Iniesta: "We have returned to the basics"

Barcelona player Andrés Iniesta gave an interview to Catalan newspaper Avui.





After the last win, everything seems to be fine again?
The most important thing is that the team has left behind a series of unsatisfying results. Both the game against Mallorca and the one of last weekend were good games to start the last stage of the season with confidence.

The media all say that Barcelona has refound themselves.
I agree with that, in the sense that we have returned to the basics, to what made us a strong team. We saw a solid Barça, one that pressures, that is 2-0 ahead and goes for the third goal. We all have a great feeling, especially ahead of Wednesday's game.

Why did you lose contact with those basics?
It's very difficult to keep on winning, to keep the same level for several months and I think it's only normal that you also have some games where everything isn't turning out well. The most important thing is that when this happens, the team doesn't give up, but on the contrary makes an effort to recover and to come back with more confidence than ever. I hope those last two games have given us that.

Madrid will difficultly give up. Their campaign to destabilize will go on.
We expect a fight until the end. We don't have to be overconfident, but we shouldn't be scared either. If we're in front, we should be proud and not looking behind the whole time. We have to enjoy the moment and to be convinced that we will win the title.

Looking at the season, you think that your are you own biggest rival?
We're in a provileged situation for a while now in which we depend on ourselves. I think that's clear to everyone.

It's clear because of the results, but also because of your way of playing.
Everyone agrees that we're going for the win with beautiful football. Winning is difficult, but winning with good football is even more difficult. If we should be praised for something, then it's for always trying to attack, no matter the pitch or the opponent. That has become a rare thing these days. There's aren't many other teams with the same philosophy. I think everyone likes to play that way, so it would be nice if we could be an example for some. Football is more than results, but results have become extremely important.

What do you think about Lyon after watching the first game?
In the first half, we seemed out of place and they were able to hurt us... That shows that in Europe you should be very careful and you can only make few mistakes.

You think they will play defensively?
At this stage, they're eliminated. But we won't look at them. We should go out there like against Athletic, go for the win and afterwards we'll see how the game goes and how they play, but always with the intention to score, which will be the thing that gives certainty.

If you go through, the treble is every time less impossible?
We'll wait a bit more for that. When we're still in the three competitions at the beginning of May, then you can return and ask me the same question. I will be able to give a more solid answeer. It's true that we're in a very good situation, we have opportunities and we should be able to take advantage of it. But we also should be aware that one game can change everyting, so we should deal with Wednesday's game in a mature way.

What will have been the role of Guardiola if you win one, two or three trophies this season?
Winning something will be fundamental for the change of the team. We shouldn't forget where we come from and how radically everyting has changed in only seven months, while back then few people believed this would happen. The team has giving the fans renewed hope and enthusiasm. And that's the best thing.

What's the secret of Guardiola?
His way of being. The dedication he puts into his work, the motivation, what he transmits, how he convinces. He's doing a perfect job. I always say that when you give everything you have, the reward will follow one day.

This was the first part of this interview. You can read the second part here in the coming days with Iniesta talking, among other things, about his favourite position on the pitch and about why he hasn't a tattoo.


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