Iniesta: “we really worked hard”

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Andrés Iniesta expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, explaining: “we really worked hard and we had to put in a lot of running to beat them. The team is on really good form”.

The Spanish midfielder explained: “we knew it would be like this because Villarreal love to keep the ball too. It was a very good performance from the team and the three points are very important”.

Referee’s “have a difficult job”
Iniesta was not surprisingly perhaps, asked about the referee’s performance, particularly the decision to blow Messi offside when he looked set score: “it was a move that could have put us two up and instead a few minutes later they had come back to 1-1. Referees have a difficult job, they have to take very quick decisions. Sometimes they get them right and sometimes they don’t”.

Team enjoying good form
In general terms, Iniesta reckons the team are: “enjoying a good moment of form and we are continuing to improve”, whilst warning ahead of next week’s trip to Almeria: “all the league games are important. We can’t afford to drop points, it’s going to be a very competitive league”.

No words left to praise Messi
Iniesta set up David Villa for the first goal, but it was Leo Messi, who’s now chalked up 66 in his last 65 games, who got the second and third and his teammate was effusive in his praise for the Argentinean: “what else can you say? There are no words left! And let’s hope he continues like he is –this is the perfect atmosphere here for him to progress even further”.

Below are some of the other players’ post match comments:

Sergio Busquets
“They were the best opponents that have played here”.

We put in a very complete performance and deserved the three points”

The team put in a big physical effort and these three points are really important”.

“We hope to continue in this way and we have to go to Almeria and take the points there before Madrid come here”.

Pedro Rodríguez
(Asked about the controversial offside decision in the first half)“Down on the pitch it looked as if they started their runs from an onside position, but I don’t think we should go on about it anymore”.

“Villarreal are a very good team and it’s important that we can go to bed tonight as leaders”.

Dani Alves
“We had a really good team up against us, with a nice style of playing, but we took the points after a big effort”.

“We knew it would be a tough game, but we also knew that if we played at the level we can, it’d be hard to beat us. We are very happy with the win”.