play, not to die," he said.
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