FCBARCELONA.CAT

21.03.2007 11:37

"We have shown maturity through difficult times”

Oleguer Presas is convinced the squad is united. In fact, he feels it is precisely when the team has hit on bad patches that this sense of unity has been most evident.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Oleguer Presas has reiterated his conviction that there is an excellent team spirit among the Barça squad. And this ability to overcome difficult situations has been demonstrated when it has been needed most. “I am of the opinion that things need to be solved from within” he said “Guddy said what he did with good intent, and didn’t have a go at anybody, but he was speaking after a painful defeat. But this team has shown its unity through difficult times. That is when we have to be critical, but always keeping things inside the dressing room. We need to know what’s missing and what we need to sort out, but we’ll get nothing good out of speaking about these things in public.” And Oleguer does not feel there is anything new about that. “Not a lot has changed, the people are the same, and the mood is just as good as it has been in previous seasons.”

Tactics

Against Recreativo, with Oleguer suspended, Frank Rijkaard returned to his usual 4-3-3 system. And the player himself sees no reason why the team should play the same way every week. “I don’t think we need to choose between one system and the other” he said. “There are some games and teams that are more suited to a 3-4-3 and others where a 4-3-3 would be better. That’s the boss’ decision, and we will do whatever he asks.”

Speculations

There have been plenty of rumours in the press of late concerning possible future Barça signings. Oleguer was asked whether he felt it was unusually early for such stories to be coming out, to which he replied “I can’t compare this to other seasons because I don’t read the papers or know what normal means. They are speculations but the people who work in these areas have the right idea about what they are doing, and don’t sign players for the sake of it.”

Hostile atmosphere

At away games, Oleguer has been singled out as a victim of jeering from rival supporters. But the young Catalan has a strong character and does not lot let these things worry him too much. “I have already said it so many times, it doesn’t bother me. I obviously know who my fans are. The ones who support me are at the Camp Nou and I don’t care about the ones outside. As long as things are done with tolerance and respect, there is no problem.”

Respect

Not surprisingly, the press conference eventually got around to the subject of Salva Ballesta comparing Oleguer to a ‘dog poo’. “If they think he can be punished for it, then that’s fine” he said. “When I say things, I try to say them calmly and with tolerance. What he has said speaks for itself, but it doesn’t bother me”. And he knows he is not alone. “I feel supported, I know who my people are and that they will never let me down. The people around me are always here for me whatever I do and whatever I say, and in this group, we always have our team unity.”