Brazilian right-back, Dani Alves, is confident that Barcelona will retain La Liga title despite starting the New Year three points behind Real Madrid.
The 2011/12 La Liga season has witnessed a rejuvenated Real Madrid side. Los Blancos lead La Liga rankings after 16 Spanish top flight fixtures despite losing to Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid have a three-point advantage over Barcelona, a gap Dani Alves expects to overcome in the remaining matches of the season.
The attack minded defender took a dig at their perennial rivals, whom he thinks are jealous of the Catalan team.
Alves stated that he fully expects his team to outshine the Madrid-based side and yet again be crowned champions at the end of the season.
"We do not expect much from them [Real Madrid]. All the praise is for Barca which hurts them. We are behind them in the table but we still get to play them in Barcelona and we can cut the points back to win the title," the former Sevilla man told Cuatro.
Alves was full of praise for manager Pep Guardiola and opined that the manager doesn't get the credit he deserves. He shared his views on the way Barcelona are admired the world over and expects the plaudits to increase once their cycle of dominance ends.
"People are not aware of what we are doing. When this team is finished we will be given even higher praise. We will always be with [Pep] Guardiola. In the future people will recognise his work," he added.
The outspoken Brazilian international stated that he wants compatriot Neymar to join Barcelona now.
He reflected that waiting for two years is not the right approach and the club’s hierarchy should acquire his services as soon as possible.
"The best time [to sign] http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Neymar-c27639 is now. We do not want to wait two years. I hope he can come here soon," he concluded.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 resume the 2011/12 campaign with a Copa del Rey Round of 16 fixture with Osasuna, before travelling to Estadi Cornella-El Prat for the Catalan derby with RCD Espanyol.
La Blaugrana resume training after a week of Christmas holidays. With the exception of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lionel-Messi-c22296, all players including Alexander Hleb have reported for duty.
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