Iñaki Peña: 'I take it as a reward for all the hard work'

On Wednesday FC Barcelona complete their group stage fixtures in the Champions League with an away trip to Royal Antwerp in Belgium. Xavi Hernández's team go into the match with their place in the last 16 of the competition already secured and they know that if they can avoid defeat then they will top the group as well. 

Goalkeeper Iñaki Peña is set to continue between the posts in the continued absence of the injured Marc ter Stegen. The Alicante born player is happy with his form and performances since coming into the starting line but his focus is solely on the collective; helping the team. "I take it all as a reward for the hard work and the opportunity is there to help the squad. I am happy because I am repaying the confidence the team have shown in me and I am delighted by the fans' support," said Peña in the pre-game media appearance in Antwerp. 

"That they sing your name in the stadium is something to be thankful for. It's very emotional for a player who has come up through the youth ranks," he added. 

Despite everything, Iñaki Peña made it clear that "the injury to Ter Stegen is not good news", however, "it makes me proud to be playing in this shirt." 

"I have trained every day thinking that this day would come because you never know what can happen. At a club like Barça you can't relax for a single day," revealed the goalkeeper. 

To finish off, he mentioned his goalkeeping role models. "I have always said my hero was Víctor Valdés. I saw myself in him. Now, I have been training for a long time with Ter Stegen and it is a pleasure to be able to learn from one of the best players in the world. Picking things up from him has made me a better goalkeeper," concluded Peña.