Mendilibar: Even if we don't finish eighth, it'll still have been a tremendous season
Whilst Eibar's destiny is in their own hands in the battle to secure eighth spot, Mendilibar admitted, "We face the toughest game"
Speaking today in the build-up to Sunday's trip to the Camp Nou, José Luis Mendilibar insisted that, "If we don't end up finishing in eighth it wouldn't represent a failure, it will still have been a tremendous season" regardless of how things unfold on the last matchday on the campaign.
"It would be better for us to finish in eighth than 10th, but we've done our job this season and will end up finishing either a place or two higher up or lower down the standings. Our destiny is in our own hands because we're leading the pack, but we're also aware that of the three teams fighting to finish in eighth, we face the toughest game".
The Armeros' boss recognised that, "It'll be very difficult for us to win because the league title is on the line for them, although that all depends on another result".
"We drew away to the current league leaders earlier on in the season, but that doesn't mean to say that we'll be capable of beating or holding Barcelona. The precedent is there for us. It's also true that it would seem to those on the outside that there's not much at stake for us and that we'll just roll over. However, none of my players will be throwing the towel in at the Camp Nou because if you do there's no stopping them".
When quizzed about the fact that the press are written Eibar off in this, the final round of fixtures, Mendibiliar insisted, "You're not giving Eibar a chance. You're the ones who talk about the games and the Málaga v Madrid match and you're taking it for granted that Barça will beat Eibar. I like the situation, we're going there under the radar and we'll see if we manage to take something it. I think that it's perfectly normal that there's more talk of the Málaga v Madrid game because Barça's chances depend on what Madrid do".
Mendilibar was quick to deny any suggestions that Eibar have got some unresolved business with Barcelona. "We always talk about unresolved business when you refer to a team that has beaten you. I haven't got any issues with them. If you end up being in the game for long enough, there will always be times when you win or lose against certain opponents and then you later come up against them again. However, it's not a case of looking to exact revenge or anything like that, it's just about us wanting to win and that's all there is to it. If I as a coach ended up taking my teams to a load of grounds looking for revenge, I'd lose out more than I win. We've got to head there knowing that we're coming up against tough opponents and that we'll have to give our all, but we don't go there seeking any sort of revenge.