Having helped defeat future employers FC Barcelona in the UEFA Super Cup three years ago, Daniel Alves is urging his team-mates not to repeat their mistakes of 2006 as they prepare to take on FC Shakhtar Donetsk in Monaco.
'Learning lessons'
Then the marauding right-back was a key component of the Sevilla FC side that dismantled Barça at the Stade Louis II, running out 3-0 winners to add the UEFA Super Cup to the UEFA Cup won three months earlier. "I was happy to win the Super Cup with Sevilla and now I'll try to win with another team," Alves told the pre-match press conference. "People who have seen both sides of the coin learn their lessons. Our players are intelligent and know that in a final, if you are not in the right mind, you are bound to encounter surprises. They won't repeat the same mistakes, that would not be the mark of intelligent people."
Nothing to lose
The 26-year-old, who also took part in this competition in 2007 when Sevilla lost 3-1 to AC Milan in a match overshadowed by the death of Antonio Puerta, and acknowledges that he is in a different position this year compared to 2006 when his former club were considered underdogs. "It's good to play against a team who is stronger than you because you have little to lose," explained Alves, who sat out the defeat of Manchester United FC in the UEFA Champions League final in May because of injury. "Now we have to be very positive to avoid any surprises and have a humble approach, keep working hard and try to win. We can't have any excuses. We've come here to win the Super Cup. We have come here with one aim and we have to overcome all difficulties if we are to achieve that."
Ibrahimović in
Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola has largely kept faith with the same players who swept all before them last season, with one notable exception – Samuel Eto'o, who scored the opener against United in Rome, has gone to FC Internazionale Milano with Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimović moving to the Camp Nou. "You can never make comparisons, because every player does things his own way," Alves added. "Ibrahimović is a great player who will contribute in his own style. He's different from what we had and we're all delighted to have him. We've welcomed him into the group and I'm sure he has a great contribution to make."
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