Javi Martinez has enthused at Bayern Munich’s success in reaching the Champions League Final at the expense of Barcelona.
The midfielder will be Spain’s only representative at Wembley after he and his Bavarian employers followed up last week’s Champions League semi-final first leg 4-0 win over Barca with a 3-0 win at the Camp Nou on Wednesday evening.
“It's true that we weren't really expecting two results like these for the simple reason that Barcelona have been the best team in the world for years,” commented Martinez to UEFA’s official website afterwards.
“I don't think it has been anything like as easy as it appears but we worked very hard, played very well and in the end I think we can say that we managed to show we were better than them this time.
“It doesn't feel too bad, reaching my third final in the space of a year [UEFA Europa League, UEFA European Championship and now UEFA Champions League]!
“After a season of acclimatisation in a new club where, in fact, everything feels totally new in your life, I really couldn't ask for anything more than what we've achieved.
“We've already assured ourselves of our first trophy because we are German champions, we are in the German Cup Final and now we are going to Wembley. It's fantastic and really you can't imagine anything better than this.
“One of the real tasks which we saw as very important was trying to shut down Andres Iniesta and it was mostly my job.
“He's one of the Barcelona players who can do their opponents the most damage so I tried to do what I could.
“Above all, I've got a good friendship with him so I'm quite sure that one day soon, when we are together in the Spain squad, he'll remind me of all this and how I played against him.
“I'm very proud to be the only Spaniard who's going to be in the Champions League Final at Wembley and I'll do all I can to ensure that I win my first Champions League medal.”
