Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta: I never went away

Barcelona playmaker Andres Iniesta said he “never went away” after he produced a magical run reminiscent of his brilliant best in Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League quarterfinal second-leg win over Paris Saint-Germain at the Camp Nou.

Neymar scored both goals on the night, for a result which sent Barcelona through 5-1 on aggregate to the semifinals, although the highlight for most observers was Iniesta producing one of the assists of the season.

Fourteen minutes into the game, he received the ball in his own half and then glided past attempted challenges from Yohan Cabaye, Edinson Cavani, Marco Verratti and Marquinhos before playing a perfect pass for Neymar to expertly convert.

Although this was Iniesta’s fourth assist in the Champions League this season, the 30-year-old’s form has been questioned in some quarters, and he has neither scored nor provided an assist yet in La Liga this term.

Asked on “El Larguero” radio show if he had shown he was still capable of providing magic moments, the Spain international said he had always remained happy with his contribution to Barca’s cause.

“I still see myself fine,” Iniesta said. “Each person will have their own view of others, of what they do, of what they don’t do, but I always say the same: we can all improve, and nothing else. I am happy with what I do, always knowing you can do better. I never went away, nor have I returned. I have always been here, and remained who I am.”

Andres Iniesta provided a superb assist for Neymar against PSG.

Iniesta did say that his run for the first goal had been “fantastic,” though, adding: “Yeah, yeah, it went well.

“It all happened quickly and in the end it came out perfect. It was important to score the goal, to make us relaxed in the game. We had to take the game for what it was — in any moment they could score, and football can have surprises sometimes. Today we played a very complete game, which we have to do from now until the end.”

The ease with which Iniesta waltzed through challenges was even more impressive given that he had been stretchered off in last Tuesday’s first leg with a back injury, and had only received the medical all-clear to return to action on the day before the return.

He said he was still feeling pain in his body during the game but that he was used to playing despite such problems at this stage in his career.

“I knew it was all right, that there was nothing serious, although there was a lot of pain,” Iniesta said. “For a long time, it has been difficult to play a game without some type of pain in some part of the body, so you get used to playing with it.”

Barcelona now face a semifinal meeting against former coach Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich, the winner of Wednesday’s Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid quarterfinal, or either Juventus or Monaco.

Asked which team he would prefer to face, Iniesta said: “It is difficult. We do not mind — whoever we get will demand we are at our best.

“We are back in the semifinals, eight times in the last 10 years. We must be try to take a further step. We are well set up to do it, if we do our jobs as we should do. More than who we play we must focus on ourselves.”

Barca remain on course for a Treble this season, with Luis Enrique’s team two points clear in La Liga with six games remaining, and having booked their place in May 30’s Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao.

“We are in a good moment, improving all the time,” Iniesta said. “It is all a process. We believe in what we are doing. As the season goes on it is important that the team keeps improving in all aspects. We are in good form at the moment, but we know that what is coming will be decided by small things, and we must be alert.”