Rakitic: There will never be another combination like MSN, we could have won two or three more Champions Leagues

October 31st: Retired Croatian midfielder Rakitic this summer accepted TheRestIsFootball and recalled his time playing in La Liga.

Reminiscing about my time playing in La Liga

It's great. I like it here. It's like home to me. I'm very happy every time I come here. I can see my friends and talk about those past games. I'm really happy to be here.

It was not easy to adapt to Spain for the first time,

, but that was many years ago. But I always feel that there are many things here that are similar to Croatia. The people are very open and welcoming, so it is easy to get into the mood in Seville. That is why I was successful there and I am very proud to be part of the Seville and Spanish family.

It is said that you met your wife in the hotel when you moved to Seville. Is this true?

Yes, it was the first night, she was working in that hotel, and I was a little nervous, so I went to have a drink with my brother, and that's how I met her. But it was a long story, and I was very busy with work afterwards, and it was a romantic, Hollywood-type story to me.

It is said that you often go back to the hotel to drink coffee?

Yes, I had to drink a lot of coffee in seven months and I learned a lot of Spanish words while working hard, which was not easy.

Now you and her live in Croatia with their two daughters...

Yes, we have been together for 14 years and it's been perfect.

How did you deal with the pressure after joining Barcelona from Sevilla?

I think it is almost impossible to tell the history of Barcelona in words. Only when you really get into it can you understand its greatness. Of course, for many players, playing here is a dream come true. For me, it’s enough to be in the same dressing room with these top players and contribute as much as I can to the team. I think it is difficult for outsiders to truly understand what it means to be a member of the Barcelona family.

Talk about what makes Barcelona special during the Triple Crown season

I think the key is that we are constantly improving. We went through some difficult moments in December and January, but finally ended the season with a Triple Crown. Maybe it seemed impossible in January, but that is the best thing about football. Everything changes quickly and you have to be ready. Starting in January, we really realized that this could be a brilliant season. We defeated the league champions of Germany, Italy, France and England. It was a year at the top of our game and a season to remember.

Barcelona's midfield lineup at that time was a dream...

When you try to integrate into such a dream lineup composed of many top players, you can learn more than just football skills. Although I only worked with Xavi for one season, it was an opportunity to learn around the clock. His preparation before and after the game, everything benefited me a lot. I thought the season I spent with him was fantastic, and playing alongside Iniesta and others for a long time, we created some truly extraordinary things and formed an unspoken understanding that was a fundamental foundation for the team.

About Enrique

He is very important for us and I don’t think it’s a surprise that he has succeeded in Paris. He takes time to get to know the players, and once he establishes a connection, the results can be amazing. The three years I spent working with him were a continuous learning process for me and we experienced a remarkable transformation together, but he ultimately decided to leave. Regardless, I learned a lot from this experience.

Talk about MSN

I once served as a midfielder for three top forwards: Messi, Suarez and Neymar. It was really a fantastic combination. Even if the passing was poor at times, they were able to turn it into something magical. I don't think such an attacking combination will ever be seen again in European football. Of course, there are many good players now who have the ability to change the game, but the offensive combination of that period was unique. That's why I keep saying that although we won a lot of trophies, we could have won more, which is a pity for us.

What could have been achieved?

First we must do everything we can to keep Neymar, which is the first step, and then we need to go all out in every game. I think at the highest level, even a little bit of laxity can get you into big trouble. We have experienced this lesson and the teams that beat Barcelona were surprised themselves. But I think it's mainly the players' responsibility, not the coaches, the president or the fans. Looking back now, I think we could have done better, but that's the beauty of football.

Although we have won so many honors, there are sometimes regrets. Maybe the word "regret" is not quite accurate, but could we have achieved more? Perhaps victory brings a sense of burnout that prevents us from fully retaining that hunger. Looking back on my six years at Barcelona, ​​although we only won one Champions League, I think we could have easily won two or three more. We were very close, but if we didn't give it our all, the other team deserved the victory. So, I think that's our problem. But it's too late now and we have to allow a new generation of players to learn from our mistakes.