16.01.2011 23:18

Puyol: “We aren’t thinking about dropping points”

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Captain Carles Puyol reckons the team have to focus on working well and not be distracted by the four point lead they currently hold over Real Madrid and how their rivals react.

Although he admitted he’d watched the end of Madrid’s game against Almeria before the Malaga game, Puyol insisted: “it’s good that your rival loses points, but we have to concentrate on our own game. The further ahead we are, the better – it gives you more margin but we aren’t thinking about dropping points, just to continue winning games and taking points”.

Commitment

After their record breaking points tally in the first half of the season, Puyol commented: “it’s just numbers. We have to keep on and not think about those things, just keep on trying to improve every day. We will do everything we can and try and repeat those numbers. The team is showing from start to finish in every game that we give everything on the pitch”.

Milito

Puyol also spoke about Gaby Milito’s news that he would be staying at the Club: “it’s great news and I’m very happy for the team and for him too. He’s a very important player and he will be helping us until the end of the season”.

Below are some of the post-match comments from the rest of the players:

David Villa:

“It’s always important to finish the first half of the season on top”.

“The best thing was the way we came out fired up and determined to finish the game off as soon as possible”.

“With the work we are doing, we’ll achieve success”.

Pedro:

“It was an important win and we knew we couldn’t afford to slip up. We played really well”.

“We have to continue in the same vein. I’m happy with my goals and the confidence I’m getting”.

“We’ve put in an extraordinary first half to the season. We’ve taken a lot of points and have got better as the season moved on”.

Andrés Iniesta:

(Asked about scoring six goals in the league so far) “It’s not so many goals really. There’s plenty of games to play and I just look forward to playing and training well. If you enjoy your work and you are excited about it, then success will come”.

“The first part was very complete, though the rhythm dropped a bit in the second. In general terms, the team again gave a good impression”.

“The games are tough. You have to work hard at things, know how the other team play and how you can hurt them”.

(Asked about the fans’ ovation)“We are all sensitive to that kind of thing and inside you feel so happy. That love and respect is the most important thing”.

“We put in a complete game again and opened up a distance between us and the second place team – it’s been a good night”.

“We’ve put in a very good first half to the season, with great numbers, but the second half is still to be played and there’s a long way to go”.

“The work we put in and the aim we set ourselves is to continue to get good results. The team feel great every time we win”.

Víctor Valdés:

“No, I didn’t get bored. I didn’t have too much to do, but you have to be on your toes all the time”.

“History will decide if we deserve to be remembered. We try and win all our games and keep on recording victories like tonight’s”.

“The boss wants us to play with a lot of intensity and defend strongly”.

“We have to carry on in the same way, with the same determination to win games and titles”.

Éric Abidal:

“I feel I’m always helping and that’s the most important”.

“We must continue to keep on as we are”.

“We work well and we are now in spectacular form. We have to keep on working hard because the most important thing is to win at the end of the season”.

“We always try and improve. I am more experienced and happy with how things are going”.