Marc Bartra intends to nail down a regular place in the Barcelona side this season with a fresh start under new Coach Luis Enrique.
The centre-back has been interview by Mundo Deportivo and reflected on the appointment of Luis Enrique as replacement for Tata Martino.
He also gave his thoughts on the exits of Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol and the likely departure of Xavi Hernandez.
“There’s no doubt Puyol will be missed. I’ve always said that he’s helped me a lot and someone like that is very rare in the locker room,” Bartra said.
“A Barca without Puyol will be very unusual. Luckily, he remains bound to the club and personally I think it’s important that he is.
“We’ll see what happens with Xavi, and Andres Iniesta, but the club is super professional. There are people like Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, Lionel Messi…there are plenty of heavy hitters to pick up the slack.”
Barca have this summer been linked with a host of defensive signings but Bartra said if he gets the chance, he will do whatever he can to aid the team.
“My predisposition is to try and help the team as much as I can and as a starter, I know if I push my colleagues in the same position then that will raise the level of the team,” he went on.
“It’s my third year and I have to maintain that level of growth.
“Most teams play to minimise mistakes but here we play out with the ball from the back. If you add that to playing with 40 yards behind you and you have to be fast, it’s not easy to find all these features in one player.”
Bartra was asked about some of the signings Barca have proposed this summer, both in his position and elsewhere in the team, and the transfers that have been completed.
“Marquinhos is a young player who has shown that age is no barrier to playing for an elite team,” he said of the Paris Saint-Germain defender who has been strongly linked with Camp Nou.
“He’s fast but I haven’t seen much of him.
“Luis Suarez is a player who makes a difference and if he is coming, he will raise the level of the team.
“Claudio Bravo knows the League and that’s good. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, from what I’ve seen, is a great goalkeeper and uses his feet well. Ivan Rakitic is very complete and I am sure he will adapt quickly.
“It’s a joy to share a dressing room with Rafinha and Gerard Deulofeu. I know them well and they come home with great enthusiasm and hunger.”