Víctor Valdés knows that his saves have made him a fundamental component of the team even though the goal conceded against Getafe broke a run of five clean sheets.

On the day that handball star David Barrufet announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season, Víctor Valdés spoke to reporters after training. Valdés has a good few years to go to match Barrufet’s achievements but day by day he is demonstrating just why he is the undisputed king of the Barça goal.

In form

Víctor Valdés doesn’t like talking about himself and usually deflects all the praise in the direction of his team-mates. However, this Monday he told reporters. “I’m happy with my current form”.

Zamora trophy for the squad

Despite conceding a goal against Getafe, Valdés still has the best record in La Liga and is leading the fight for the Zamora trophy. Barça have conceded just 11 goals in 21 matches and according to Valdés: “We work really well in defence. From the first forward to the goalkeeper. It’s a system we work on a lot”.

The defence against Atletico

Josep Guardiola will be without Alves (injured), Piqué and Márquez (suspended) for next Sunday’s match against Atletico and so will have to improvise a new defensive line-up. Valdés admitted today: “These are important absences but the men who play will do a good job. I have no doubt”.

Playing and winning

Víctor Valdés dismissed all talk of alleged favouritism from the referees: “These are factors outside of sport. We dedicate ourselves to training and on Sunday we’ll try and produce a good performance and take the three points”.

No time to relax

In the Getafe match, Barça had to play with just ten men from the 25th minute. The team showed courage and ended up beating Michel’s team 2-1. According to Valdés: “Intensity is one of the key elements. The secret is that the coaching staff don’t allow us to relax”.

Barrufet a reference point

Víctor Valdés also referred to handball goalkeeper David Barrufet, who today announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season: “You have to recognize everything’s he done for the Club. He’s a reference point and his career will be very difficult to equal”.

The squad take to the road for training again this Tuesday, visiting Reus ahead of the weekend’s game in Madrid against Atletico.

After a break this Sunday, it’s back to work for the squad who face five training sessions – one open to the public- and a trip to the Vicente Calderon this week.

Monday 8: Training session at the Ciutat Esportiva at 11.00. Valdes will talk to the press after the session.

Tuesday 9: Open training session at the Municipal Stadium in Reus as part of the local club’s centenary celebrations. Following last week’s successful exhibition in Palafrugell, the squad face their fans in Reus at 11.30.

Wednesday 10: Free day with no training.

Thursday 11[: Training at Ciutat Esportiva at 11.00.

Friday 12: Once again the squad train at the Ciutat Esportiva at 11.00.

Saturday 13: Final session before Sunday’s game. The squad will train at the Nou Campat 11.30 and Josep Guardiola will speak to the press afterwards, before the squad travel to Madrid.

Sunday 14: The team visit the Vicente Calderón for the 22nd league game of the season to defend their unbeaten record. Kick off 21.00.

Barca Atletic could not add another victory during their visit to Denia (1-0) but, despite the setback, Luis Enrique’s boys are experiencing a great season.

The reserves are still working to achieve promotion to the Second Division, and although the defeat has made them drop in the standings from second to third place, Luis Enrique has no doubts that his team will end up playing the playoffs for promotion.

“I’m not at all worried. I’m very confident of my group. I am sure we will qualify for the promotion playoffs, and if not, I will swallow my words. I have hundred percent trust in my team and, at the end of the season will play the playoffs”, said the coach from Asturias.

Luis Enrique lamented the defeat as his team failed to score despite getting chances to do so and ended up paying:

“We have had many shots but only few clear-cut chances. Their keeper had a great game. Their goal came after a strategical. We tried our best but lacked luck,” Lucho said.

Andres Iniesta reckons he’s “feeling really good” at the moment and “I’ve been playing really well over the last six weeks or so, regardless of whether I’m scoring or not”.

Iniesta was a fundamental part of Barca’s heroic win over Getafe on Saturday and his form over the recent games has been back to his best. After the game he spoke exclusively to the Barca TV programme ‘El Marcador’.

Feeling good

Iniesta switched from the left to the right of the midfield against Getafe, but wherever he plays, he seems to shine. “I’m feeling good – over the last month and a half I’ve had some good sensations and I’m trying to take advantage of playing every game to get back to my best. It’s hard to make comparisons, but I’d like to be even better than I was last year. I want to get better every year – there’s still plenty of the season to play and I’m feeling good”.

What a move!

One of the best moments against Getafe was his turn away from the surrounding players on the edge of his own box. “I saw the Getafe players and, well it was something that turned out really well for me . I thought, thank heavens there was no one behind me or I could have been in trouble”, he laughed – “it was a risky area to do that and you have to be very careful”.

Goals sure to come

After an unforgettable year in which he was voted the fifth best player in the world by FIFA, Iniesta admits he still has one thing to improve – his goalsoring: “it’s true that I maybe need to score more, but my overall performance is the same whether I score or not. I’m trying to get goals though”.

Piqué

After a great opening 20 minutes, the red card for Piqué really changed the Getafe game and Iniesta commented: “I didn’t expect the red card. It was the typical tackle that maybe you just lose control a bit – he told me that he got a bang on the knee – it’s one of those quick decisions, I thought the ref harmed us, but it all turned out alright. Playing with 10 is tough, especially against a team like Getafe who like to keep the ball, it was hard work, but the team’s attitude was top drawer”.

Still 5 points clear

As to the team’s lead at the top: “the important thing is that we do our job – we keep on winning and whatever the other teams do is just secondary. We gave a good impression and the team is feeling good – we’re working hard”.

Milestone

The Getafe game was Iniesta’s 200th in the league: “it’s a nice figure to reach and I’m excited about what it means and it’s not easy to do that at a club like Barca. I hope to play in many more”.

“The Barcelona team seems to thrive on adversity. Whenever players are missing through injury or suspension the squad always reacts well,” says Roger Bogunyà in an article at the official FC Barcelona website. “Barcelona is the cleanest side in the Spanish League, having won the Fair Play Award of last season. Nevertheless, the team always responds well whether players are sent off or injured.”

Pique and Marquez will miss the coming match against Atletico Madrid due to a one match suspension following their red cards, while Alves and Touré are out injured.

Facing similar situations in high profile matches previously, Guardiola improvised two defenses:

The first was against Atletico Bilabao in the Copa del Rey final last year, with Marquez and Milito injured and Abidal banned. Guardiola played with Alves, Touré, Pique, and Puyol in the back. The team won 4-1.

The second time was in the Champions League final that Barcelona won 2-0 against Manchester United. With Alves and Abidal both suspended, and Marquez and Milito injured, Guardiola played with Puyol, Touré, Pique and Silvinho in the back.

Guardiola’s makeshift back lines have been successful:

“So far, Guardiola’s teams have had 11 players sent off in 9 different matches. In the 8 following matches, the team has only been beaten once, winning 6 and drawing 1. The only defeat in these circumstances came against Atletico Madrid – this weekend’s opponent – in the match that ended 4-3 last season.”

This time things might be a bit easier, because the team is only short of a natural right back, just as it was in the Getafe match.