Spanish footballer Andres Iniesta is looking forward to the imminent friendly between his Japanese club Vissel Kobe and FC Barcelona, in which he hopes to play his best football without the pressure of points in a "farewell" match.
"There are no points at stake and from then on it's about enjoying the game, enjoying it as much as possible, competing in the best possible way and making it... I don't know if it's a party, but it's a beautiful moment because of what it means to have Barca here," said Iniesta at an online press conference on the eve of the match, which will take place in Tokyo.
The midfielder highlighted the special occasion of having Barcelona in Japan and said that for him it is a "very special" match because it means playing against the 'Cules' in the country where he has played for five years, and because "it will be like a farewell to Japan, to the Japanese fans", which makes it "even more special, more beautiful", and he hopes to "enjoy the match a lot".
Iniesta was excited to play not only with team-mates "with whom I have shared many things", but with all the current members of the Spanish team, whom he thanked for the effort of his express trip to Japan, hours after playing the last La Liga match, to play this match so significant for him.
"We hope it will be a great game, that people will enjoy that moment and that the players can enjoy it as well," he added.
Tuesday's meeting between Vissel Kobe and Barcelona will take place at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium, where Vissel won the 2019 Emperor's Cup title, and will mark a tribute to his career, although Iniesta is looking to continue playing.
The Spaniard's last game with Vissel will take place on 1st July, a Japanese Premier League match at home to Noevir, the team from western Japan, "but this one in Tokyo, because of what it means and who the match is against, could also serve as a farewell," said the player from Fuentealbilla.