FCBARCELONA.CAT

20.02.2010 23:37

Thiago: “it’s a dream come true”

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Youngster Thiago Alcántara marked his debut in the La Liga with a goal against Raacing – “a dream come true”.

“Whenever you train with the first team, there’s a chance you’ll get a game and that’s what you are there for” commented the youngster after the game, “it’s not too difficult to fit in playing for Barca Atletic and also get a game for the first team – we all know we are Atletic players”. As to tonight’s game, it was “marvellous. It makes no difference if you play 5 or 10 minutes, you’ve got to take advantage of every moment and if you score, then that’s even better”.

Below are the rest of the players’ reactions:

Piqué

“I don’t know if it was great game, but 4-0 shows we were the better team”

“We are at DStuttgart on Tuesday and Malaga net Sunday, so maybe we didn’t take quite so many risks in the second half”

“We won with so many home grown players – it’s important that we keep coming through”.

“The team is improving and that gives us many more options”.

“It’s good to take this step forward and show that we’re in form for the important Stuttgart game”.

Henry:

“Ibrahimovic was due to star, but his injury meant I took his place”.

“I have no problems with the boss or anybody”.

“I always demand more of myself. If I start, I’ll do my best and if not, I’m there to help the team. At Barca it’s the group who win or lose together”.

Iniesta:

“Goal, game number 300 and a win – that’s a good day!”

“When you lose, you want to get back on the pitch as soon as possible and win again. Tonight’s result will be a boost for us ahead of Tuesday’s match”.

“We were effective and dominated the game, scoring early on, but maybe we didn’t impose our authority, but know we just have to focus on Tuesday”.

“Bojan played a good, pacey game, even though he wasn’t in his usual position. I’d like to congratulate him on his performance”.
“We really like the Champions League and we know we have to get a good result on Tuesday”.

Márquez:

“I’m very happy and I hope to keep up the good work”.

“It was a comfortable game for us. We had a lot of chances and we took advantage of them”.

Valdés:

“Hit was an important game after last week’s defeat. Racing were brave, but we took our chances well”.

“Our game is the way it is and that means that defeats like last week can happen, but we are confident in what we are doing. The stats tell their own story”.

“As professionals, we all know that the Champions League is the challenge. We’ve worked hard and we come into the Stuttgart game confident, though we know it will be a tough tie – they are playing well, despite an irregular season”.

“I think I can be happy and proud about what I have given Barca”.

“I’m happy with the affection the fans show me, which has helped me to continue at difficult moments. Playing in goal is difficult, but that’s something you have to accept and be psychologically strong”.

Touré:

“Barca dominated the game and it was an important game after the defeat in Madrid”.

“It was difficult after a week’s rest for me, but I felt okay and I just want to carry on and make the fans and my teammates happy”.