FCBARCELONA.CAT

03.10.2009 23:29

Xavi: “I've never been marked like that”

Jordi Clos

Xavi Hernandez, who suffered a ferocious man marking job from Chico against Almeria, reckoned he was surprised by Hugo Sanchez's tactics, but admitted-: “I guess I'll just have to get used to it”.

One of the keys to the game was undoubtedly the close marking employed buy Almeria to choke Barca's creativity in midfield. After the game, Xavi explained: “I've never been marked like that before, it was crazy, almost obsessive. He followed me everywhere even when I didn't have the ball or went to take a corner, he was there all the time. It drives you crazy being man marked like that”.

“Boring”

Xavi Hernández explained how Guardiola had planned to overcome Hugo Sanchez's conservative tactics: “Pep told me to go out wide to open more spce in the middle for Busi and Messi. I virtually disappeared from the game, it was pretty boring for me, but I guess we have to get used to it. It's a pity when a team comes just to close down at the back”.

Here are the comments of the rest of the squad who spoke after the game

Andrés Iniesta

“I feel sorry for Ortiz because he came to play and practically did nothing at all but follow me around. They put two players on me and Xavi, but we have other options”.

“It was a strange game. We were not good in front ogf goal and perhaps if we'd managed another that would have changed things”.

“I felt good. I didn't know if I was going to play the whole 90 minutes, but I'm happy to have been able to”.

“We've won six from six and that's important”.

Pedro Rodríguez

“Almeria made it tough for us, but I'm happy about the goal and the win, though I think I wasn't too good with my passing. I was a bit careless, but when you play more your confidence grows. I always try and bring something to the team”.

Víctor Valdes

“The other team are playing as well, it's not all down to us. Almeria played an intelligent game, marking our midfield and looking to hit us on the break. I don't think we were tired – on the whole we played well in a very hard game. The changes freshened things up a bit. I'm very pleased for and proud of Pedro who is a guy I really like a lot. He's very self effacing and he deserves this type of reward”.

Sergio Busquets

“I wouldn't say it wa steh hardest game, but it was a bit strange. We took the points as best we could and I think we were the better team. It was difficult because we are not used to facing tactics like Almeria used. My ex-teammate Chico did a great job and I wish him all the best. We are on a good run and it's good to get a win just before the break, even without playing at our best. Let's hope Madrid don't win and we will be on our own at the top”.

Dani Alves

“We quickly saw that this was gpoing to be a tough game as they tried to stop our passing game, but we won and we continue our great run”

“I'm a football fan, so I'll be watching Seville and Madrid. It'll be a hard game for Madrid”.

“Like all Brazilians, I'm very happy about Rio being chosen as the venue for the Olympics ”.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

“I'm very happy to win a tough game and make it six out of six. We founfd ourselves up against some very difficult tactics, but we won without really playing well. It's very hard to play against 5 defenders and although I didn't score, somebody else did to give us the win Pedro¡s goal was a really good one”.

“We have a decisive game against Denmark and if we can win we will be top of a difficult group”.