Marc Bartra interview: Part one of SPORT's chat with the star
Marc Bartra is a happy guy. The player has become key for Borussia Dortmund and Thomas Tuchel in just a couple of months after leaving Barcelona. He has enjoyed more touches of the ball per game than any other Bundesliga player in the first five weeks. The centre-back, who thanks to injury will be a doubt for the game against Real Madrid on Tuesday until right before kick-off, spoke to SPORT in an exclusive interview. Here is the first part:
How’s the language?
Difficult. With so many games it’s hard to dedicate so much time to it each day but when I can, I read what we did in class. Above all words to use on the pitch because that’s the most important. I understand it’s difficult but when you catch some words you can work out what they’re saying.
What about the Madrid game?
It’s a very special game. One of the great teams in Europe come defending the trophy. We know it will be very tricky.
I imagine it’s special playing in a different shirt to Barcelona’s…
It will definitely be different. I have faced them for many years. And I know a lot of people there from the national team. But I will take it in the same way.
What does’t seem changed is Madrid’s game, like against Sporting Lisbon.
They know that in any minute they can score a goal and they never lose this faith. But independent of the rest, what’s important for us is to go out to win to get good sensations as a group. And I hope that happens.
How can you beat Madrid? Having more of the ball?
We saw in the recent games that the more of the ball we had the more in control the game was and the opponents suffered more because they have to run more. An opponent like Real Madrid - we can do them damage if they don’t have the ball. But we have to be vigilant on the counter and when they have the ball because if they catch you they can easily score.
This Borussia Dortmund mix two things - possession and verticality.
I think we have a bit of that. The German touch of intensity, with and without the ball, and the coach asked us to treat the ball well. Tuchel knows we have the team for this type of play and I feel very comfortable because it’s like Barcelona’s and Spain’s. This is football I’ve been playing for a long time. Bringing the ball out, defensive vigilance, to want to keep possession from the start. I’ve been able to adapt much better and I’m enjoying it, truthfully.
