FCBARCELONA.CAT

22.10.2009 18:41

Iniesta: “You can’t take anything away from us”

David Puig

Iniesta believes it would be unfair to start doubting the team after they have gone two games without winning. The midfielder is impressed with the attitude of the players but does agree that there is room for improvement.

“It would be unfair to start doubting the team after two setbacks. You can’t take anything away from us”. With those words, Andrés Iniesta wished to shun any questions being asked about the team after failing to beat either of Valencia or Rubin Kazan. Speaking shortly before training today, he added “the team did all they could on the pitch. Sometimes you are more or less inspired but we did all we could until the final whistle. We accept the last two results as something normal, and although we drew in Mestalla, I would hardly say that was a shock result.”

Iniesta made it clear that this season is all about starting once again from scratch. “It would be a mistake to compare this season to the last. I know we like to make comparisons all year long, but the situation is totally different. The most important thing is to focus on what we are doing right or wrong. The season is long. On Sunday we play Zaragoza and on Wednesday we have a cup match. All of that is important”.

Nobody gives anything away

Winning top level football matches has never been an easy thing to do, and Iniesta cited two recent examples involving Rubin Kazan and Milan: “Not many people knew about Rubin Kazan, and they came to the Camp Nou and beat us. They said Milan are all old and past it, but they beat Real Madrid at the Bernabéu. Liverpool lost at home. Teams are getting better and the demands are greater too. Zaragoza are our next opponents and they’ve got good teams too. We have to worry about that match, worry about our own game and improving on previous performances”.

“I’m getting better every day”

Iniesta is over his injury, and has just taken part in two full games. He said “I am playing more minutes and getting more confident. I feel better every day, whether training or playing. I am not sure what percentage my level of fitness is at, I’m clearly not one hundred per cent, but that doesn’t bother me. The most important thing is to get playing time”.