FCBARCELONA.CAT

23.07.2008 13:21

Hleb: "I like the training here"

Marc Guillén (enviat especial)

Hleb is enjoying his first week at FC Barcelona and told journalists at the morning press conference at St Andrews that he feels that he will "adapt to the Spanish league and to his new team-mates quickly" and claimed he was enjoying training.

Alexander Hleb  has been pleased with his early impressions of the Blaugrana. "I wanted to leave London for Barcelona for many reasons, but basically it was the plan at Barcelona that I liked. It was my dream and is a great challenge," he explained.

Close friends

Thierry Henry's presence has also helped Hleb a great deal. "He helps me a lot, translates things for me and we speak a lot and I am learning," he continued. "He explains everything to me and is constantly teaching me about the way thing are done here. I will adapt quickly though. I know that the league is very different from the Premier League, but I am convinced that I can do well."

Friendly encounters

On Thursday, Barça play their first pre-season game against Hibernian and Hleb is looking forward to it. "These games are important because there a lot of new players and we have to see how we understand each other and how things work," he said. "It is also important that there are no injuries because in games like this you are no expecting any really tough challenges."

Training methods

Hleb explained that Pep Guardiola's style of coaching is nothing like Arsène Wenger's. "In London things were very different, but for me there is no problem because we are professional and we can adapt to anything," he stated. "I like this way of training and Henry and Ediur Gudjohnsen help me to understand what Guardiola is saying."