To be back in the Champions League and in the high quality game against AC Milan is a great place to come back from the disappointment at Anoeta and Iniesta insisted: “the team is feeling really good and here we are starting the Champions League campaign at home against a powerful opponent. It’s important to start on the right foot and taste victory again. We will be doing so with the maximum motivation and excitement”.

“Milan will always be a big team”

Iniesta is clearly a big fan of Milan: “they are a club with seven European Cups. It doesn’t matter who is playing, they will always be one of the big teams. However they play, it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to play against a team like them”.

“It’s a pity Ibrahimovic can’t play”

Iniesta regretted the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovich for Tuesday’s game: “it’s a pity that he can’t play –he’s a great player and you always want to play against good players. He really wanted to come and play and it’s a shame he can’t make it. However, I don’t think that takes anything away from the game which should be fantastic”.

“I’ve got no problem with Van Bommel”

There were a number of questions about Iniesta’s attitude towards Milan’s Mark van Bommel, following the incidents at the World Cup final last summer, but he stressed that there was no problem: “fortunately I have never had any problems with anybody I’ve shared a changing room with. It’s true that during the final there was some rough play, but I prefer to think there was no malicious intent. He’s an opponent, but above all we are professional companions and I respect him in all respects”.