20.10.2010 23:58

Pinto: "I still have butterflies"

www.fcbarcelona.cat

José Manuel Pinto has admitted that he enjoys the nerves that come with playing in big games for FC Barcelona after appearing in the Champions League win over Copenhagen on Wednesday.

The Blaugrana keeper stepped into the side to replace Víctor Valdés to appear in the competition for the first time since joining the Catalan club. Pinto has played in the Champions League before with Celta, but had been waiting for a chance with Barça. “It is a pleasure to play in the Champions League, the Copa del Rey or the league,” he said. “I have not lost that desire and when I play I continue to feel the butterflies which I love.”

Playing games

Pinto had not played for Barça since the Trofeo Joan Gamper outing and was pleased to be back. “One always feels better when playing games,” he added. “I am pleased to have added what I could to the win.”

Andrés Iniesta

"What is difficult is not creating chances. In the first half if we had scored two or three goals we would not have had this.

"The Champions League is very exacting and a matter of details and therefore we can be happy."

"We have the feeling that we had to score another goal. But the aim is not to let our heads drop."

"The thing we must do is close games. We will keep working. Not scoring is not a worry with the quality of players we have."

"I do not see that Villa worried. What is important is that we maintain this attitude."

"A win in Denmark would leave us in a great position. That would leave us able to play the last games with more calm."

Lionel Messi

"It was difficult because they played defensively, stayed together and we had to work hard to find space."

"Although we had a score we handled the game well."

"We did not take the chances that we created and they lifted their game."

"It was important to win because now we have won back-to-back matches."

Dani Alves

"I have not had much luck. I tried but could not score (when hitting the post in the 88th minute)."

"I am pleased we were determined. They were good on the counter-attack and it was a difficult game, but we did well."

"It was a game of two halves. In the first period we had more space and in the second they closed up, but we achieved our aim and that was most important."

"We wanted to win the game as quickly as possible, but when that is not possible you have to keep going so that do not score."

Javier Mascherano

"In the end the result is most important. I place more importance on winning because it moves us closer to qualifying."

"Barça were superior. The result could have been higher in our favour."

"We had chances and we need to put them away. One day we will score all our chances and everyone will be calmer."

"Each day that passes I am getting better. One always needs time to acclimatise to playing in a different way."

"I feel very comfortable alongside Busquets."

Pedro

"I am improving. Each game I feel better and without any problems."

"The coach is calm and so are we. We know we had chance to score and should take them, but we are playing well."

Carles Puyol

"If you finish off the game everything is easier. If we had scored the goals in the first half then they would have let their heads drop."

"We have a lot of quality players and they can score goals. But there are times when things go in and others when they do not. The goals will come."

"Villa is playing well and wants to score. When the tide turns he will score a lot."

"We have taken three vital points. The other result (a draw) helps us. Winning the next game will be huge."

Gerard Piqué

"We controlled the game well enough. In the end things will work out, it is question of time."