Upon arrival in San Francisco, where Barça face Manchester United on Saturday, Ivan Rakitic spoke to the media.
Sevilla: “Without doubt, Sevilla are one of the trickiest opponents we face to open the season with. They have strengthened their squad really well over the summer. It will be a difficult game but we’ll be ready. Even though I’m here at Barça there will be maximum respect for them and I hope to secure the trophy for Barcelona. We’ll need to be at our best and our intention is to go to Tiblisi to win the Super Cup”.
A better season: “There are areas that can be improved. We want the perfect season, not almost perfect. We need to work on those small details. I know the rest of my team mates well and that gives me the strength and I want to give back for all the confidence the club has deposited in me. We want to make the fans happy”.
Rivals: “It’s normal that we’ll be the team to beat. Logical after all we won last season. We have great respect for all our rivals but we just need to focus on our own method of playing”.
Xavi: “I’d loved to have been able to play alongside him for longer. He was a true gentleman in every sense of the Word. Time moves on though. We know he`s moved on but we hope he can come back in some capacity at some point”.
The pre-season tour of the USA: “It’s great to see so many people happy to see Barça. What we saw in LA was incredible. I’d love to go back there as it’s a special place”.