Champions League FC Barcelona
SYLVIO MENDES CAMPOS JNR, BRAZILIAN, DEFNEDER, 35.
Metropolitan: Have you another Champions League final in you?
Sylvinho: It's good to be again in a Champions Leagure final. It will be really good playing against Manchester United, one of the best teams in the world. I hope it's going to be a good game.
M: Last season [Manchester defeated Barcelona in the Champions league semi-finals last year]? Revenge?
S: It's another game. Manchester United did well last season and they deserved to be champions [but] there is no time in football to be talking about revenge.
M: Will it be a more open game this time?
S: It could be. You never know how the game's going to be but normally we are talking about two great teams with wonderful footballers so you'd expect to be playing in one of the best games in the world.
M: United may see you as a player to target if you replace Abidal. Are you confident you can do the necessary?
S: Every player likes to play every game. I expect to play, just as everyone in the dressing room does. But you never know; it depends on my boss. I don't see the position [left back] as a weakness for us. We've got a lot of good players. We're having a great season and I don't think we have any kind of problem if I play or others play. I think we are going to be a strong side whatever.
M: Last summer, Guardiola asked you to stay because he trusted you. You've had chances to think about leaving and it's been frustrating for you but now you have possibility of playing in the final. Has it been a tough year, has it been worth waiting?
S: That's football. It can be lovely and sometimes mad. You never know. I've got a good relationship with my boss - he's a really intelligent man and a good guy. I can understand that he has got a lot of good players and I haven't played a lot of games but on the other side when I've had my opportunities I think I've played really well. I'm just looking forward to playing this game and hopefully to win.
M: You played a part in getting the team to the final because at Stamford Bridge, you suggested to Pep to make late substitutions
S: It was a short moment, a crazy moment in the game. Everyone loses their mind and the boss forgets to make a substitution. When I realised we had just two, three minutes more, I told him 'we have one more substitution. You can do that.' The second coach told him the same thing.
M: Ronaldo - are you still quick enough to cope with him?
S: He's an amazing player, like Messi. He's really difficult to defend against. You never know, he can do things other players can't do. We are talking about very, very good players. I don't study him because it's not necessary; everyone can see all the games on the television; he's quick, scores goals, is good in the air as well.
M: Do you have speed of mind to look after Ronaldo?
S: Maybe, yes. He's got such talent and it's very difficult. This kind of player can do other things you can't imagine. His mind is quick. When you are talking about these players who are not easy to defend, you have to be quick in the mind and the legs too because they are strong and fast. But if you tackle it right, you can defend against these type of players - Messi, Ronaldo, Kaka. It's not easy to defend one against one but tactically you can sort out this problem sometimes.
M: Your experience counts against players like Ronaldo?
S: It can. Experience is very good but you have to be in shape, you have to be fit because you're talking about really quick players. But of course experience is very good. Over a long career, you can improve
some things. I hope that happens a lot
M: Barcelona - how good are you as a team?
S: Really good. It's a little bit different to the team that beat Arsenal three years ago. It's a different team but as good as the older one. I don't know if it's better. I don't like to compare teams because it's really difficult. At that time we were playing good football as well and had a great season - winning the League and Champions League. Today we have a chance to win three titles. It's not easy but I don't want to compare. We have wonderful players and a team as we had three years before.