Mascherano: “Success in football is so brief that you must enjoy it a little”
Javier Mascherano, one of the most articulate footballers at Barça and indeed in world football, gave an interview with radio station RAC1 yesterday. Below are some of Mascherano’s insights on Barça’s successes, its complicated past season and negative atmosphere, and the club’s future as well as his own.
On the Supercopa, last year and this year:
“A single error can cost you the title. This year, there was no error and we won the title.”
“I don’t think that the past season has been poor personally. But at times there were errors … We caught Bayern at their best moment, at the crest of their wave. And we did not arrive well [referring to injuries to himself, Puyol, Busquets, and Messi]. I saw both games against Bayern from the stands and I do not think the difference should have been four goals in Munich.”
“Since Tito’s illness hit in December, we had to adapt to circumstances that almost nobody has had to face, dealing with a trainer who isn’t there. Not having Tito was a new situation for everyone and I believe we dealt with it fairly well.”
“Many times Barça lapses into self-destructive tendencies, because we don’t stop to enjoy our successes. We won La Liga with 100 points and it seemed that we had not accomplished anything. We won the Supercopa against Atlético Madrid and the only thing that we did is look for the ‘but’ … But we won! Success is so brief that you must enjoy it a little. It is one thing to be demanding of yourself, to see both the positives and mistakes. It is another thing to see only negatives.”
“Some day Piqué, Xavi, Puyol, and Busquets will not be here. So we must enjoy it. Barça won three Champions Leagues in a short time. Before that they had to wait almost a hundred years to win one. I believe that it will be very difficult to replicate the joy that this team has given to the people.”
On new manager Tata Martino:
“We face the uncertainty of beginning a new era, closing an old one. It’s a new trainer, that is not from the club, although he has a very similar mentality.”
“When the message is clear it is easier for everyone. Every trainer has different characteristics. El Tata puts a lot of emphasis on maintaining pressure on the opponent. El Tata pretends that this team has two faces, not just possession but also the ability to be direct.”
“Tata is adding something to our play and I believe that he is developing us well.”
“We have changed our way of marking on corners and free kicks. The defense is showing improvement.”
On his own work ethic and a possible center-back signing:
“I don’t like receiving too much praise. The best thing that can happen is receiving recognition for your work, but too much praise creates false expectations in people.”
“When I join the national team I remember that I am a midfielder (laughs) … Today I think of myself as a defender because I have played two years in this position. I am very critical of myself and I try to fix my mistakes.”
“Perhaps the trainer saw that those that could be brought in did not convince. What do I know? … When a teammate arrives you cannot feel hurt. [At Barça] the players that arrive are here to improve the team. Competition is good, it makes you stronger. When you grow comfortable you cannot keep growing … I will never change my way of thinking and working, if a defender should be signed or not. I train each day to become a better player. If someone better than me arrives, it’s not a problem.”
On Marc Bartra, Puyol, and rotation:
“Marc (Bartra) still has not played, true. The past year he did not begin playing but he ended up playing two Champions League semifinals. The mentality of a footballer should be to train and make an effort to be ready and wait for his opportunity. When I arrived I went six months almost without playing, which was hard. But later I found myself playing the Wembley final.”
“It serves nobody to rest and rotate the players if we aren’t still playing in all three competitions by April.”
“Puyol is well. He is not yet training with the group but he is very close. It has been hard on Puyol, the injury has lasted longer than previous ones. Puyol is a very necessary player, not only for what he gives on the field. Injuries at times can split the team a little bit, you can’t share things. And we need Puyol to be with us.”
“Abidal is obviously missed. He has been an example for all of us, he had a special gift in that he was always happy. He transmitted much of that to the dressing room. You feel it when a person like that leaves. The most important thing is that Abi can continue playing and enjoying his profession, and above all else that he is healthy. I am not one to judge the decisions of the management. We are employees of the club.”
On Argentina, the World Cup, and his future
“Each time there remain fewer years of my career remaining, and this will probably be my last World Cup. We are confident we will qualify. To arrive at the World Cup with the best player in the world is a plus, and it gives us a lot of confidence. In my case, it’s this World Cup or nothing.”
“Being a manager is one option, and I’m going to try it. We’ll see if it happens or not … Manager of Barça? I would have to give only one press conference a month (laughs). One always remains involved in football, you cannot disconnect.”
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