Martino hints at Barcelona exit
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E-mail Xinhua, May 4, 2014
Barcelona coach Tata Martino hinted that he will leave the club at the end of the season after Getafe striker Angel Lafita scored an injury time to which all but ends FC Barcelona's slim chances of winning this season's BBVA Primera Liga title.
The Getafe striker stole in unmarked to plant a free header firmly past Barca keeper, Jose Pinto to give his side a vital point in their battle against relegation.
The result means that if Atletico Madrid win away to Levante on Sunday afternoon Barca would no longer be able to overhaul them, thus ending the Catalans' title hopes.
"I am the maximum person responsible for the bad season," said Martino, when asked if he felt he deserved a second chance at the club.
"Sometimes you feel you have not done enough. I will look at my feelings before saying anything," he continued, before adding: "It has not been a good season neither on a personal level or for Barcelona. It has been difficult for football and non-football reasons."
"It is not a question of happiness, but I have not been able to impart my intentions on the team and we have never been able to offer the best level of Barcelona," said Martino.
Things started well earlier in the day for Barcelona when after a minute's emotive silence in memory of former coach, Tito Vilanova they kicked off controlling the ball.
Leo Messi broke the deadlock after 23 minutes when he sidefooted home a Dani Alves cross following what was his side's first incisive attack of the game. It was his 28th league goal of the season, although he was giving few other indications of his undoubted talent.
Getafe equalized with their first shot on target as Lafita controlled and fired a diagonal shot past Jose Pinto after 37 minutes. It looked for a moment as if it would be ruled out for handball, but referee Teixeira Vitienes allowed it to stand even though his assistant had raised his flag.
Barca struggled to create chances in the second half despite dominating possession, but the introduction of Cesc Fabrigas midway through the period brought some spark into their football and it was Cesc who helped set up Barca's second with a ball for Pedro Rodriguez. Pedro's shot was blocked but Alexis Sanchez was on hand to score his side's second.
The home team then proceeded to squander chances, but failed to heed the warning when Pablo Sarabia fired straight at Pinto and in the dying seconds nobody tracked back to cover a Getafe attack and Lafita headed home a goal which stunned the 70,000 fans in the Camp Nou.
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