Toure: "We want to finish the league"

Barcelona player Yaya Touré gave an interview to Spanish weekly sports paper Don Balón.





What a season your team is having...
It's very good so far and not only because of the results. The way we're playing is valuable.

Is it hard having to play that much games in all competitions at the end of this season?
It's not easy to compete for three trophies at the same time. Every three days we have a game, that is every time more difficult.

That's why the whole world is jealous of your squad...
Yes, at this moment we have more than 20 quality players. Let's hope that leads to the three trophies at the end of the season.

Is it a disadvantage to play the second game away in the Champions League?
It's quite a bad thing but we're used to play this kind of games and we have a great squad. It would be a very great honour for the club and for us to win that game. It would be valued a lot. For me, this semi-final against Chelsea is an anticipated final.

Who would you point out from Chelsea's squad?
All their players. They have an impressive and large squad, although I think we're technically better.

You would put your money on the treble?
That's even bigger than a dream. It really won't be easy. All we can do is continue to work like we've done until now and later on we'll see.

The good series of Madrid is asking a lot from you...
The two teams are showing to be strong. If we want to win this league without many problems, we should win all the games left.

Defeating Real Madrid in the Bernabéu would be the icing on the cake of a wonderful season...
We can beat them on their stadium. They did the same last year with a goal of Baptista and we are motivated to get a win there to show we're stronger.

Are you surprised by Madrid's results since the arrival of Juande Ramos?
It's a team that doesn't play very well but mentally and physically they're very good. What they're doing is impressive but we want to finish the league and we're going for the win.

For Real Madrid it will be the last opportunity.
I've heard them say several times that they will beat us but I guess that will be quite difficult.

One of the keys of the resurrection of Madrid has been the arrival of Lass Diarra, a player who plays at the same position as you. What do you think of him?
It's a good player like all players of Real Madrid, although for me Raúl sticks out. But I'm most focusing on my own team. We have incredible midfielders like Xavi and Iniesta. I prefer the players of Barcelona over those of Real Madrid.


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Toure: "For me Iniesta is a 'Golden Ball' winner"

Barcelona player Yaya Touré gave an interview to Catalan sports paper el Mundo Deportivo.





You play with your national team this week. In your country people are saying that Barcelona would see the best Touré when you would play like you do at the national team.
Ivory Coast plays with two defensive midfielders. Zokora is the most defensive of the two and I'm the more attacking one. So that's different. I'm talking with Guardiola about my position and at Barça I'm playing in a way I can contribute the most to the team. I'm at my best now but I don't stop growing.

Speaking of growth, you measure out to 1 metre 91. Despite being this tall, have you gotten to feel small around Messi?
Yes, sometimes Messi makes you feel small, but above all he also makes you bigger. If you play with footballers like Leo, like Iniesta and Xavi, the others need to do some extra effort. You have to grow quickly to give them protection and assist them when needed.

What would they and this record team be without you?
Few teams have as much offensive power as we do. And our defense is also strong. Things are working. But the referees are a disaster. I get angry a lot, they can not allow so many blows on Messi and Iniesta. We have to protect them, including when the fault happens close to the goal area, because it's enough now.

Apart from that, your football is not only characterize by the hardness but also by your strong shots on goal. Those "yayazos" have become famous...
Yayazos? Are they called like that? My wife always tells me that I have to shoot more. But I think I am more needed in other areas. The truth is that I never practise shooting in training. When in a match there is a chance, I go ahead, of course, but it is not something I seek. My mission is not that, but to be there for others.

Your wife is passionate about football?
She is very into football. She enjoys going to the stadium and watching us play. She loves Barca and together with my son of two years she loves to hear and to hum the Barça hymn. They are very happy here, and I am too. How could I want to go to another team?

You say that because of the interest shown by Arsenal, Juventus or Manchester City to sign you?
There is a concrete offer and some other proposal, but I would like to retire here. I already said in a recent interview that it would be an honor for me to hang up my boots at Barca. I would only leave out of my own will if I saw that I no longer have the energy necessary to protect my fellow team-mates from being kicked. Or when I failed the strength to cross the midfield and to get to the oponnent's goal area.

You have a contract until 2011. Will you renew? Will you demand a higher salary?
These issues are taking care of by my representative (Dimitri Sellyuk). He puts some pressure, yes: that is part of his job. I am very grateful of him
because he has helped me a lot throughout my career. I myself am more calm, and I've never been governed by money. And I insist that it hasn't crossed my mind to leave Barça. I just think about giving everything for the team and the club.

Is the 'triple crown' possible this season?
The titles of League, Cup and Champions are possible, but with work, not words. Now it seems we have forgotten to lose, but we have not won anything, just games. If you start talking about something that you will only achieve with dedication and sacrifice, you've lost already. But 'losing' seems to have disappeared from the Barça dictionary... because Guardiola is the biggest winner of this dressing-room full of winners. And because with Messi we have an extra 'bonus'. He is a phenomenon.

Is Sergio Busquets a rival for a spot in the starting eleven or it's better to have both of you in the team?
I like Sergio Busquets, he has Barça within himself, and I like to play with him. He is very good and very good for Barça. As well as Gudjohnsen is.

And who is your 'Golden Ball' pick?
For me, Iniesta is a 'Golden Ball' winner, and also Alves.

With your hand on your heart and looking at the goals you score with the "elephants" (Ivory Coast national team): wouldn't you like to be as offensive as Dani Alves?
I think not. I like my spot and I think as a team member, we need to ensure that they don't harm our best players.

Ramon Canal, head of medical services of FC Barcelona, has explained that the team diet was adapted to muslim players like you and Keita, and that it has given excellent results for the performance of the team.
It is very healthy food, and it possibly helps, yes.

Translated by: Riis


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Touré: "That goal was a bit lucky"

Barcelona player Yaya Touré gave an interview to Catalan newspaper El Periódico.






It seems that Barcelona needs to fight harder for the three points every game.
It wasn't easy to win the first match after the holidays, but the team played an impressive game. It was very important for us to win this one, among other reasons because Mallorca gave us a very hard time here last season. On Saturday, they also got us in troubles but we have a great attitude.

The games are also getting more complicated because the opponents come on the pitch with a more defensive mentality.
Yes. Every team plays the same way at the Camp Nou: keeping all their players behind and trying for a counter-attack. They all play like Mallorca did. We should assume that it's gonna be like that and that it won't be easy to win the Liga.

You finished the game with a marvellous goal.
I'm very happy with that because I don't usually get in that position. It must have been since I played with Monaco, two or three years ago. Although I think the goal was a bit lucky.

Lucky?
Yeah, for me there was some luck involved. The whole action went really fast. Alves saw a gap and Eto'o gave me a good pass. At Monaco I scored more. But I'm very happy since it was the first goal I scored this season.

You dribbled around three defenders. You looked like a Brazilian striker.
Yes (laughs). I'm very happy. But the important thing is to play well at my own position.

And you think you played well? You weren't to blame for the Mallorca goal?
It's risky when you play like we are doing, very high on the pitch with the defenders close to the halfway line. But Barça has a tradition of playing like that. And we have two fabulous central defenders.

I asked if you feel responsible for that goal.
I'm guilty because I lost the ball, but everyone can lose a ball. It's a normal thing. Aduriz also showed that he's a great attacker.

You were anxious to repair the damage? You felt comfortable on the pitch after the goal?
Well, it's normal. It was misfortunate, but I believe in myself. I'm a professional. After a mistake like that, you cannot make a second one and you have to stay concentrated because the game continues. The team did a great job during the whole match.

In this month of January, the Liga is more important or you have to focus more on the Copa?
Both are equally important. We will have to face Atlético. They will be very difficult to eliminate. But it will also be hard to win in Pamplona against Osasuna. We just have to keep this going.



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