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Barcelona's young left-back Alejandro Balde praises his team's defending following the 1-0 victory over Villarreal, and went on to point out the differences between himself and the veteran Jordi Alba who he got the nod over.
Alejandro Balde lauded his team following the win over Villarreal, saying he is very happy with the team and the defensive effort.
Barcelona went 11 points clear at the top of the table following the 1-0 victory over Villarreal at La Ceramica on Sunday night and picked up their 16th clean sheet of the season.
Barcelona keep another clean sheet
Barcelona got off to a strong start, and Pedri's well-executed goal in the 18th minute was their reward. In the 89th minute, Chukwueze believed he had tied the score for the home team, but the linesman determined he was offside.
It was Barcelona's 16th clean sheet in La Liga this season, conceding only seven goals, and Balde, who is part of the Catalans' mean defence, was quick to express his joy for the effort he and his fellow back-liners put in to help Barcelona continue their miserly run.
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“I am very happy, for the team, for the defensive effort, and this is related to the results we are achieving,” Balde told LaLiga TV
“We are in a great moment, but we need to take it a game at a time.”
Balde on how he is different from Jordi Alba
The young left-back was thrust into the starting lineup again despite Jordi Alba getting a goal in the last game.
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The 19-year-old clearly has the manager's trust, starting 16 LaLiga games this season compared to Alba’s nine, and when asked about the manager's faith in him, Balde went ahead to acknowledge Alba’s good form, but he also pointed out the different things they offer Xavi.
“Jordi Alba scored and assisted in the last game, he is playing well, I am playing well too, I want to keep doing the same, doing the same on the pitch."
"I think I am more explosive in the one-on-one situations, Jordi is better in the passing and crossing, so those are the capabilities we have.”
The young Spanish-Dominican has also previously admitted that he was learning from the veteran full-backs in the squad. He said he is watching Marcus Alonso on how e defends, and Jordi Alba the way he passes and Crosses.
Both Jordi Alba and Balde would hope to be the one chosen by the Spanish manager to start at left-back in the Europa League knockout play-offs against Manchester United on Wednesday.
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