29.01.2011 23:23

Alves: “I felt great”

Aida Soriano

Barça right back Dani Alves was back in the team against Hercules after a three game injury lay off and completed the full 90 minutes, declaring after the game: “I felt great and it’s important to come back with a win”.

The Brazilian explained that the 10 days he’s been out after the injury he picked up against Malaga: “dragged on too much for me – it felt very strange not to be playing”. The thigh injury he suffered meant that he missed the La Liga game against Racing and the Cup ties against Betis and Almeria , but he was back in Alcante and declared: “I’m happy with the win and to be getting back to the fitness levels I had before the injury”.

Revenge

Alves also confessed that: “it was good to get revenge over Hercules, it’d been hanging over us and we knew it would be tough because they pressure a lot and are well organised, but we won and that was what we were looking for”.

Keep up the good work in the Cup

Alves is now looking towards the Cup semi final second leg in Almeria on Wednesday: “it would be a mistake to change things now, we have to continue to play our way”.

Below are some of the other players’ post match comments:

Andrés Iniesta

“We knew it would be hard because they are doing well at home. We showed patience and we knew how to attack well. At 0-1 we took advantage of the spaces they left at the back and scored”.

“It doesn’t happen very often (winning 15 games on the trot) and holding this record is an extra stimulus for us”.

“We were set on winning and keeping the gap between us and the second place team”.

(On the ovation given to him by the home fans)“I’m grateful to them. It’s a very special gesture, which shows a lot of things and it makes me feel special”.

“I hope we will make it to the Cup final”.

Víctor Valdés

“The first half was more equal and in the second we kept control, but made more chances. It was an important game, like all the others, but it was an especially important win for us”.

“It’s a proud honour to equal this number of wins on the trot. It’s important for us and let’s hope we continue the run.

Pedro Rodríguez

“I’m happy about scoring in the last six games and the team played very well”.

“We dominated the game, playing in our way and when they went down to 10 men, we had more control”.

“Winning here is a real confidence booster”.

“We want to win every game and we are happy to have won at this difficult ground”.

“Now we have to focus on the Almeria game and not get too cocky”.