Sergio Busquets was world champion in South Africa in 2010, but that does not stop him from being excited to participate in a new Club World Cup. “It is very exciting to play in a World Cup where the best clubs in the world are, and to be able to face them,” said the former Barcelona player. “We are very excited and, on top of that, here with two games in our city, in our country, with our fans, so hopefully everything goes well and we can be there as many games as possible, and go through the group,” he said.
“In the end, that’s what a player wants, to be in these matches of this magnitude and in these tournaments. I hope and wish that it will be a party, that each fan will go to cheer and support their team, to have fun, that there will be a great show and that this will be reflected on the pitch with their teams.”
The former Barcelona player acknowledges that this is a unique event. “The word ‘world’ I think reflects everything in that magnitude, and in the Club World Cup, of course, its teams, each with its own style, from its region, from its group, let’s say, when they have to play and earn the pass to the World Cup… In this case, in our country, the United States, in our continent, which is America, we know the type of game that is played. I have also played in Europe. So… so in the rest of the continents. So, well, in the end let the best man win who will surely deserve it,” he told FIFA.
Inter Miami opens the Club World Cup
Inter Miami is in charge of opening the World Cup. “I’m happy to start the Club World Cup, and in front of our fans, in our city. We know that it is very important to start well, and as you say in front of a great team, which is used to these tournaments, which is a very successful team in the African continent, and it will be a very hard game. We know that in Miami there are many Latinos. It is a very passionate crowd, which is always cheering for 90 minutes or whatever is played and that always supports the team in good times and bad, and we are very grateful.”
“We are a team with little experience in these types of tournaments, but we are very excited. And, on a personal level, I’m happy to have been able to win tournaments both at club and national team level. As I said before, the word ‘world’ is very big, it means a lot to a player and, above all, to play this type of matches and tournaments. Then, we know that, from the group stage onwards, which gives you a little bit of leeway, you start the knockout rounds against the best teams in the world, or national teams in the case of the World Cup and, as you say, any mistake is paid for: a distraction, a sending off, a play, anything. So you have to be very focused, be a solid team, have that experience and also have a little bit of luck that sometimes you need.”
Messi, an incentive for the Club World Cup
The presence of Leo Messi is a great incentive for the tournament. “We know the magnitude of the player that Leo is, what he has been, what he will be until he wants to be,” he said. “I don’t think there is another player as complete and as different, nor do I think there has been,” he added. “I’m young and I’m sure there have been many very good players… And it’s a pleasure to be able to connect with him in the game, to be able to enjoy it and look at all that he’s capable of doing, which is a lot and is very good and is almost second to none.”
Busquets acknowledges that he is having a great time at Inter Miami. “Well, I was very clear that the club I was at was the club of my life, my home… I was there for as long as I wanted to be, living the last years of my career and enjoying football a lot, as I am doing now.”
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