FCBARCELONA.CAT

24.03.2009 11:29

Busquets’ optimism

Jaume Marcet

In a matter of months Sergio Busquets has moved on from facing sides like Banyoles and Cassà in the third division to looking forward to a Champions League quarter final against Bayern.

Sergio Busquets is one of thirteen players in the FC Barcelona squad that will be away on international duty for the next few days. The Catalan midfielder spoke to Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat about the way his life has changed since he joined the first team.

A year ago, you were playing in the third division against Manlleu, Banyoles and Cassà with Barça B. Now you are preparing to face sides like Bayern Munich. How would you define this change?

“Yes, my life has changed, but all I can do is get used to it. You have to work hard and train every day and try to get better and win a regular place in the first team, which is what everybody dreams of doing one day. I didn’t expect this, but you never do or imagine things can change so quickly, but you just have to get used to it, work hard and try to get better and better."

You are now part of the Barça first team, sharing a dressing room with some of the best players in the world and playing against the best teams in the continent, is it very different to what you imagined it would be like?

"You can imagine a bit what it is like because you’ve seen it on TV. You have a bit more respect and excitement about it all. But when you are here you soon get used to the way that it is no longer you watching TV, but others watching you on TV. You have to get used to it. I have been kind of used to it since I was a kid, it was like experiencing it in second person. It’s different, but it’s nice. Playing here means certain things that when you have a life outside of it, you have to assimilate."

What do you think about Bayern as the opposition in the Champions League quarter finals?

"They are a very difficult team, they were the best team in the first round. We expect a very hard game against a very strong team with players up front that can score lots of goals. Now we are through to the quarter finals any of the teams we play will be difficult."

As well as their form, Bayern is a classic of European football. What memories do have of that club?

"Since I was a kid, I remember Oliver Kahn and many other famous players that I’m familiar with after playing with the console. They have always had famous players. Neither can I forget 1999 when they played Manchester in that final with the incredible finish. Now they have a very strong team then, with some very good foreigners."

That’s the Champions League, but the team is top of the league and into the Copa del Rey final. Which competition would you be most excited about winning?

"It’s my first year in the first team and I’m excited about winning any titles, and as I have never won any of them, I’d like all three, but I appreciate that that’s difficult. There is still some time to go before we can ask whether we’ll win one, two or three. But we’re going to go for all three and little by little we’re going about it the right way."

How do you deal with putting Barça aside and focusing instead on two games for Spain against Turkey?

"You get used to it. Sometimes it’s nice to have a break from the team. You forget a bit about those three competitions and that takes some of the pressure off. And you make contact with colleagues from other clubs that are your opponents in the league. Sometimes that’s good but sometimes it’s hard to go back to your club and play against teams that don’t have internationals, because they are better prepared, and have had two weeks rest. We’ll only have three days before the game with Valladolid, and that’s a bit difficult."