Jordi Alba: I've got my confidence back now

Jordi Alba will not say a bad word about Luis Enrique. He respects his former coach but the facts and his words show the change on the bench has suited him wonderfully. With Valverde in control he is more incisive and important. The same as for Lopetegui with Spain.

In the first phase of the season you seem like you've got your spark back, your joy?

It's true. I've got my confidence back. Now there's a path for me and it's great to get back up and get along with my team-mates. I feel very comfortable, with a lot of energy, confidence and it's showing on the pitch.

What role has Lopetegui played in getting your form back?

When you don't play it's clear you don't like it. The coach Lopetegui showed up in these moments. When you do things well they tell you and when they don't, you want them to tell you so you can improve. Coach Lopetegui tells me the good and bad things and I can improve. I see things how they are. Things can go well for you or not, but it's important someone tells you how things are, he helped me a lot.

Luis Suarez told SPORT that with Valverde there's a better dialogue now...

I don't like to compare coaches. Of Valverde I can say I love his whole technical team, the work is very good, and the communication with the players. Whoever is not playing is taken into account, it's not just those who play who are valued, the ones who have less minutes are important too. This is important for the team to be switched on and going forward as one.

Tactically what stands out under Valverde?

Defensively we've improved a lot. We've shipped few goals and it's because we're operating more compactly. We want to get better, but I see the team playing very seriously. Those wonderful years in which everyone was drooling over Barcelona cannot be repeated, simply because the players are different. We want to play better each time we go out and I think Barcelona fans are enjoying it.

Is it possible to explain how your chemistry with Messi arose?

It's easy to understand the best n the world. Also his profile with the left foot suits me well. From when I arrived here six years ago, we've always looked for each other. The luck is that our profiles, him with the left anda me crossing with the left, fit well. I want to make more passes and more connections.

You can understand him without looking?

We talk a lot. When they face Barcelona opponents close up at the back, it's more complicated than playing for another side. There are 11 players in the box and it's tricky. Leo comes from the second line and we can do more damage.

Are you worried about Luis Suarez's form?

The same thing happened when he signed for Barcelona and he ended up scoring a lot of goals. He said the same when he scored the first, they will arrive. He's a phenomenal player for us. He brings us a lot, not even talking about his importance in the dressing room. We talk about him as a footballer but as a person he's a crack. People talk about forwards because they are measured a lot by goals but his attacking and defensive work is impressive. People will soon stop talking about him because the goals will arrive.

Do you miss Neymar on your flank?

He's a great player. For his circumstances and feelings he decided to leave. In the end there are people who aren't here any more and the ones who are left can do the job perfectly well. I love our new squad. Now I have more of the flank to run into and for me, sincerely, it's a lot better.

Wow, you're enjoying yourself.

Yes, I'm enjoying it a lot. Things can go better or worse, no player is 100 per cent the whole season. 

You will soon be a father, is that helpful?

I will be a father and this matures you a lot. I have more stability and that's important. You notice it when it comes to playing. When you have more stability with a partner and a family, it's easier to play. 

Is it good or bad to be in the pack of four favourites, along with Brazil, Germany and France

People can give their opinion if they want. There are more teams. In the Europs nobody expected Portugal and they won. In the World Cup it's tough to beat any team.

What about the controversial Spain World Cup kit?

We're in a society that causes a fuss over nothing. We like it and we're happy. The stripe that everyone is talking about is blue, not purple, you can see that perfectly.