Dani Alves reviews the victory at the Bernabeu and affirms that "The 0-4 was cheap for Madrid, the fair thing was a 0-6."
How do you rate your return to Barca?
It's better than I expected. I fought a long time for it to happen. It didn't happen when I wanted. You don't lose hope, but you see that things are changing, it gets distant... In the end, someone you know comes along and knows what I can contribute and what I have always contributed on and off the pitch. Suddenly everything went downhill and we met again.
Did you find everything very changed?
Football has changed, but when people who have very clear ideas get together, things return to the place they shouldn't have moved. After all, this is where things are made to be special, different from the rest.
What has changed in the locker room?
When I arrived, there were many people with a lot of quality individually speaking, but in the end the group was dispersed, it was not capable of competing, of doing things well, of connecting, of representing the group well. Ultimately, it's a team thing. The feeling I had from outside was the same as I found myself. Thanks to everyone's predisposition we have turned that around. People today identify with what is there, people no longer go to the Camp Nou to protest, but to live the games and enjoy with us, because they know the connection there is. We are in the best moment of the season and we have to go for more.
Do you see options to win the League?
I always say that as long as it doesn't finish there is an option. We have to be realistic, the difference is important, but it is also true that we are at the best moment of the season just when it is needed. It is the final stretch, the final sprint, and each point increases in importance. Let's see what happens. During the season there is always a phase in which you don't know if a team is going or not going. And that of Madrid has not yet arrived. Maybe after our game and the qualifying round they have, let's see how it goes, maybe they'll have that little slump and it would be time to take advantage. They get twelve points, it's complicated, but we're there.
Barca was thicker than usual in Frankfurt. What happened?
Football has been balanced a lot and winning games is difficult. It's not like four or five years ago, when names counted for a lot. Now young people compete just like veterans, people compete and teams are super level. And this is a tie, you have to know how to compete and live the phases of the tie. Because of everything, because of the rival, because of how they pressed, you put yourself in difficulties, but it is a two-leg tie. Now we have to play in Barcelona. And I think that the game was not so dramatic, we were very serious against a very tough rival. We have to improve things, but we are still the reference in the tie.
Was there anger from Xavi?
The difficult thing about matches is consistency, we came out of a top-level match against Sevilla three days ago and that's complicated. Being 'ten' every day is complicated, if one day you are not at your best level, the important thing is not to be run over. The team was imprecise, it is true, the field was not in good condition either. If we have control it is more difficult for the opponent, but I insist that if you are not fine you have to know how to compete.
To aspire to win LaLiga, as you say, you have to win everything, right?
We have taken the dynamic and we must continue. You have to know how to read each game, we are in the final sprint and any effort is valid. Not only to win LaLiga, to enter the Champions League as well. Not only do you have to think about winning LaLiga, but also distancing those who come from behind. The only way to compete for the title is to take advantage of the dynamics and stick with it until the end.
How do you see your younger classmates? Little brothers? Nephews?
I'm the guy... No, seriously, I see them as partners. They started to learn what this is about very quickly. After all, when they are 17 or 18 years old they are already playing for Barca and that is not usual, it is not normal. They have worked on it, it's obvious, but it's something that hasn't happened for a long time. You have to value all that and know that you have to go through phases, phases, phases... It's a balance between young people and people with more experience. Young people are giving strength to the team and kilometers, but we will not monopolize the natural process of football and life. Soon football will be theirs, but now there are still some Mohicans struggling.
Do they ask you for advice?
No. The examples must be given in practice. Each one has his theory, it is more an example of working, of how to do things. If they see you grinding, working and sweating, what else can I tell them. There is only one path, that of striving to have a solid career. Playing at Barça is not enough, you have to win things, otherwise you will be just another player who has passed through here. At Barca if you don't win you won't be remembered.
His celebration of the 0-4 at the Bernabeu was criticized a lot.
We weren't just celebrating the victory in Madrid, they said that for Barça it was a title to win there... We were celebrating the bathroom that we hit them, my 400 games and the return of the team. Don't let the people of Madrid think that we were celebrating that we scored 4, because other times we scored five, or six... And it was cheap...
The feeling of superiority...
That's what I say, times went back and good memories came back. Walking around, through that field, we were good at it.
What would have been the fair result?
0-6. For the chances we had, Ferran, Auba, Dembele, were very clear chances. But hey, for us much more than the victory was to send a message, Barca was coming back. We are competitive again and it is great news for us, we work for that, and when you work well, good things happen. It had been six games since Barca had beaten Madrid and that was not normal, you were doing something wrong. We have sent a message to the world of football, Barca is back.
Of those 400 games, which one do you have the best memory of?
From the Wembley final. For how it happened, for the moment, for Abi, for everything achieved, Pep's talk... If I have to keep one, it's that one. Football is not just playing the ball, it is much more than that. That year was brutal in all aspects and I will always keep it in mind, for many things. Do not forget.
How about with Xavi, what does he bring to the team?
Xavi is doing what he was like as a player, but now from a different position. He is very demanding, he knows that to compete and conquer things you have to be very hard working and very competitive. He and his staff have changed everything, they have changed mentality. They have provided a very good mix of young people and more experienced people, together they are doing an incredible job. The team now pedals, competes, wants to, has balls... I'm going to repeat what I said a long time ago, Xavi is going to be Barça's 3.0.
Does he scold you too?
Of course, I am one more. What happens is that I do everything very well... If he has to talk to me, he talks like he talks to everyone. He can tell me off for a control, a very risky pass, but the concepts he wants are clear to me.
Will City eliminate Atletico?
I think so and it is my candidate for the title, it is the team that has the best concept and has the clearest concept of playing and competing and doing things. I am a fan of Pep, everything he does, I will be applauding”.
What is the main thing that Alves brings to Barca? A tactical theme, group theme, attitude theme…?
It is a mix, a bit of everything. At work, I am one of those who work the hardest and have the most intensity, I am a player who likes a good atmosphere, who always cares about his teammates, if they are well... If we are going to make a ten or a 9.5. It is a bit of everything, also making people understand where they are. This is Barça, it is the dream of many people, you have to enjoy yourself and be happy, only the way of playing is an example of this. You have to go out and have a good time, understand that if the colleague has a problem it is my problem too; if he is happy, I am happy too. Adjust all that and the result is there. I don't want merit, I want the merit of doing things well on the pitch, outside I don't want flowers thrown at me, it's a pleasure to be able to meet people with whom I've experienced things and see the evolution of young people