Umtiti: My dream is to play football, my knee is perfect Barcelona Spoke to MARCA

Samuel Umtiti has admitted that he just wants to return to playing football regularly after several injury lay-offs.

The Frenchman is due to play against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday in the absence of the suspended Gerard Pique.

He sat down with MARCA to discuss upcoming matches, his injuries, Ousmane Dembele and his future aspirations.

It's a big week ahead with matches against Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid, how do you see it?

They're very important matches, but there's still a long way to go [in the season]. There's time to know whether we're going to win the league or not. We have to continue like this and win the highest number of matches as possible.

Is the Borussia Dortmund match more decisive?

It's important. Dortmund need to win, but we do too in order to qualify. They're a team with very good players, but we know what we have to do to win. This is the most important thing.

They found the first game in Dortmund difficult...

We've spoken about what happened there. Sometimes we commit errors and we have to work on them in training. In this match, we're going to show that we're Barcelona, that we have to play well and win.

Do you see the match as a personal challenge?

Yes, it's a special game. I'm really excited to play in a Champions League game again after so long. I feel good, I've been working really hard for months and I hope to be able to play.

How is your knee?

I'm very well. I'm feeling good and I'm only thinking about playing. I'm very well, very well. My knee is perfect.

What's Umtiti's big dream at the moment?

My dream right now is to play football.

Do you still think Barcelona are favourites for the Champions League?

We're favourites in every competition we play in because we have the best players. We're one of the best teams in the world so we have to win about winning every game and then it would be perfect if we won the Champions League.

Is the Champions League the main objective?

LaLiga Santander, the Champions League, the Supercopa de Espana... and everything [else]. We have to win it all.

What did the defeats to Roma and Liverpool teach you?

They were two games that we made mistakes in. The Champions League gets more difficult every year. But we have very intelligent players with great experience. This will help us play well and show that we're Barcelona. We're not going to make the same mistakes.

What's the recipe for success?

They're private things, we've spoken about them but we can't tell you.

Is Ousmane Dembele as distracted as they say he is?

Whatever, but you have to ask Ousmane this. Let's hope he breaks through this season.

How is Antoine Griezmann doing?

He's happy, he's very well. He's been working hard since he arrived. Moving teams is very difficult because of the different way of playing. But Griezmann is a very intelligent player.

You settled into Barcelona quickly, how did you do it?

The process of adapting [to Barcelona] is very different for a striker and a defender. I watched every Barcelona game with my friends and I used to watch videos as well. I did work beforehand, but each player is different.

Why are Barcelona so different at home and away?

It's very different because teams press a lot and well. It's difficult to play in some matches. Sometimes we have to change our way of playing and make other movements. There are many things that [can] change. It's clear that it's getting more difficult to play away from home, but we also have to do more.

And this has happened mainly against the small teams.

It's been that way and this is what we have to work on.

What's the most amazing thing that's happened to you at Barcelona?

Everything. Training with the best players and winning titles, because I'm here to win titles.

Was it annoying that there was so much talk of you leaving Barcelona last season?

It didn't annoy me. I was really worried about my knee [but] nothing else.

You always wanted to stay, do you see your long-term future at Barcelona?

Yes. I'm very happy here, loving life, I work well here...