FCBARCELONA.CAT

20.08.2009 21:36

Objective: two titles in six days

Jordi Clos

The squad feels ready to win the first two titles of the season this week. Within the space of six days they entertain Athletic Club Bilbao in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup and then play in the European equivalent against Shakhtar.

The Joan Gamper match was the last friendly for Barça. It gets even more serious from now on. On Sunday, the Camp Nou will be the venue for the game with Athletic Bilbao, and six days later, Shakhtar Donetsk await in Monaco – for the European Super Cup.

“The team is in good form”

It was always going to be a testing schedule for the treble winners. But as captain Carles Puyol says “the team is in good form. We have worked well this season”. Thierry Henry agrees. “The group look good to me”, he said. Despite some fitness worries, the Frenchman feels up to playing. Said the striker, “I am here to help and fight when needed, and that’s the case right now”.

Winning mood

Dani Alves knows all about Super Cups. He remembers how “I lost one with Sevilla, but I have won all the others I have played in and I hope things continue that way”. Keita, meanwhile, believes “we won the first leg in Bilbao, now we have the return and after that, Monaco. Of course, Barça always have to win”.

Thorn in his side

Piqué is keen to add to his honours list. “The squad are very keen to win the Spanish Super Cup, I have never won it” he said. His illustrious colleague, Leo Messi, feels that aside from winning two important titles, it is also important “for us to work along the same lines as last year”.