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Villa: “I’m not too far off from being able to play the full 90 minutes”

The Barça forward has featured in the team’s last three starting line-ups and he’s scored three goals in as many games. “I don’t think I’m too far off from being able to play the full 90 minutes,” said the forward

Villa has played a total of 450 minutes from 12 official matches, and he’s scored six goals: five in the Liga and one in the Cup

On Barça’s brilliant start in La Liga, he said: “After time passes we’ll be remembered when another fantastic team tries to break our record”.

David Villa was one of the standout players this weekend against Celta. The Barça forward has scored in three consecutive games, a feat he hasn’t achieved since February 2011, when he scored against Sporting, Arsenal, Athletic and Mallorca. “I’ve spent a lot of time training with the team, I started on the first day of the pre-season, and little by little I’ve gotten into the rhythm of the competition,” said the Asturian on Barça TV’s El Marcador. “I’ve started three games in a row and that makes me happy. I don’t think I’m too far off from being able to play the full 90 minutes,” he added. “As a forward, goals are important on an individual level but they also help the team,” said Villa.

This Saturday, against Celta, Villa played 79 minutes and he completed 53 of 60 attempted passes. In addition, the forward only shot on goal once but it was enough to give Barça the go-ahead goal against Celta. “I feel better each day. It was a hard-fought match against a great team.” He added: “We’re thankful for teams like Celta, because they don’t close themselves off at the back. This makes football more grand, more enjoyable.”

Record start in La Liga

“The season just started, but we should be pleased that we broke the record,” said Villa, who admitted that the players were aware that they were one victory away from being the squad with the best Liga start in Club history. “No team has ever managed to do this in the long history of this great club. Obviously, after time passes, when another team wants to break the record we’ll be remembered.”

It comes as no surprise to the Spanish forward that Tito Vilanova’s team has broken the long-standing Club record: “We all expected this season to go well. The squad was relieved when Tito was named to the head coach position.”

Finally, El Guaje also explained that his team-mates are happy for Leo Messi, who became a father for the first time on Friday, and that the many injuries picked up by Barça players have been the only down side to the season: “We have to continue. Those of us that are healthy have to try and make sure that the absences aren’t felt, we have to encourage and support those that are injured. Currently, the results are positive.”

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