Dani Alves (38 years old) is having a second youth at Barça after his return in January. The Brazilian ended his contract on June 30 but wants to continue for another year. He knew he was at the end of his career and wanted to enjoy the rest of him but if it did win, something inherent in his personality. In an interview with the MD, he openly talks about the Clasico, transfers, his dismissal from the Europa League and his desire to continue, even though it is clear that “if someone is not with me, he loses it.”
How would you rate your return to Barça?
It was better than I expected. I fought for a long time for this to happen. It doesn’t happen when I want to. You don’t lose hope, but you see things change, it goes away … Eventually, someone will come you know and know what I can contribute and what I always contribute on and off the pitch . Suddenly everyone came down and we met again.
Did you know everything has changed?
Football has changed, but when people with very clear ideas come together, things go back to the place they shouldn’t have moved. After all, this is where things are made to be special, different from others.
What has changed in the locker room?
When I arrived, there were a lot of people with a lot of quality individual speaking, but eventually the group disintegrated, it couldn’t compete, do things well, connect, represent the group well. Ultimately, it matters to the group. My feeling from the outside was the same as I found myself. Thanks to everyone’s predisposition, we were able to bring that back. People now recognize what is there, people no longer go to Camp Nou to protest, but to live the games and have fun with us, because they know the connection there. We are in the best moment of the season and we need to go for more.
Do you see the options to win the League?
I always say that as long as it doesn’t end there is a choice. We need to be realistic, the difference is important, but it is also true that we are in the best moment of time when it is needed. This is the final stretch, the final sprint, and every point increases in importance. Let’s see what happens. During the season, there is always a stage where you don’t know if a team is going or not. And the one in Madrid has not yet arrived. Maybe after our game and the qualifying round they have, let’s see what the trend is, maybe they’ll have a bit of a slump and it’s time to take advantage. They got twelve points, complicated, but there we were.
Barça are thicker than usual in Frankfurt. What happened?
Football is well balanced and hard to win games. It’s not like four or five years ago, when names were counted for a lot. Now young people are competing like veterans, people are competing and teams are super level. And this is a tie, you have to know how to compete and practice the stages of the tie. Because of everyone, because of the rival, because of the pressure they put, you put yourself in difficulty, but it’s a two-leg tie. Now we have to play in Barcelona. And I don’t think the game was very dramatic, we were very serious against a very tough opponent. We need to improve things, but we are still the reference in the tie
Is there anger with Xavi?
The hard part of the matches was consistency, we came out in the top-level match against Sevilla three days ago and that was complicated. Being ‘ten’ every day is complicated, if one day you’re not at your best level, the important thing is not to be overwhelmed. The team is not accurate, it is true, the field is also not in good condition. If we have control it’s harder for the opponent, but I insist that if you’re not okay you have to know how to compete.
To aspire to win LaLiga, as you say, you have to win everything, right?
We took the dynamic and we had to keep going. You need to know how to read each game, we are in the final sprint and any effort is valid. Not only to win LaLiga, also to enter the Champions League. Not only do you have to think about winning the LaLiga, but also distance yourself from those who come from behind. The only way to compete for the title is to take advantage of the dynamics and stay with it until the end.
How do you see your younger classmates? Little siblings? Nephews?
I’m the guy … No, seriously, I see them as partners. They started to figure out what it was about very quickly. After all, when they are 17 or 18 years old they are already playing for Barça and that is not common, it is not normal. They struggled, obviously, but something that hadn’t happened in a long time. You have to appreciate all of that and you know you have to go through stages, stages, stages … It’s a balance between young people and people with more experience. Young people give strength to the team and kilometers, but we do not monopolize the natural process of football and life. Football will soon be theirs, but now there are still some Mohicans who are having difficulty.
Are they asking for your advice?
No. Examples should be given in practice. Everyone has their own theory, it’s more of an example of doing, how to do things. If they see you grinding, working and sweating, what else can I tell them. There is only one path, the effort to have a stable career. Playing at Barça is not enough, you have to win things, otherwise you are just one player to go through it. At Barça if you don’t win you won’t be remembered.
His 0-4 celebration at the Bernabéu was heavily criticized.
Not only were we celebrating the victory in Madrid, they said that for Barça it was a title to win there … We were celebrating the bathroom we hit them, my 400 games and the return of the team. Don’t let the people of Madrid think that we are celebrating when we are 4, because sometimes five, or six … And it’s cheap …
The feeling of superior …
That’s what I said, the hours go back and the good memories come back. Walking around, through that field, we were good at it.
What will be the fair result?
0-6. For the opportunities we have, Ferran, Auba, Dembélé, are very clear opportunities. But hey, for us more than success will send a message, Barça will return. We’re competitive again and this is good news for us, we’re working for that, and when you work well, good things will happen. It’s been six games since Barça beat Madrid and that’s not normal, you’re doing something wrong. We sent a message to the world of football, Barça is back.
Of those 400 games, which one do you have the best memory for?
From the Wembley final. For how it happened, at this moment, for Abi, for all that has been achieved, Pep talked … If I have to hide one, that’s the other. Football isn’t just playing ball, it’s more than that. That person was brutal in all aspects and I always keep that in mind, for many things. Do not forget.
What about Xavi, what does he bring to the team?
Xavi does what he did as a player, but now from a different position. He is very demanding, he knows that in order to compete and cover things you have to be very diligent and very competitive. He and his staff changed everything, they changed the mindset. They provide a very good mix of young and more experienced people, together they do an incredible job. The team is now pedaling, competing, wanting, there are balls … I will repeat what I said a long time ago, Xavi would be Barça’s 3.0.
Does he scold you too?
Of course I am another. What happens is that I do everything very well … If you need to talk to me, you talk like everyone else. He can tell me off for a control, a very risky pass, but the concepts he wants are clear to me.
Will City remove Atlético?
I think, and this is my candidate for the title, this is the team with the best concept and with the clearest concept of playing and competing and doing things. I am a fan of Pep, everything he does, I will applaud ”.
What is the main thing that Alves brings to Barça? A tactical theme, a group theme, an attitude theme …?
It’s a mix, little at all. At work, I am one of the most diligent and have the strongest, I am a player who likes a good atmosphere, who always cares about his teammates, if they are well … If we make ten. or a 9.5. It’s little at all, letting people know where they are. This is Barça, this is the dream of many people, you have to enjoy yourself and be happy, only the way you play is an example of this. You need to go out and have fun, understand that if the colleague has a problem I have a problem with it too; if he’s happy, I’m happy too. Fix all of that and the result is there. I don’t like the merit, I like the merit of doing things right on the pitch, outside I don’t like flowers being thrown at me, it’s fun to meet people I’ve experienced things with and see the evolution of young people
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
