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04.05.2007 14:45
“I am one hundred per cent ready to help the team”
David Puig
Thiago Motta is now fully recovered from the injury that has kept him sidelined for a month, and now says he is more ready than ever to help the team as they travel to Anoeta.
Motta has fully recovered from the injury to his Achilles tendon suffered in training on April 5. Frank Rijkaard has named him in the Barça squad that will face Real Sociedad at Anoeta, and the Italian-Brazilian is looking forward to it. “I am fine after a month without playing” he said. “I have worked hard with the group and also in the gym over the last few days. I can play if the manager decides I should. I have recovered, and in terms of confidence and mood, I am one hundred per cent”
Real Sociedad not easy
Barça haven’t lost in San Sebastian since 2002-2003,
but Motta knows Miguel Ángel Lotina’s side are no easy pickings. “It is certainly a
stadium we have done quite well at in recent years, but we should not forget that Real Sociedad are
going through a delicate period and need the points as much as we do. That should be enough to
remind us we can’t afford to relax and need to be ambitious going into the game, and to be
aware of the difficulties we will have”
Many voices have predicted that there could be a change of leadership in La Liga this week, but that kind of talk doesn’t unsettle Motta. “If we win on Saturday we will be leaders for one more week, and we’ll see who wins the league in the end. I don’t take too much notice of the comments that come from outside Barcelona. Right now, we’re the leaders, and that means we’re the strongest side”.
Interest from Ajax
Motta’s name has been linked to a possible move to Ajax
Amsterdam this summer, but the man himself has no official knowledge of this. He told the press
conference that “I have been linked to 20 different teams this season. I can’t hide the
fact that I am honoured that Ten Cate is interested in me, but right now I am only interested in
winning the league and cup, and then we can have a think about my future. I end my contract in 2008
and when the time comes, I’ll think about what’s best for my career.”
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No risks
Motta had expected to be back at work a fortnight ago, but due to some minor problems with his
recovery, his return was put on hold. “I started working on the pitch two weeks ago, but I
still felt a little bit of bother and didn’t feel up to working with the rest of the
group” he said. “I think it was a good idea to wait a while for the feelings to ease
off. I have felt great this week, I have worked at one hundred per cent with the team, and
I’m ready to play.”
