FCBARCELONA.CAT

05.03.2009 14:33

Iniesta: “The cup final is an added bonus”

Roger Bogunyà

Andrés Iniesta is fit again, on form and convinced that the team is improving. “The cup final is an added bonus and I am sure we will get better”, he said.

In the first move against Mallorca, Iniesta almost decided the tie, following an impressive winding run. “It felt great, ten days without playing have been a long time”, he told a press conference. But he was also proud of the team’s performance. “We are very happy to be in the final and to have met one of our objectives. The celebrations after the game were a bit unusual”.

Final put aside until May

Reaching the final also brings a sense of calm to the squad. “We have come within a game of the final in two seasons, and getting there brings us some peace of mind. We have done well to get there, but now we can leave the cup aside until May 13”, explained Iniesta.

Team play

Asked to describe the game, he merely said “on the day of the final, nobody will remember how we played against Mallorca”. Neither is he overly concerned that the run without a win for Barça has now been stretched to five games. “Champion teams always go through periods like this, and it’s at the end of the season that we’ll know whether we are champions or not. I think we will be. The squad is confident of that”.

Iniesta also feels that against Athletic Club on Saturday, they have a valuable chance to get things back onto the winning track.

Athletic, an uncomforting rival

He went on to speak in more detail about that game. “Athletic are an uncomforting, difficult side to play. We have to win all three points at home and just worry about our own game. But Athletic did take Sevilla apart on Wednesday, although we didn’t see the game.”