Matheus: “We still want more”

Matthew Rodrigues it’s clear. Barça will do everything to secure a ticket to the UEFA Futsal Champions League Final Four. To do this, Barça will have to do it from 23 to 26 November in Croatia first place in the Elite Round from a group he shares with United Galati (Romania), Sporting Anderlecht (Belgium) and hosts Pula (Croatia).

With no room for error, the full-back looks back on this upcoming European fixture and talks about how he’s doing after missing the main match through injury.

First of all, Matheus, how are you physically?

“Okay, I’m fine. I missed the Main Round in Malta with an adductor injury, but now I’ve played a couple of games with a good feeling. I feel very well, in perfect condition to help the team.”

He said it, he missed the Main Round and now comes the Elite Round with almost no time to rest… and no room for manoeuvre. How do you deal with it?

“I can’t wait. Playing in the Champions League is always special, whatever the group. It won’t be easy, because in the Elite Round you can’t fail. Either you qualify first in the group or you’re out, and that means we have to put all five senses into every minute of every game. We know it is a very difficult phase. Both Anderlecht and Pula have made a good team. The details will be very important and we will have to be focused and compete at a very high level to be in the Final Four.”

As reigning champions, on top of that, you carry the burden of being favourite…

“Yes, and we have to meet expectations. As you say, we are favorites on paper, but we have to prove it on the track. You can’t go wrong. Only one happens and it is our biggest goal. We are very close, we will go for all and we travel with conviction that we’ll be back with a ticket to the Final Four in our pocket.”

United Galatians. Sporty Anderlecht. Polish. Where will be the key to qualifying?

“In the union of our group, concentration and doing what we know how to do. If we are at our best level, the rivals will have difficulty overtaking us.”

And Barça, this time, will be able to count on Matheus. Do you think you are at your best at Barça?

“Yes. It was difficult for me to adapt, because Brazilian football is freer and much more tactical here. But now I feel confident, important in the team. Since I arrived everyone has helped me a lot and I think I can be useful It’s very easy to play with these team-mates and, moreover, I feel a special bond with the fans.”

I guess it helped find such a close-knit group. You see a lot of unity.

“The whole team is a team, and it shows. Off the track, they’ve helped me a lot, because I arrived here alone, without my family, and they’ve always been very kind. On the track, with their quality, everything comes naturally.”

And how important Palau is…

“And a lot. They are the best. Palau always gives us an extra edge, but you can see the spirit and encouragement of the fans even if they are far away, no matter where we play.”

Velasco’s arrival also helped him grow. What have you learned and what do you think you have improved?

“I notice that I have his trust and this helps me to take risks and face more, because my strength is one-on-one. But, even since the coach’s arrival, I think I’ve improved in defense. I feel important in the team and he helped me, when he arrived we all started from scratch and from the first moment he made everyone’s futsal go beyond”.

And the team, what do you think has improved since the arrival of Velasco?

“Jesus’ style of play suits us a lot and he helped us grow a lot. We like playing with the ball and he defends this style. He also contributed to us in defense and set pieces. The year we almost won all in the past and this year we want even more.”

Well, let’s hope the streak continues. In this regard, to conclude, complete the sentence. Winning the Champions League would be…

“Winning two Champions Leagues in a row would be brutal.”