Andrés Iniesta is optimistic on an individual level after the first few games of the year. He feels the team is ambitious and enthusiastic and ready for a cup comeback against Sevilla.
After a 2009 hampered by muscle injuries, Andrés Iniesta has looked strong in the first games of
the new year. He showed that in a terrific performance in Tenerife. “I am trying to improve
every day, in every game, and to become more regular. I have got a good feeling right now …
What happened is behind me now. I’m optimistic on an individual level”.
Amazing move
At the Heliodoro Rodríguez, Iniesta left the crowd open-mouthed with awe
as he went on a slaloming run just before the break, and which led to the third goal. He said
“the moved was a good one, but the important thing is that it led to a goal. These are fast
moves when the opposition are coming for you and you have to find a quick solution”. On
another person who played a part in that goal, Bojan Krkic (who got three assists), he said
“he is an important player. He always contributes things, and with such talent at his age, he
has nothing to worry about”.
Next up, Sevilla
Speaking today at the Ciutat Esportiva, he was less pleased with the way
the game started. “Early on, Tenerife created chances, we didn’t do things quite right.
Perhaps we have to make some changes to the way we interpret the game when opponents come at us. We
do have solutions”. With three more points in the bag and the top slot consolidated, Barça
now have the Cup to contend with. “It is always nice to win, it motivates you more. Whatever
happened yesterday, we now have to go to Sevilla to try to win the tie. We will have to take our
chances, and play confidently and enthusiastically”.
Challenge ahead
Iniesta said that to come back from 2-1 defeat in the first leg “we will have to be
ourselves. Do what we have done until now. We will go there to win, we have no choice in the matter
… winning in Sevilla would be phenomenal news, it is very important to qualify, but we are
not trying to so that to clear any doubts … When a team has won everything, everybody wants
to beat you and don’t want things to go well for you. That’s normal, that’s
football. It is a challenge for us to be even better than we already are”.
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Eyes on African Nations Cup
Andrés Iniesta has said that all the Barça players are taking note of events in Africa after the
tragic incidents in the build-up. Touré and Keita, of course, are over there, and Iniesta said
“we have spoken about it. It is a horrible and dangerous situation. I hope everything is
under control and that nothing happens.”