Recently, I read an article by the esteemed British sports writer Hunter Davies that got me thinking about just how blessed us Barca fans truly are to have such a wonderful team right now. The article did not concern itself with the psychological challenges of sporting greatness, nor was it an insight into the world of total-football, its intricacies and tactical subtlety exposed for all to see. No, this specific article concerned itself with the footballing life of that lesser-applauded of footballing positions – the right-back.

Writing in ‘The New Statesman‘ Davies explained how “it’s one of those strange things about football, always has been, here and abroad, that when we think of our boyhood heroes, our club icons, our present day gods – there’s never a right-back among them.” Elaborating on his theme, the Scot continued, “So what is it about right backs? Are they boring players – or is it the position that makes them boring?”

Now, far be it from me to argue with one of the most revered journalists of the last 50 years (especially when he uses Manchester United’s Gary Neville as his chosen example of a boring right-back; a player famously hated by football fans and scousers alike, two groups I happily place myself amongst) but I am afraid I must make a quick point in defence of right-backs, well at least one of them anyway.

As I stated earlier, we Barca fans are blessed to have one of the greatest teams in footballing history right now, filled as it is with some of the most talented and dynamic players of their generation – and YES that does include our right-back. Where Davies claims to have no footballing heroes who have ever played in the position, it is safe to say many young Barca fans do not share such a sadness. With talent and energy to burn, and a personality as strange and quirky as that of any goalkeeper, Dani Alves has managed to ensure that young children for years to come will be imitating his free-kicks and dancing in school yards across the globe.

In a team filled with quiet, humble, homegrown heroes, Alves is that most rare of things – a loud-mouth, exotic bird who enjoys chirping away at the opposition just as much as he does flying down the wing at them. All samba style, smirking glances and one touch intricacy, Alves may be a Brazilian variation on the position but he is still a right-back. And a mighty fine one at that. Over the course of his Barca career, Dani has improved the defensive side of his game ten-fold, working hard on his positioning, tackling and, of course, his tracking back – a crucial part to any wing-backs game, especially one as manic and full of energy as Alves.

It is that famous engine of his that has so enamored many Barca fans towards his talents, watching in awe as the diminutive Brazilian works to keep the grass short with the many miles he covers. He is a ball of wound-up energy and one we could ill afford to lose. As his contract negotiations dragged on, many Barca fans feared the worst; the loss of a player who, in style and temperament, is perfectly suited to Barca. Luckily the story ended happily, with the player renewing. And so it is finally with great relish that I can now come out and say it – I am so darn glad that we didn’t lose the demon that is Dani Alves. For that may well have been the beginning of the end for Pep’s greatest team.

Imagine if Leo were to lose his wing-man, then what? It doesn’t bare thinking about.

But it is not merely for his footballing prowess and running ability that I admire Alves. No, as I have stated before, when I’ve written about him previously, Alves gives us something that no other player in this team can, and something we vitally need. He is just ever so slightly unlikeable for opposition players and fans. Where the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi are all about humility and reservation, Alves is proud and aggressive and over the top; working to get peoples backs up, trying desperately to infuriate anyone who comes within 20 feet of him. Basically he makes Barca slightly less likeable and I kind of love him for that.

If Mourinho or Cristiano think they can say what they want about us and all they’re going to get is a dose of Pep’s famous stoic cheek-turning, well they’d better think again because Dani is on the case and he is liable to let his feet do the talking, well at least after he’s finished chirping away. It is with this in mind that I would like to wish Dani all the best ahead of our upcoming Champions League clash with Real Madrid. I truly hope Alves goes out there and reminds both Madrid and the world press that this band of Barca players are no pushovers. Yes we like to play football, and play it properly, and yes we may even have one eye in a philosophy book, but we are not scared of the battle that awaits us and we will not shirk the physical challenge that stands between us and Wembley.

So bring on the diving, the dirty tackles, the time-wasting and the amateur dramatics, you can even go ahead and hide the keys to your beloved bus, Dani has got the legs to run circles around that bus and still have the energy to hand out the half-time oranges. To put it simply – thanks to this great crop of players we currently have at our disposal, we are not frightened of any challenge, no matter how big or cumbersome. And it is with the greatest right-back of the modern era leading our charge that we will head to the Bernabeau tomorrow night. Like it or not, Barca is going to be unlikeable for some time to come yet and I, for one, would like to thank our darling Dani for this.

Take the fight to them Dani. Take it to them and make it stick.