FCBARCELONA.CAT

13.11.2008 13:50

Cáceres: “It is hard to get into the first eleven”

Berta Brau

The Uruguayan centre back claims not to be disappointed with the lack of first team action he is getting, saying “the team is playing the best it can and I have to stick with the squad.”

Martín Cáceres started only his third game of the season last night against Benidorm. The defender is not enjoying the kind of protagonism he might have expected when he signed for the club, but isn’t letting the matter bother him too much. “I’m calm about things because I know how hard it is to get into the first eleven” he said, before adding that he is aiming to “play as well as possible and enjoy the moments when I do get to play”.

Message from Guardiola

Cáceres has been told by the manager that he has no cause to feel alarmed by his situation. Barcelona’s way of playing is very different to what he was used to at his former club, Recreativo, and it will take time for the Uruguayan to adapt to the new style. “I have come across some difficulties, mainly related to the way we play” he admitted. “Recreativo was totally different. Here we keep the ball for longer and the defence moves up more, but I’m learning to adapt”.

Only to be expected

When a player changes team he will always need to get used to new ideas, and Cáceres always knew that things were going to be particularly hard in his case. “The change was obvious and I knew it would be difficult, but I’m relaxed about things because I am trying to adapt as well as possible”.

Back to the Nuevo Colombino

Next Saturday, FC Barcelona are off to the Nuevo Colombino, where Martín Cáceres played for the 2007/08 season. The defender said it will be nice to go back to a place “where I have fond memories of last season.” But all that now lies in the past, and now he is only interested in defending the colours of his new team. But he knows more about the weekend opposition than anybody else at Barça, and believes “they will be doing everything possible to get the three points”.