Barcelona goalkeeper speaks to the press before the derby game
Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has been in extraordinary form this season. The Blaugrana number 1 has been the first choice goalkeeper for the Catalan Giants since the time Josep Guardiola stepped into the Nou Camp. The team
works with him well and even though he does not look to be a one-man wall, he works fine with the four defenders of the Spanish Champions and combines with them well in order to help his team stop some goals. This year, Victor Valdes has already kept six consecutive
clean sheets and he is still counting them. Including games against Real Madrid, Almeria and Real Sociedad, Barcelona have scored more than twenty goals and have conceded none since the past nine games that they have played – including the UEFA Champions League.
However, now they are to play against their local city rivals Espanyol and the Barcelona number 1 had a lot to say before the game.
The Spaniard is set for the match. Last year Barcelona could only come away with a single point because of a goalless draw, but now it is more than just one game, it is about the title race as Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid are chasing
them with only two points behind.
The Spanish goalkeeper was quoted saying:
“It’ll be tough; the team is really up for the game.”
The Barcelona goalkeeper told the reporters that the team is keen on winning this game. He stated that since most of the players are from Spain and are a product of the Barcelona youth team, La Masia; therefore, they are the ones
looking forward for a win more than any other player in the squad does. He said that this game has been special for them since they were kids and they know the importance of it. He also insisted that the odds of both the sides winning the game are equal as
Espanyol are having a good run in the Spanish La Liga and Barcelona have not been enjoying extraordinary home form this season. However, the last game that they lost was against a newly promoted side Hercules that was during the starting weeks of the Spanish
La Liga.
He stated:
“It’ll be a great game to be involved in.”
The Spanish goal stopper is aware of the fact that the local city rivals have improved since the past season. He stated that last year they were very physical and they have not lost that characteristic this time as well. He said
that they really have what it takes to pressurize their opponents and they come forward as a group. He agreed that this year they are better than before and it will be great for him to get involved in such a big game.
Since Barcelona are going to be visiting their neighbouring ground Cornella-El Prat, things are going to be very different. There is no doubt that Josep Guardiola’s men have been extraordinary while being away. They have not drawn
or lost a single game while being away from home. However, there has not been a single great test until now and Espanyol are going to be the first biggest side that Barcelona are going to face away from home in the Spanish La Liga.
Victor Valdes commented on the Stadium that he is going to play in. The Barcelona number 1 stated that the environment in Espanyol’s home ground is amazing every year. He said that the environment is such that every professional
would love to play in. He stated that he has been involved in many big games for the past few years but Cornella-El Prat is one of the most intense grounds.
When he was asked about the clean sheets that he has kept, he said that he is not the only one to be awarded for it. He stated that even though he is the one who is to stop the final threat of conceding a goal, Gerard Pique and
Carles Puyol do a remarkable job and do not let the other team reach him. However, he also stated that he does not get bored of watching his teammates play. He stated that for a large period, he is absent from the game as his team is constructing a move to
score a goal, but he finds it interesting and he also works hard to start a move from the back.
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