The Barcelona midfielder performed better than he had for his club in the season’s other international windows, though the Catalans have since parted ways with coach Ronald Koeman.
Busquets feels important
Sergio Busquets hasn’t had the easiest of starts to the 2021/22 season with Barcelona, but the Catalan midfielder insists that he is the same player when he represents Spain as he is when he lines up for the Blaugrana. The Barcelona midfielder performed better than he had for his club in the season’s other international windows, though the Catalans have since parted ways with coach Ronald Koeman. “I’m the same player,” Busquets said at his pre-Sweden press conference, asked about his varying levels of performance for club and country. “I think it’s been exaggerated a little. It depends on the results a bit and then on the form of one team compared to the other. I feel important. I’m trying to face every day with the maximum intensity; I’m trying to enjoy it as much as I can.”
Spain are only thinking about winning against Sweden
“I’m feeling good; I’m happy. I hope to play a lot more games for Spain, but it depends on many things. But I feel good, and I’m happy in this team.” Spain know that a draw against Sweden will be enough to seal their place at the Qatar World Cup, but Busquets says the side are only thinking about winning. “The objective now is the same as always – to win,” Busquets said. “We’re going to play to win, which is what we do in every game. “We’re an attacking team, and we’ll create chances. We’re going to try to win the game playing our way, and that won’t change.” Busquets will level his new Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez’s record of 133 Spain caps with an appearance on Sunday.
“Xavi has been one of Spain’s best players, if not the best,” Busquets said of his new boss. “I’ve been fortunate enough to know him as a player and as a person, which makes him even greater. We’ve been partners on the pitch, along with Andres [Iniesta]. We had a special relationship between the three of us. It gives me a lot of pride to equal his record because he had an incredible career. I wish him the best as a coach, and I know how he sees football. I don’t know what he’s like as a coach yet, but I’m sure he’s learned a lot and that he’ll do well.”