Javier Mascherano was pleased to return to midfield after lining up there for Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Eibar.
The Argentina international has mostly been used as a centre-back in his Camp Nou career, having been deployed there by Pep Guardiola in the 2010-11 season.
Mascherano told reporters following the victory over the Basques that Barca are evidently doing the right things, while he was content at the change in his position.
“There are things to improve but we are on the right line,” he said, AS reports.
“We leave with the feelings of a victory and it’s against an opponent that’s not easy to beat.
“I was happy to play for Barca in midfield.”
It took until the hour mark for Barca to open the scoring against Eibar, Xavi Hernandez getting the goal, with Mascherano explaining how the team kept faith, both in the game and in the veteran midfielder.
“Even though we couldn’t score in the first half the team didn’t despair,” he recalled.
“Our opponents got tired and that weighed them down.
“There was a lot said about Xavi by the Press. I didn’t hear any of his teammates say anything.”
Barca’s next League fixture sends them to Santiago Bernabeu to meet Real Madrid in the first Clasico of the season, with a Champions League game against Ajax before that.
Mascherano believes the result of the European game will have an impact on the League match, and insists the focus is on the Dutch.
“We know that if we can get a good result at the Bernabeu we can put more distance between ourselves and Madrid,” he admitted.
“But the most important game is the next one, so that’s Tuesday. If we win, we change the equation.
“To go into the Clasico in the right way, we need to beat Ajax.”
