Legendary Barcelona forward reflects on unforgettable 5-0 thrashing of Real Madrid – ‘Can’t get better than that’ | OneFootball

Former Barcelona forward David Villa appeared as a guest on Mario Suarez’s podcast, Mario’s Path, where he discussed his long football career and shared some memorable anecdotes.

Villa’s time at Barça included fierce battles against a Real Madrid side managed by Jose Mourinho, who famously commented, “Barça has wasted a fortune on a striker who can’t score a goal.”

Villa looked back at those moments with pride, “I liked those things, because those comments spurred me on, and I knew I was going to play well.

“I didn’t expect to score two goals and win 5-0. That’s the game I remember most.

“I made an assist, scored two goals, and we put five past our biggest rivals. You can’t get better than that.”

Villa’s heroes and career insights

During the interview, Villa also shared his personal top five Barcelona players,

“First Messi, then Iniesta and Xavi, Ronaldinho, and then I would put Luis Enrique, my idol and role model.

David Villa was key to Barcelona’s success. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

“That attitude of fighting for every ball, even though we were different players. I’ve always said it, I really liked him because I would like to be like him.”

Furthermore, while addressing the Negreira scandal, Villa clarified his stance, stating, “I had no idea about that. I’ve always liked to defend referees.

“We’re getting a little carried away here. They’re human beings and they make mistakes. Just as I miss penalties, they make mistakes.

“I have been lucky enough to play for big clubs, and as they are people, it’s not the same to award a penalty against Barça or Madrid as it is against another club.”

Lastly, Villa also discussed his move to Atletico Madrid following injury struggles and a decline in prominence at Barcelona. Reflecting on life under Diego Simeone, he said,

“The best thing about Cholo is the fact that he squeezes the players like oranges. The worst thing is the preseason, which I found very difficult,” he concluded.

Source: SPORT