Alves (2): "We're building a great team"

Barcelona player Daniel Alves gave an interview to Catalan sports paper Sport.


(read the first part of the interview here)


From Sevilla to Barcelona: a big change?
In Sevilla the people are more enthusiastic, they are less reserved. When I walk through Barcelona with my family, people recognize me but they respect my privacy.

You have adapted to the city?
Completely. Because I arrived here from Sevilla, I was already used to the Spanish food and the time schedules...

It strikes that although you're a Brazilian, coming from coast city Bahía, you're not living close to the beach...
We preferred to live close to the Camp Nou because I travel a lot and this way my family is closer to everything, mainly to the shool of my children. And about the beach, it's that close that I get there in a few minutes.

They told us that you're learning Catalan with a teacher...
Not yet, but I'm working on it. With all the travelling it's impossible to take regular classes. What I'm doing is watching the television news in Catalan, reading some papers and asking to all Catalans to talk with me in their language. I'm here for four months now and I almost understand everything.

What about talking it yourself?
A little. I promise to let you hear something very soon.

One Catalan more...
That's how I feel, because I think it's my duty to adapt to the culture of the place where I live.

What did you think when you first entered the Camp Nou as a Barcelona player?
The same as I'm thinking now when I'm going to training each day. You feel the greatness of this club everywhere. I'm very proud to be here.

How do you become aware of the greatness of the club?
In everything you see and you don't see. It's a very professional club in every aspect. Everything is planned and taken care of. Those things help you as a player. We don't have to worry about anything. We're surrounded by a group of great professionals.

Like Guardiola...
You won't believe me, but when he was a player, I always watched him when a game of Barcelona was broadcasted in Brazil. He was a great player and I have to admit he has impressed me as a coach.

He has won you over, all the players...
He has a very clear message, very logical. He asks us to be a team, on and off the pitch. He has made it very clear that we only will be able to do great things if we do it together.

He says that you're "a machine"...
I thank him for his praising words. I work very hard, every training session, every game. I look around and I only see great players who are giving their best on the pitch. So I just have to do the same!

He talks about ambition, about being hungry for trophies, something that got lost over the last years...
Commitment and attitude, like Guardiola tells us, are also very important aspects. Only that way we will triumph.

What are you dreaming of?
Look, as a professional player in Europe I still miss two things: the Liga and the Champions League. I'm convinced that I can win both of them with Barcelona. It won't be easy at all, we'll have to fight, we'll suffer, but we're building a great team and this sure will lead to great things. We have a fantastic squad.

You also still miss the World Cup...
With Brazil, yes. Hopefuly we can qualify for South Africa in 2010 and win our sixth trophy.

Dunga called you up a few weeks ago but you didn't play one minute...
I grew up in Brazil dreaming about being part of the national team one day. Now that I'm there, it wouldn't be right to start complaining, don't you think?


This was the second and last part of this interview.

You can read the first part here:
Alves (1): "I'm grateful for the effort the club made"