Dani Alves: Barcelona are the best in the world and Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho envies us
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Barcelona defender Dani Alves has hailed the Blaugrana as the best team in the world, and voiced his opinion that Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is envious of the Catalan club's achievements.
The Madrid boss recently belittled Barca's Club World Cup victory, describing the tournament as 'nothing more than a few small games', but Alves is not impressed with the Portuguese's disparaging comments.
"Mourinho is a person who plays his role, he devalues what other people win. The only thing that has value is what he wins. That’s his personality, and we respect it," Alves was quoted as saying on the club's official website.
"Mine is different, however. To play these ‘small games,’ as he says, you have to win the Champions League. We have done that and that’s why we are happy. Envy is a bad thing.
"We live in the moment, and we are the reigning world champions. The numbers are what they are, regardless of who that bothers."
Alves then went on to assure that Barcelona are not perturbed by the comments from Madrid as they don't feel inferior to their rivals.
"We aren’t bothered by Madrid because we don’t feel like we are inferior to them, and if you don’t feel inferior to those that criticise you, it doesn’t bother you.
"However, I am bothered by their continuous effort to discredit our accomplishments. There’s always a ‘but,’ or a ‘why.’ That’s the only thing I do not understand. But I understand that it’s an un-winnable war, we only try to compete well and make it difficult for others."
Barcelona are currently second in La Liga on 37 points from 16 matches, three points leaders Madrid.
Starting last month and continuing all through January, Goal.com will publish extracts from Graham Hunter's highly-anticipated book, 'Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World'. In this Friday's extract, he looks at Pep Guardiola's early beginnings at Barca B in the Spanish third division ahead of his meteoric rise to world domination with the first team. Don't miss it!