In an exclusive interview with "Daily Sports", Chelsea defender Cucurella talked about Barcelona, his next opponent in the Champions League, and some of the current situations of his club.
Barcelona's recent form has been somewhat unstable and there are many loopholes on the defensive end. Is this a good time to play against them?
- Other teams have figured out their style of play and it's causing them problems. Their defense is not solid enough. Once they lose the ball and cannot keep a clean sheet, it will be difficult to win the game. But Barcelona is Barcelona after all, they have many good players, never underestimate them, this will be a very difficult game. We also have a good team, we are in good form, the game will be exciting and we have a chance to get three points.
Have the outside world lost some respect for Barcelona? Or do you still see it as a great club?
—Without a doubt. Barcelona and Real Madrid are both world-class teams and they have almost no competition. Players will tell you that they loved Barcelona or Real Madrid when they were kids. At the end of the day, Barca is still Barca, a world-class team and ready to fight for everything.
How do you evaluate these talents emerging from La Masia’s youth academy?
- I'm very happy for them. They've been given opportunities and La Masia has always produced good players. When I was playing, things were much tougher, the demands were higher, the clubs had deeper pockets and it was easier to enter the transfer market. Right now, they have to rely on La Masia for various reasons, but they have the talent to be great if given the chance.
About Chelsea
- Yes, we had a new coach last year. It was a difficult plan at the beginning, and we couldn't find the right tactics, but now the head coach has given us a lot of good plans, and the club has supported him and given him decision-making power. We are on the right track step by step. We are in good form now, we qualified for the Champions League last year, won two titles and we are eager to play Barcelona.
You are already an icon of Spanish football
- Yes, it is an honor to be selected for the national team and if you are lucky enough to win games, get playing time, win titles... all these things will make people pay attention to you. It wasn't easy, I had to work really hard, and after years of dedication and hard work, it's time for me to be grateful and enjoy it all.
source:7m cn net