Dani Alves has little sympathy for Real Madrid’s expulsion from the Copa del Rey, and discussed Barcelona in the Club World Cup, among other topics.
Madrid were kicked out of the Cup for fielding Denis Cheryshev when the winger had a ban left over from his loan at Villarreal, and Alves spoke about the issue and others with TVE.
“Whoever makes the mistake, they have to pay. The rules have to apply,” he said, Marca reports, before moving on to the tournament in Japan.
“We want to re-enter the history of football, that’s our challenge. It’s a very desirable competition. But, watch out, we have to go game by game so we don’t end up like other teams who thought about a final then didn’t play it.”
Alves also weighed in on the Ballon d’Or and revealed what he believes is the difference between Barcelona today and in the final moment of Pep Guardiola’s tenure.
“I expect [Lionel Messi] to win the Ballon d’Or, and by a distance. He’s far ahead of the rest,” Alves said, before explaining what he sees as the crucial difference between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“He influences the team’s play. The best in the world shouldn’t only score goals.
“Pep’s Barca? In the end we were predictable. Now we’re unpredictable, but with the same philosophy and identity as in the first two or three years under Pep.”
