26.10.2010 23:59

Pinto: "We played a serious game"

Anna Segura

José Manuel Pinto was pleased with FC Barcelona’s approach to their Copa del Rey encounter with Ceuta as they came away from the first leg with a 0-2 win thanks to goals from Maxwell and Pedro.

The Blaurgana keeper was named between the sticks for the match and admitted that he was impressed by the attitude shown by those in front of him in a game where maybe the focus could have waivered. “We played a serious game,” he said after the match. “We came with the mentality to achieve something in the Copa and we have done things well.”

Youth stars

Several Barça B players were named in the team and Pinto was impressed with their input. “They were up for it and were very well prepared,” he continued.

Whistle happy

Reflecting on the controversy surrounding his whistle that Copenhagen’s Santin claimed made him stop running when he was onside, Pinto revealed he was not happy. “In every game I whistle to help my defence,” he explained. “It is a way of doing things that Kiko Narváez had and I learned from him. Every player should watch the line and the referee. He just wants to try and blame me for it now.”

Marc Bartra:

“I have to work and continue growing as a player.”

“We are trying to follow in the footsteps of Piqué and Puyol. They are role models to follow and we want to do what they did.”

“I felt comfortable from the very start. They have helped me a lot.”

“The tie is very open. But they will come 0-2 down and that is good for us.”

“I am proud to have been given the chance and I intend to take full advantage of it.”

“I am leased the way things went and above all with the fact that we kept a clean sheet.”

“From the centre of defence you see the whole game and can control things a bit. You have to try to help you team-mates and make things easier.”

Adriano:

“They are difficult games to play in against teams that give everything.”

“We maintained out superiority with our quality.”

“We cannot give up on anything and have to go for it all. It is a great competition.”

“I am calm because when I play I can show what I can do. I have to continue working hard for when the coach calls on me.”

Andreu Fontàs:

“I felt very comfortable and everything went well. I am used to playing alongside Marc Bartra.”

“We knew that if we scored early on then it would calm us down. In the second half we suffered a little, but we maintained the result.”