WALE EMOSU, who was among the journalists on a conference call to Marc Bartra, brings an excerpt of the interview with the Real Betis and Spain defender.
You left Borussia Dortmund to go back to Spain to join Real Betis, what was the reason behind this?
I wanted to have many minutes and enjoy football. Also to have the options to be in the World Cup.
This will be your first derby [Real Betis vs Sevilla], how do you expect it to be different from the previous derby you have played in Catalonia between Barcelona and Espanyol?
Today, Betis versus Sevilla is very attractive because the two teams are fighting for European places.This makes it even more beautiful than it already is.
The El Gran Derbi is one of the greatest matches in LaLiga, what is your knowledge of this derby and what are you looking forward to in this match?
Derbies are those games that are not only played with the head but also the heart. The derby is a game you know that every good action by the teams make thousands of the people happy. This is really special and we will try to do our best for our people.
Marc, you used to play in the Back Four at Barcelona. Apart from, maybe two or three matches at Dortmund you also played at Back Four, but as you are playing at central Back Three, is it helping your game? Could you explain a bit about that?
I am feeling very very comfortable with the system, because the important things are the style and philosophy, which are not going to change, because when you have the ball, you try it the same way.
Which match would you say is your toughest match in the current LaLiga season and why would you say it is the toughest?
It was against Real Madrid at home, because we were leading 2-1 in the first half and they played very well in the second half. Finally they came back to win the match.
How do you see Morocco’s chances in the World Cup and what are your expectations of the result of the game of both Spain and Morocco in the first round?
Spain are one of the favourites, while Morocco had a good run qualifying for the World Cup and they deserve a lot of respect, so it will really be a very competitive match [5-3].
There have been footballers who played in the LaLiga but who now play in the MLS, what do you think of the MLS and is there possibility that you can come out of Spain to play in the MLS?
I have friends in the MLS. Now I am 27 years old, but we will see, because you never know. The league is growing, which is good for football and the country [USA] is a really nice country.
How are you finding life in Seville?
For many people, Seville is one of the best cities in Spain. You adapt quickly to good things and it feels like I have been living here for a lot of years and I really feel comfortable.
Sevilla are struggling this year, they just changed their manager for the second time this season, do you think this is an advantage for Betis, or do you think it is the opposite. Do you think Sevilla will be more motivated to come out and play in the derby?
We are going to see one of the best matches we can see in LaLiga and Sevilla are great team, they have good players and it will be a competitive game.
Having played for Barcelona, one would have thought that on your return to LaLiga from Dortmund, you would join a club like Real Madrid, with due respect to the club, why did you join Real Betis?
My priority is to be loved where I am and to be happy playing football. Betis and LaLiga achieve this goal for me. Daily happiness is the best thing I can have.
This interview was conducted before the Real Betis-Sevilla derby match was played on Saturday. The match ended 2-2.