FC Barcelona player Marc Bartra, during his first ever press conference as a first team member, stated that his objective is to consolidate his place in the team. He added, “I am confident in my own abilities and about how far I can go.” Bartra also underlined the importance of having risen up through the youth ranks to finally make it to the first team. “I have fought for ten years for this, now I’m here, I want to win the confidence of the manager and players … I have always started seasons being just one more face, without being part of the regular starting eleven, but have ended up playing and feeling happy. Because for people to have confidence in you, the first thing is for you to have confidence in yourself.”

Marc assured his listeners that he is ready for new challenges and new experiences, “with advice from Piqué, Puyol and Mascherano, I’m sure I’ll get even better. Talking every day to the best players in the world will teach me a lot. We’re talking about world champions who have been in the elite for years. I try to observe what they do.”

Bartra also had special words for Marc Muniesa, who will miss much of the coming season with a serious knee injury. “He’s like a brother to me. We’ve been together for years. We came to the club together, and more than a team-mate, he’s a friend. He’s a strong lad, with his head screwed on, and he’ll work hard to get back quickly.”

Sources: fcbarcelona.cat, ligabbva.com