Martin Braithwaite explains that he continues to watch Barca videos to understand the game of Azulgrana and is especially focused on Messi.
In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the Barca new boy shared his stories after joining the La Liga giant.
What's your feeling after your first week at Barca?
Unbelievable. It has been an incredible start, it is a great club, the feelings I have are really special, despite its greatness, it is a family club, everyone helps you, there is warm energy to make everything positive.
It still takes a short time, but from what you have seen, is it how you imagined it?
Everything is happening very quickly, but of course, it's more than just a dream. I'm really happy.
What surprised you the most?
I don't know, maybe see that you are surrounded by big stars, the best in the world and that they are smiling all day, helping you and making you feel good. It's something that I really appreciate.
You said in an interview on Barça TV, that if football were a religion, Messi would be the God. How is he? What is it like to train at your side?
Amazing. He is a great guy, he is waiting to help the players, he is helping me to join the team and in the field, of course, it is incredible, it is nice to see him.
In your first game you showed very good connection even though you only coincided 20 minutes, Messi & you looked for each other.
Yes, I don't know, maybe the way to play, to try to find him and to have the idea of how it happens. I am sure that as we get to know each other more and play more time together, our connection will improve.
If it is amazing to see him play in games, enjoy him in training every day, it is even more incredible. I try to learn from him.
I understand that between Leganés and Barça has found great differences, what are the main ones?
Of course, there are big differences, the quality of the players, for example. Also, the style of play, because at Leganés you have to be folded and defend well and at Barça you have the ball all the time and you have to move it fast.
And are you comfortable in this new style or do you need time to mate?
No, I feel good, I don't need time to understand the partners. The feeling is simple, I try to look at my classmates and when I am not training, I watch videos at home to understand them better, but it is easy for me to understand them, it is natural.
Any special videos you are watching?
I watch videos of how they play, of the different players, how they pass the ball, how positions are exchanged and so I can adapt my game to them. We also talk in the field, you have little time on the pitch, but the connection is fast.
Any partner who is helping you especially in your adaptation?
Honestly, I couldn't say just one because everyone is helping me. I can talk to everyone, everyone cares, it's fantastic.
You have only played 20 minutes at the Camp Nou, but fans already showed him great affection when you got into the field. How do you explain that reaction? Was it a surprise for you?
Of course, it was a surprise for me, that reception made me very happy. I didn't know he was going to find me, but he left me very happy. I feel like the fans in the stadium, because I am also a football fan and I know what that feeling is, for me it was like a dream.
I was another fan and now I'm in the field, for me it's something incredible. Now I am part of this club and I will give 100% of me to make you happy. I hope to return that lovemaking good matches.
Your first goal in the League was scored at Camp Nou with Leganés, how did you experience it? And how do you think he'll react when he scores his first goal as Azulgrana in that stadium?
Scoring at Camp Nou and with a team like Leganés against a team like Barça obviously made me feel very happy. I wanted to prove that I could play on this team. Now I can be here, I'm happy but not enough.
I think about my first goal with Barça at Camp Nou and I will enjoy it with the fans, I have nothing thought to celebrate, football is passion and you have to let yourself be carried away by the feeling of that moment and enjoy the atmosphere that generates the fans. I'll let myself go naturally, without any prior plan.
You signed a contract until June 2024, but your signing came due to an emergency situation. What do you have in mind to fulfill your contract?
Of course, I have come to be at Barça to be a long time. I believe in myself and play with incredible players, who always help me.
There are 12 finals ahead in La Liga. Do you think you'll win the League?
Yes, it is only one point. I know this team, I can feel the positive energies it transmits, we are like a family, there is a lot of positivity.
There are many points left to play and we can trace. I am 100% confident that we will win the League, 100%. I believe in it and that is what we work for, it is the ambition of this club and mine and that is what we are going to do.
So far the team is not being regular. What do you think you need to dominate a match from minute 1 to 90?
I don't think we have to change much, maybe at times we do. In my first game, we won 5-0. In Naples, for example, we control the match. It's true that we didn't make many occasions, but we tied one in a stadium that's not easy.
People expect us to win every game by 3 or 4 to zero because we're Barça and if you don't, it's a mess. In the Classic, the first half we played very well, we had chances to win in a very pressured environment. You can always do better, I am positive and we need to move forward.
For now you have to watch Champions League games on the stands because you cannot play for them. How do you live that situation?
It's life, I'm not worried about this, all I can do is transmit positive energies to the team and support my teammates to win. It's not a matter of mine, it's about the team winning.
Throughout the interview, you talk about good energies, positivism. Do you work anything special in this direction?
Of course, throughout my career, I have done it. Everything I can improve, I try to do it. Physically, technically, but also the mind, everything we can do depends on the mind, so it is something very important and I work since I was young.