Jeremy Mathieu says Luis Enrique is counting on him
Jeremy Mathieu says Luis Enrique called him a month-and-a-half ago and told him he was needed at Barcelona to play at centre-back.
The 30-year-old Frenchman faced a press conference on Thursday afternoon after being unveiled on Wednesday as Barcelona's €20million signing.
Mathieu said: "I spoke to him (Luis Enrique) about a month-and-a-half ago. The first thing he said was that he was relying on me to come here and be one of his centre-backs. He gave me a lot of confidence, I'm very happy with what he said to me.
"They've been after me for some time and I thank them for their confidence. Since Barca first got in touch with me I've done everything I can to come here, now it's a fact - I'm very happy."
Converted from left-back to centre-back a couple of season ago, he was asked about his favoured position on the pitch.
He said: "I am a versatile player but at the moment I feel most comfortable playing at centre-back. I have come to this club to play as centre-back. Ultimately it's the boss who decides."
Asked about the pressure of playing at the Camp Nou, Mathieu said: "I am a kind of player that always assumes responsibilities. I do 100 percent for the club, whatever club I am at.
"For me the most important thing in football is to make sacrifices. I am going to try and do as well as I possibly can to try and help this team. For me the most important thing is winning.
"I don't feel any pressure about coming here. Puyol was a great player here and I hope I can achieve the same kind of things that he did here. I know it's difficult to follow on from a player like that, but all I can do is fight hard and give everything I've got for Barcelona, and hope I enjoy myself here."
