Alex Balde addressed the media in the hours leading up to the Slavia Prague-Barcelona clash. The player discussed various topics, with a particular focus on the Champions League and the Spanish national team. Reaching the 'top eight' remains the Catalan side's priority, but his ultimate dream is to return to the national squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

"Every player strives to represent their country; it's everyone's dream," he declared. "I haven't been called up for two years. I work hard and push myself every day to earn that opportunity to return. My focus is on performing, and I truly hope I get the chance to go back," he reflected on his prospects of rejoining Luis de la Fuente's squad.

Alex Balde believes reaching the 'top eight' of the Champions League is achievable: "We see ourselves with a strong chance; we're putting in excellent work. We are Barca, and we always have to win. We have immense confidence in the squad. If we play like we did against Real Sociedad, we'll certainly win. Sometimes the ball just doesn't want to go in during matches, but these things happen."

"Our goal isn't just to match last year's run; it's to win the Champions League"

The young full-back also expressed his respect for Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Dro, players set to depart this transfer window: "This morning, Marc spoke to the entire team. He's a role model; I've always grown up watching him, and he's my captain. I wish him the best of luck; it will do him good to regain his confidence. Every player has their own career path and thinks differently. We must respect these decisions. I wish Dro all the very best; I'm sure things will go well for him. I got along really well with him; he's a great lad. I hope everyone respects his decision."

For FC Barcelona, setting sights on the Champions League involves a major objective: "We approach it with immense eagerness. It's a competition everyone dreams of playing in and winning. Our goal isn't just to reach the stage we did last year; it's to win it," he asserted.

Alex Balde concluded his press conference by addressing Lamine Yamal's absence from this fixture. "Lamine is a player of immense quality, one of the best in the world. It's always beneficial to have him, but we cannot rely on any single player. Whoever steps into his position will perform perfectly. Whenever he scores, we always do a dance or celebration," he affirmed.

Álex Balde

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