Sergi Roberto: Sporting will provide tough test

FC Barcelona face their final group game of this season’s Champions League on Tuesday at Camp Nou against a Sporting Clube who still harbour hopes of joining the blaugranes in the last 16 of the competition. Barça are already assured of first place in Group D after their draw in Turin on matchday 5 whilst the Portuguese club have to hope they can take all three points and Juventus do not in their game against Olympiacos in Athens. With nothing at stake for the home side, the fixture was not without its importance according to Barça midfielder Sergi Roberto. “It will be a tough game because there is a lot at stake for them [Sporting],” said the blaugrana before adding “these games are good to get a bit of match fitness and I aim to be at 100% physically after my injury.”

For the Barça number 20, the injury to his team mate Samuel Umtiti is a setback but he tried to look for the positives: “We have a deep squad and when players come into the team, they do well.” In theory, he ruled himself out of playing in the centre of the defence: “With Luis Enrique I played at right back and I adapted well. I have always said I want to help the team and I want to play, if that is in midfield, I will be happy to do it. I can’t see myself as a centre back because it’s a very difficult position and I have never played there.”

Sergi Roberto added that the squad are happy with the way the season is going. “Results are going our way, we are doing well in the league, Copa del Rey and the Champions League but we know that there is a long way to go in the league and there is always room for improvement,” confessed the man from Reus in Catalonia.

Asked about last week’s World Cup draw and his ambitions to be in Russia next summer, Roberto said: “To go to the World Cup is always great for a player. We are lucky the coach is Julen Lopetegui who was with me for the U20 World Cup and he has always given me a chance. If I can go, I will be grateful and happy.”