FCBARCELONA.CAT

25.07.2009 18:28

Henrique’s blog (IV)

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Following his debut against Spurs on Friday, Henrique admits he’d been nervous about his first game in a Barca shirt and also that he was really impressed with the performances of the team’s youngsters.

“On Friday I played my first game in a Barca shirt and I have to admit I was very nervous about it at first, but as the game went on I relaxed and focused on the game, There were quite a few of the youngsters from the youth teams playing in the second half. I’d seen how good they were in training and they have a lot of quality and are very skillful.

I suffered a couple of heavy tackles that left their mark on my legs but that’s the way it is in football. Before the game, the boss gave us a few words about tactics and how we should play that were very useful. The most important was controlling possession and bringing the ball out from the back.

In Brazil they also work hard at bringing through youngsters. At Coritiba, the club I started at and also at Palmeiras. Adriano (Sevilla), Rafinha (Schalke) and Alex (Fenerbahce) all started in the Coritiba youth set up, as well as Keirrison, as I explained the other day. In fact I grew up in a system which was very similar to the one that works with the Barca youth teams and I hope that will help me to adapt more quickly.

We’ve been given the afternoon off to relax after training this morning, which was more about warming down after yesterday’s game than anything else. I think I’ll stay at the hotel and relax ahead of tomorrow’s game. I hope I won’t be so nervous ahead of the game against Al-Ahly – I know that the nerves will disappear as I keep playing more games.

I’ll be back in touch tomorrow!"