Asked about the rumours linking him with a January exit (read more here), Barcelona defensive midfielder and Ivory Coast international Yaya Touré (25) has said today at a press conference that he doesn't want to leave the club:
"I'm relaxed about all this because I'm very happy here and the same goes for my family. I'm happy to play for Barcelona because my objective is to be at a big club and Barcelona is one. I don't want to leave. I'm very happy at this club and I love to wear this shirt.
My agent apparently said something but I was with the national team and I was concentrating on that and working, which is the most important thing. What he says is not my problem, my problem is to play well on the pitch because I want to win a trophy with Barcelona.
I have talked with the coach and he told me that he has confidence in me. Like the other players, I'm a professional. The important thing is to work hard during the games and the training sessions so you can play as much as possible.
I think the coach is doing a good job. There are a lot of great players. This is an excellent team that plays great football. There are young quality players like Bojan and Busquets. We have a top squad and we can win every trophy. The most important thing now is to win against Almeria and get the three points. We cannot fail again this year."
Read more:
Touré considers transfer if he doesn't play more
Barcelona doesn't consider Toure transfer
Xabi Alonso main candidate to replace Toure
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Toure denies exit rumours
Iniesta (2): "I need to improve my scoring"
In an interview with Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona midfielder Andrés Iniesta talked about the season so far.
(you can read the first part here)
You feel more appreciated since the European championships?
It's a little bit of everything. More than the Euro, I think it's because my daily work, the matches, this causes people to recognize what you're doing and gives you more confidence.
What is the nicest thing that has been said about you recently?
Pelé and Laudrup had nice words for me. Anyway, all compliments by my friends make me happy. The reaction of my team-mates when I was not nominated for the Golden Ball and the respect I received from them was very nice too.
Since when are you doing that Laudrup style move?
Since I was a little boy. I already did it in Albacete. I did it a few times lately but I already did it before. Now I scored that goal with Spain this way and people talk more about it, but it's one of my favourite moves. I've always followed Laudrup when I was young and that's one of the things I've learned.
You have some other tricks you didn't yet dare to show?
It's not abour daring, but sometimes things go so quick that they're going naturally. The important thing is to get passed your opponent, no matter how.
If Iniesta would start to score, he would be unstoppable, right?
It would make me a more complete player if I would score more. It's something I need to improve but I'm confident it will change this season. I'm convinced it will change. Nonetheless I don't think the goals are decisive when judging my efficiency. Who wants to say something negative about me, will say I don't score goals. But you can also be decisive without scoring yourself. Everybody should interprete it the way he wants, although it's true that scoring more would make me a better player.
Can you practise that or it's more a confidence issue?
There are a lot of theories about that. Against Atlético the other day, I hit the ball perfectly but the ball hit the post. You also can hit it bad and score. What's the conclusion? Personally I think it's more about confidence and intensity than about practising, although it's also true you can practise everything.
It's worrying to you that you don't score?
I worry about it because it would make me better, but I'm not obsessed with it.
It's a coincidence that you score more with the Spanish national team?
I don't think I score more with Spain, I played 34 games and I was just lucky to score six times. You cannot compare the two. My effectiveness with Barcelona cannot be compared with that with the national team. I anyhow prefer the way I play at Barcelona.
If people ask you if you're a midfielder or a forward, what is your answer?
I don't know. I've always been a midfielder and that's my natural position. The thing is that the left wing is a part of the pitch where you can make the difference and I feel good there. It's great to play there.
This was the second part part of this interview. You can read the third and last part tomorrow with Iniesta talking - amongst other things - about his relation with Guardiola and about the end of the Rijkaard era.
Read the first part here:
Sylvinho happy at Barcelona
Asked about the rumours linking him with a move away from Barcelona (read more here), Barcelona left back defender Sylvinho (34) told journalists yesterday that he still feels good at the club:
"I played my 100th official game for Barcelona today. The other day some people told me about it, but I wasn't aware of it. It is an important moment for me because I feel comfortable at this club and this is a very important stage in my life.
I felt very good on the pitch. Of course it is always important to be given some playing time to gain confidence and to improve physically. But little-by-little the coach is giving us all chances. I felt very comfortable and I am happy."
Read more:
Caceres (2): "It's often impossible to mark Messi"
In an interview with Catalan sports paper Sport, Barcelona central defender Martín Cáceres talked about his season so far.
(read the first part of the interview here)
What do you think about what you're living at Barcelona now?
It's an honour to be part of such a great squad, that is full of excellent players. I'm motivated to help the team as much as I possibly can, trying to win all the competitions we're taking part in.
One of your team-mates is Messi, who you had to mark in the Uruguay game against Argentina..
Messi is an impressive player. The truth is that it wasn't the first time I had to play against him in an inernational match.
You had done it before.
Yes, but it was the first time being his team-mate at Barcelona.
This makes a difference?
If you want it or not and although I'm defending my country and he's defending his country, playing at the same club has an influence because it's not the same playing against a guy you don't know at all or playing against someone you daily share a dressing-room with. It's obvious that this, although maybe just mentally, has an influence.
Why?
Becausse I see him at training every day, because I know what he's capable of, because I know him better.
This helps you to mark him better?
Most of the time, it's impossible to mark Messi. It's an unpredictable player. I know what he can do and it's not easy to stop him.
What is the key?
The main thing is trying to be one step ahead and not giving him space because he controls the balls very well and if you give him one second to think, he's gone.
Messi is the best player in the world?
If he's not the best, he's now certainly amongst the three best players.
You're lucky he's your team-mate.
Yes, I only have to play against him in international games or on training. I'm very happy to have him in Barcelona because as an opponent, he's a nightmare.
With Uruguay you're playing as left back defender. Where do you feel more comfortable?
The truth is that it's not always that easy to adapt to the left back but if the coach asks me to play there, I have to make an effort and have discipline to help the national team.
At Barcelona you've always played as central defender so far.
I feel more comfortable there, but I'll play wherever they ask me to play.
This was the second and last part of this interview.
Read the first part here:
Caceres (1): "I don't focus on the first months"
Statistics 2008-2009: Goals, assists, cards
goals
9 Eto'o (6 + 3)
8 Messi (5 + 3)
4 Xavi (1 + 3)
3 Henry (2 + 1)
2 Bojan (0 + 2)
2 Gudjohnsen (2 + 0)
2 Márquez (1 + 1)
1 Busquets (0 + 1)
1 Iniesta (1 + 0)
1 own-goal opponent (1 + 0)
assists
8 Xavi (5 + 3)
6 Messi (4 + 2)
5 Iniesta (3 + 2)
4 Eto'o (2 + 2)
2 Alves (1 + 1)
2 Henry (1 + 1)
2 Bojan (1 + 1)
1 Busquets (0 + 1)
1 Puyol (1 + 0)
1 Márquez (0 + 1)
yellow cards
3 Busquets (3 + 0)
3 Márquez (2 + 1)
2 Eto'o (2 + 0)
2 Henry (1 + 1)
2 Iniesta (1 + 1)
1 Keita (0 + 1)
1 Xavi (0 + 1)
1 Valdés (1 + 0)
1 Touré (1 + 0)
1 Puyol (1 + 0)
1 Piqué (0 + 1)
total (Liga + Champions League)
Barcelona has played 12 official games (7 in the Liga and 5 in the Champions League)
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