FCBARCELONA.CAT

24.03.2010 23:28

Ibrahimovic pleased with Osasuna efforts

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was pleased to have found the net again as he put Barça in front to break the deadlock against Osasuna on Wednesday evening.

“I am pleased and felt I played well. I scored and we took all three points,” he explained. “It is most important that the team wins. This was a difficult game and we came through. It was not our best performance of the year, but winning was the aim.”

Below is what some of the players had to say:

Pedro:

“Osasuna came out strongly and maintained their shape well. When I went on I wanted to play like I always do and add some dynamism to the team.”

“Defensively Osasuna were very good at staying together. In the second half we pushed forward more and we were able to secure the win.”

“At half-time the coach told us we needed to show a greater desire. We did that and we had more possession of the ball. Things went well and we won.”

Alves:

“Osasuna started well. They played well, above all in the first half.”

“In the first half we did not have enough of the ball. In the second that changed and we created more chances and scored twice. It was a hard-fought win and we should be given credit for that.”

“At half-time we went through ways of improving in the second half. We did what the coach told us to and things went well.”

“When Ibra scored we were all happy and pleased for him. We hope that he can continue this run and start scoring regularly again to make him happy.”

“We were working well and were strong at the back which helped us to win.”

Valdés:

“I am pleased because things went well. Osasuna began brightly and were well organised and that made things difficult for us, above all in the first half.”

“We tried to move the ball and that stopped us finding our rhythm and stifled our mobility. In the second half we resolved that.”

“Everyone tried to do their job. Personally I am pleased as I always try to help the team any that I can.”

“I know that when the defence plays well that everyone can take credit.”

“I am delighted for Bojan and Ibra because they need goals to boost their confidence.”

Touré:

“The first half was difficult as Osasuna stuck together at the ball. Ibra’s goal calmed everything down.”

“The coach is someone that always wants to win and has changed our mentality.”

Iniesta:

“We had to work hard because in the first half we were not good, but we have changed things and we won the three points to move clear at the top of the table.”

“I started to play better when the team began to play like we normally do. We started with a different tactic but we had to change because it did not work.”

“We kept going until the end and in the second half we were able to find a route to goal.”

“The challenge is to win the league. We are all delighted to have taken another step towards that, but the points can only be won three at a time and there is also another team with the same points as us who are doing well.”

Milito:

“I am pleased to be playing and to be helping the team to win.”

“The first half was complicated as we did not play very well. We were not in good form. In the second half things undoubtedly changed and we improved a lot. We had to work harder than we expected.”

“We had to work much hard at the back because they put a lot of pressure on us.”

“We need goals from Ibra and Bojan. They have broken their barren run. In this type of game it can be difficult to make the breakthrough.”

“At half time we corrected things and worked out how we would play. After that we went on to win and if we had not changed it would have been that much harder.”

“Every game from now until the end of the season is important. We know that we cannot drop any more points. For that reason we always have to go out to win. But there will be games that are better than others.”

“I was preparing for a long time to return to playing and to rediscover the level I was at before. I have aimed for that and to play and help the team enables me to do that.”

“I would love to play for my country, but we will have to see. What is most important now is working hard on a daily basis with Barça.”

“Leo has plenty of time to prove he can be as good as Maradona, but he is still Young. He also has time to continue enjoying playing.”