Keita has assured reporters that Barça are top of the Spanish league table through their own efforts and flatly denied they have received any preferential treatment from the referees.
Speaking at a press conference after training on Wednesday, Seydou Keita was determined to make it
clear that Barça are league leaders on merit and not due to any supposed ‘help’ from
the referees – as has been suggested from some sources in Madrid: “Barça are ahead of
Real Madrid because we are better and not because of the referees. I don’t know if
someone’s trying to unsettle the referees with these comments. We shouldn’t worry about
all this”.
Indeed, Keita insisted that the referees don’t go out to
intentionally favour any team. “They’re only human and they try and do their job
without wishing to help any particular team”. At the same time he warned that the five-point
lead that Barça currently enjoys over second-placed Real Madrid could disappear at any moment:
“It seems like a lot of points but it’s a small difference. The season is very long and
we have to keep on working hard”.
A place in the starting eleven
After missing five matches due to his participation with Mali in the Africa Cup, Keita
recognizes that he will have to win his place back in the starting line-up: “I played a lot
of matches before the Africa Cup and now I have to earn a place. That’s no problem. Everybody
has the ability to play and bring something to the team. If I play I’ll give 100% and if not
it doesn’t matter. We’re a team and everybody has chances to play”.
Glad of a rest
Keita missed the Sporting match due to suspension and by this weekend
will have been out of action for a fortnight. In his case the rest has done him good:
“It’s been good for me as I’ve been able to recover from some niggles that I had
in my knee. I’m perfect now and available to the manager. However, it’s true that the
weeks without football seem very long”.
Images: Miguel Ruiz (FCB)
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Unfair punishment for Togo
Keita also expressed his disgust at the ban handed down by the Confederation of African Football to
Togo, which means that Togo will miss the next two editions of the tournament: "It’s not
normal. Personally I hope they lift the ban because it’s not fair. Footballers go to the
Africa Cup to play not to die”.