FCBARCELONA.CAT

27.11.2008 20:14

“It’s very special to be back”

Jordi Clos

Dani Alves has spoken about what it feels like to be returning to the stadium that was his home for six years and said that for that reason he is especially motivated ahead of the game with Sevilla.

As Sevilla v Barça draws closer, the media focus is on Dani Alves as he returns to his former club but now wearing a Barça shirt. On Thursday evening he spoke to the press, saying “it is very special to be going back to the Sánchez Pizjuán after all I experienced, grew up with and learned there … I can’t imagine what it will be like to go there, let alone score. But out of respect, I wouldn’t celebrate it.”

He added that he is thoroughly enjoying the way the team is playing and is hoping he gets a nice reception, because he feels “I achieved a lot there, a lot of people respected me. But I am ready for whatever comes my way.”

Motivated opponent

On a group level, Dani Alves predicts “a very important game for our aspirations … we will have to concentrate hard because we are up against a great team.” He knows they are strong in defence and “playing Sevilla is something very special, there’s tremendous motivation. I hope to cope with it and perform to my best, one hundred per cent.”

But the Brazilian also commented that “there are three points at stake, this is just as important as a game against Almería, Valladolid or Recreativo.”

Staring Everest in the face

Saturday’s game is the first of what the press is dubbing ‘Everest’ because it’s such a tricky run of matches (there are more matches to come against Valencia, Madrid and Vila-real). Alves is looking forward to it, saying “they are theoretically the four most difficult matches, nice to play in, but we will only be satisfied if we win all the points … At this club only winning counts and we go out for every game with our minds set on winning”.