Speaking on TV3’s FanZone (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado made it clear that he is not considering the possibility of leaving the club and is prepared to stay and fight for his place in the team.
The ongoing campaign has been a tough one for the La Masia graduate as he has fallen down the pecking order in Hansi Flick’s plans.
As a result, regular minutes have been hard to come by, and the situation has led to speculation about his future.
Casado rules out exit
Clubs like Atletico Madrid and Galatasaray have shown an interest in the ongoing transfer window. But Casado was quick to shut down the possibility of a departure.
“My dream since I was little is to play for Barça, and as long as I have that opportunity, I’m going to keep fighting,” said Casado.
He also highlighted the boost he feels from the fans, saying: “Feeling that affection makes you very proud.”
Casado also spoke about managing minutes after spells with less continuity. He played the full 90 minutes against Oviedo and featured again off the bench versus FC Copenhagen.
“When you’ve been playing for a while, and then you play 90 minutes, you notice it more, but those matches help you get back into rhythm for the next ones,” he explained.
He also admitted he does not always know in advance if he will play, saying: “When the manager tells you it’s your turn, the joy is immense. You prepare yourself better mentally. Sometimes you get a sense of it in training, but you can’t take it for granted.”
On the Champions League result
Marc Casado of FC Barcelona
Casado has not been playing regularly this season. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Casado also discussed Barcelona’s direct qualification to the top eight of the UEFA Champions League after the 4-1 win over FC Copenhagen.
The Spanish midfielder admitted the match didn’t start smoothly, but stressed the importance of the outcome.
“The important thing was to get the three points and avoid another knockout round. With such a packed schedule, saving two matches is key to being able to rest,” he stated.
Casado also revealed manager Hansi Flick was far from happy at half-time during the game, with the Catalans having fallen behind to the Danish outfit.
“He wasn’t happy. He asked us to step it up a gear. Our opponents already know us, but our idea is to make them run and ultimately impose ourselves in the second half,” the academy graduate remarked.
Casado also shared how the squad learned about Real Madrid’s defeat to Benfica, which left them outside the top eight.
“They were telling us how things were going, and when I found out the result, I thought it’s always better to avoid two more matches,” he noted.
Finally, he underlined the special bond created by having so many La Masia players in the squad.
“When you have so much respect and feel this pride that we have for this shirt, it gives us more desire to keep fighting, and that’s what we’re going to do, keep fighting to win the Champions League,” Casado concluded.