Van Gaal set to come out fighting against Celta

Barcelona are set to come out with all guns blazing when they take on Celta Vigo on Sunday in a league game that could decide the future of Louis van Gaal.

The Dutch coach has been under intense pressure since a 4-2 defeat at home to Valencia last weekend left the club in 10th place in the Spanish first division, 17 points behind leaders Real Sociedad and just five points clear of the relegation zone.

Van Gaal's team selections for recent games have been unusually conservative, with Argentines Javier Saviola and Juan Roman Riquelme both left on the bench, but a change in philosophy looks increasingly likely for the next game.

"There could be a lot of surprises on Sunday," Dutch defender Frank de Boer told reporters after a training session behind closed doors on Friday.

"We might well see a change in system against Celta."

Barcelona fans will hope that means a return to the starting line-up for Saviola and Riquelme alongside the Dutch partnership of Patrick Kluivert and Marc Overmars in attack.

Van Gaal was encouraged to take a more aggressive approach by influential midfielder Xavi, who gave his thoughts on the team's problems this week.

"I think we need to attack more," Xavi told Catalan radio station RAC 1.

"We started the season with a different system and we need to go back to that set-up. We've spoken to van Gaal about it and he'll be the one to make the decision.

"Playing with Kluivert on his own up front and Overmars on the wing makes us a bit predictable."