FCBARCELONA.CAT

11.04.2007 16:26

Ezquerro enjoyed Mallorca

Just under nine years ago Santiago Ezquerro enjoyed a stint at RCD Mallorca and this Sunday he could face his former club when they arrive at Camp Nou to play FC Barcelona.

Along with Samuel Eto'o, the 30-year-old forward has donned the red shirt of the Balearic outfit and revealed in a press conference on Wednesday that he thoroughly enjoyed his time at the club. "It is a while ago now, but I did spend half a season there and have many good memories," Ezquerro stated. "I was transferred to the club from Atlético de Madrid and it was there that I was properly introduced to league football. I scored eight goals and look back with fondness on that time as we reached the Copa del Rey final and went into Europe."

The final stretch

After reflecting on the past, the La Rioja-born Ezquerro looked to the future and the fact that Barça's title rivals have slowly been reducing the gap at the top of the table: "We have to be conscious that there is a lot at stake in the remaining nine matches," he said. "That is a real motivation for us to win our third consecutive championship though. When you lose, it is normal to look at the negatives. But a lot has been said and just have to remain calm bcause if we are top then things are going well.

"We depend upon ourselves. In this league if you slip up though, the others are waiting to close in. But we have it in our hands and we have to keep playing well in order not to have any more problems."

Effort and hard work

Ezquerro is philosophical about the media's reaction to Barça's defeat against Real Zaragoza last weekend. "When you lose everyone looks to say that your nearest rivals are doing better and that you are playing badly," he continued. "That can benefit us to try and win the next game and we have to maintain our composure. With effort and hard work we will not have many problems in the league and the cup."

On a personal level, Ezquerro added: "I have always demanded the maximum from myself and keep at that level despite not having many chances to play for the team this season. I have had the odd opportunity to show what I can do and now I must just keep working. I am doing what I love to do and I am at the best club in the world, so that is an added motivation."

Praise for Rijkaard

Ezquerro was then asked about Frank Rijkaard's attitude in training and what the coach had done to try and rectify the errors that may have occurred in the game at the weekend. "Not only today, but whenever it is necessary to correct certain things then he explains what he wants and talks, and if he needs to, he shouts about them," he said.

"Rijkaard has already won two league titles and the Champions League, among other things, but when we lose it is nearly always negative things that are said and when we win it is nearly always positive things that are said. Not everything is good when we are doing well and not everything is bad when we do not win," Ezquerro explained.

The future

Finally, the former Athletic Bilbao star was asked about his immediate future at FC Barcelona: "I have one more year on my contract and whatever will happen, will happen," he said. "I am not involved very often and I thought it could have been more. I do not know what will happen in the future. I want to be able to play more minutes because I think that I have a lot to offer. But the team has been playing well and the players there deserve to continue to play."