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Football

14.12.2006 16:07

Cautious satisfaction

The Barca players are delighted by their display of superiority against America but have avoided the favourites tag for the final against Internacional Porto Alegre.


Despite the 4-0 result and the excellent all-round performance by the team, the players are staying cautious ahead of Sunday's final against Internacional and emphasised to reporters after Thursday's match that America had been tricky opponents. They stressed that it was only after the third goal, scored by Ronaldinho, that they were able to breathe more easily.

Rafael Márquez

"The main thing was to win and we took our chances".
"I've dedicated the goal to my children."
"America wasn't the same team as on the pre-season tour but then neither were we. However, we focussed more on ourselves than on the rival".

Xavi Hernández

"With the scoreboard at 3-0, we concentrated on passing the ball around more but in the first half we found it hard because they were also passing the ball well and their counterattack was very dangerous".
"I enjoyed myself a lot playing football for the time I was on."

Ronaldinho

"We've started very well and we're very happy. The final will be hard. Internacional are a very tough team, a very strong team. We have to play the game to enjoy ourselves".
"It wasn't an easy match. It was complicated, with a lot of difficulties against a well positioned team".
"Every time I come to Japan they treat me really well and I'm very happy about this".
"There's no pressure on us for Sunday's final because we're not the favourites. Internacional are a great team with one of the best fitness coaches in the world. Because of all of this, we have to go out and enjoy the final".

Víctor Valdés

"The aim is to win the World Club Cup but first comes the semi-final. We're taking it a game at a time".
"We're feeling better day by day and overcoming the jet lag. We'll be even better for the final. What we have to do now is analyse the next opponent, Internacional".
"It was a match with a lot of short passing. We were well set out on the pitch and so we didn't have to make a very big effort".

Carles Puyol

"Jet lag has an effect but the main thing is that we had a good match. Scoring early on calmed us down".
"We can't control what other people say, but in the dressing room we know that the next match will be difficult".

Andrés Iniesta

"Winning this title motivates us. If you don't do what's needed it's difficult but things went well for us and we dominated".
"We have to win on Sunday or it's all been for nothing."
"We know it'll be difficult because we're up against a very good team. It's the kind of final you don't play every day. It's a challenge and we'll try and achieve it".

Cautious satisfaction
'Piojo' didn't score
Everyone was afraid of 'Piojo' López, the striker who just couldn't stop scoring against Van Gaal's Barca when he played for Valencia. But in the end, he didn't pose any threat against a magnificent Valdés. According to Carles Puyol: "He's a very good player who knows how to play at the limit of offside but, except for the first action, we controlled him very well".

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