“I fulfilled a dream with my captaincy and really enjoyed my position”

Fede Valverde was very happy after being captain for the first time in an official match during his team's 3-0 win over Leganes, in which he scored the second goal. "Very happy to fulfil another dream at this club. Today, my wife was here."

"I would have loved for my children to be here, for my parents to be here, who were the ones who were always there throughout this whole career. They couldn't be here because they are far away in Uruguay. But I think this is a dream that we have all achieved together, as a family. I have only words of thanks for them," he said.

Valverde played at right-back: "I really enjoyed the position today. I'm at the disposal of whatever the coach wants, whatever the team needs. I tried to watch a lot of videos, a lot of games of the other team-mates, Lucas, Carvajal. Obviously. I try to give my best in that position and help the team."

He will be back in that position at Anfield against Liverpool in the Champions League, where he has played in that position in the past: "The one where I played at full-back, especially, I was very nervous. For me, it was one of the most difficult games of my life."

"It was my first time playing full-back against a difficult opponent, Mane. I did well; obviously, it was easier without people, without their people. It was all more bearable. I think, this time, it's going to be tougher, it's going to be more difficult, but we're very prepared to face them," he added.

The midfielder believes that the win at Butarque helps them ahead of the visit to England: "We knew it was important to win, especially with Barcelona drawing. We know that they are the team at the top and we need to get as close as possible. It was also very important to win, especially because of the game we have coming up against Liverpool at Anfield, which is very difficult. It's a great joy, especially for all our team-mates who have made a tremendous effort."

"The main goal was to win and go into the tough match feeling really motivated. We've had tough games against them before, where we had to come from behind. But we ended up winning, and that's what matters. We need to do the same again," he added.