Do you have the same level of hunger to succeed?
Yes.

Does everyone?
Yes.

How do you feel when you see rumours in the press that Barça are trying to get rid of you?
The press is never right.

OK, so you’re happy at Barça for now. But what about in the future?
I don’t think about it. I have a contract here until 2010 and I’m happy with that. I can’t see myself leaving...

Why?
The weather. The people. The people treat me very well. It’s not in my thoughts at the moment to leave. The players are grown up and experienced. There are times when we don’t always agree, but the spirit is good.
I have only ever played competitively in Spain and I like it here, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. When you are a player who makes headlines or if you score a lot of goals there’s always speculation. But it’s just speculation.

You were linked to Liverpool recently.
By who?

The English newspapers.
And what was their source?

A radio interview with a Spanish agent...
But not my agent, not me. It’s not true. The newspapers are full of lies. No matter how many times I repeat that I am happy in Barcelona, some people don’t believe me.

What do you think of Liverpool?
I like their courage. They have a big red heart. They showed that against us.

Were you surprised to lose to them in the Champions League? Did Frank Rijkaard underestimate them?
No. You have to recognise that in the two games, Liverpool played extremely well. They defend well, they are organised.

Which Liverpool players do you like?
Gerrard. He runs a lot. He does everything well. Gerrard is the best English player. No, change that. At the moment he’s the best player in England.

Does playing in the Premiership appeal to you? You’d certainly be popular...
I watch English football. I like the crowd because it’s close to the pitch and the stadiums are always full. It’s not always like that in Spain. We played at Anfield and it was very loud, with lots of different songs. I like that. Football is different in England. It has a place in English hearts. But as for moving, look at who I play for, look at where I live and my lifestyle, look at what I’ve won. Would you move? I’m very happy here.

Does this season’s Champions League prove that English football is now better than Spanish?
If you mean the teams in the quarter-final, I’d have to say yes, but that changes every year. Spanish teams have done better than English teams in recent years, right? It’s hard for me to compare the two leagues because I’ve never played in England.

You recently said that you don’t envy the lifestyle of David Beckham...
I don’t and I’ll say it again. I’m very happy with who I am. He is more handsome, but I am the better player.

Your friend Albert Luque has struggled at Newcastle in England. Why do you
think that is? Have you discussed English football with him?
He’s my best friend, but we don’t speak about football. He’s a great player and a good person, but he has suffered in England. Managers are managers; they make decisions which they think are right…

Describe your ideal strike partner?
I don’t have one. At Barça, I like them all. To choose one or even two is difficult.

Which three forwards do you like in world football?
Thierry Henry, Thierry Henry and Thierry Henry. He’s a great player. He’s number one of the great players. Great players score goals, they make a difference. For me he is above everybody.

You’re 26 now. Will you keep playing as long as possible, or quit at the top?
I don’t know, I have no plans.

What about Henrik Larsson who’s still playing at 35?
The chats that I had with Henrik at Barça were very precious. It was him who gave the team the possibility to play, with his movement, the way he opened up spaces. Him coming on in the Champions League Final was decisive, he allowed me to excel.

Henrik taught me how to become invisible, how to make others forget about me. He taught me how to disappear in the eyes of defenders, but to remain running and available. All that comes from training, nowhere else. It’s like Zidane’s turn or Ronaldinho’s free-kicks – they practise and practise until it works. Ronnie doesn’t try anything in a match that he hasn’t tried a thousand times in training; the only difference is that you are doing it in front of 80,000. Nothing in a match is by chance. Everything is done in training. Then your talent and the gift you have help you to succeed in what you’ve worked on.