Alves: "I want to bring Barça back to the top"

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





You know Juande Ramos very well. Were you surprised to see how Madrid played very defensively on Saturday?
The truth is that it indeed was a surprise for everyone. I know Juande and normally he plays in a more attacking way. He starts from a solid defensive organization but with the intention to attack. Now there were moments were Madrid had eleven players in their penalty area.

You were also surprised to see how hard they defended Messi?
I would like to think that they didn't intend to hurt Leo but that they just wanted to stop the quality player he is. If you just want to hurt someone, that has nothing to do with football. I was also worried because Leo could get angry with all those faults and lose his head. I was close when Gago and Sneijder made a fault and although the ball was close, tackles like those are disgusting. They were trying to intimidate him but the referee should keep an eye on that.

With Real Madrid twelve points away, do you eliminate them from the title race?
Madrid is no longer the reference although that shirt means a lot and they will always be around because they have quality players. Now we have to worry about Sevilla, Valencia and Villareal and don't let those teams come closer. But if we continue to work like we should, nothing will happen.

You think that Juande will be able to make Real Madrid react? Will his methods work in a dressingroom full of star players?
Juande knows how to motivate players and how to keep everyone happy. If their wingers will return, they will sure start using the wings a lot.

Why did you say 'no' to an offer by Real Madrid?
I came close to joining Madrid but one has to have clear what one wants. When Barça showed interest, I didn't want to hear anything about other clubs anymore. Where would I be able to enjoy football more?

You weren't afraid for the existing dynamics in the Camp Nou over the last two years?
My life has always been about challenges and Barça didn't won a trophy in two years. I'm an ambitious person and it's not to same thing to arrive at a team that has won the Liga and the Champions League than arriving at a team that is really hungry. I wasn't worried about that. You need challenges in your life. and I wanted to help bringing Barça back to the top.

Xavi said recently that this Barça could win three trophies this season. You agree with that?
I always ask for one or more. And I'm sticking with one because I'm a humble guy. And to win them all, you should start with one. The treble? Why not? We have a team that is strong enough to win all the competitions we take part in.

If you could chose, would you prefer the Liga or the Champions League?
The Liga because it's the prize for a whole season. In the Champions League things like luck have an influence. That doesn't happen in the Liga.


This was the first part of this interview. You will be able to read the second part tomorrow.

Read more interviews with Barcelona players:
Eto'o: "I'm still at only 80 per cent"
Txiki (3): "Rijkaard deserved to finish the season"
Iniesta: "Victor Valdes is great at one on one's"