FCBARCELONA.CAT

09.12.2009 23:59

Xavi: “What’s important is playing the second leg at home”

www.fcbarcelona.cat

The midfielder from Terrassa played his 100th game in Europe this evening, and also scored the equaliser on a fine night all round.

Xavi said “the most important thing for us was to win the match” but was obviously also pleased “with a good individual display: a goal, game number 100 and qualification top of the group. Brilliant”.

As for the next game, he feels it is more important that they will play the second leg at home than what opponent they might be drawn to play, as they “can compete with anybody.” But he has “respect for all the teams”. As for Dynamo, Xavi said “we knew they’d be dangerous at set pieces but the goals took us by surprise. We then played the way we do and the goals started coming”.

He also provided an anecdote. He and Guardiola had exchanged words following a moment when he was the last man but moved up into attack. He agreed with his coach, but added “that’s what happens when you play attacking football so much”.

The following are some of the statements made by the players after the game with Dynamo Kiev:

Puyol

“Dynamo’s game was because of such a fast surface and the ball moving around so much. And the ball deflected off a striker”.

“We play to win wherever we go, and that showed. A draw was enough but we wanted to win”.

“Ours was a hard group with four very strong teams. Inter have qualified because they deserved to”.

Keita

“I have no preferred opponents. Whoever we get we’ll play to win”.

“It was a very difficult game, but our team has a strong mentality”.

Iniesta

“The aim was to win and top the group and we did just that”.

“We tried playing the ball around and switching positions. The goal calmed us down a bit and allowed us to play our own game”.

“We found out the Inter score at half time, but still wanted to go out and win”.

“There is not much we can do about the refereeing”.

Valdes

“It was a hard game because they went ahead so early and the weather was really averse”.

“Their goal came from a free kick from the wing and when it deflected off a striker I couldn’t stop it”.

“After letting a goal in we couldn’t afford to let our heads drop. After scoring, there was still a long way to go and we all had to help each other”.

“It was colder here than in Kazan”.

“It was important to finish top and play the return leg at home. Now it all depends on the draw and whoever we get it won’t be easy”.

“Ibra is corpulent and Messi is small. Players like Leo should be protected better”.

Alves

“Although we let an early goal in, we stayed clam and attacked patiently. We knew the chances would come sooner or later”.

“Messi scored a lovely goal that won it for us”.

“It is very important to play the return leg at home”.

“We knew the Inter score but we wanted to win. We tried to draw them out by keeping hold of the ball and forcing them to come to us. We deserved to win”.

“I took a knock, but it was so cold I didn’t feel any pain. It hurts a bit now but I’ll be fine for the derby”.