Interview Accepts that bus attack has changed him

On April 11, Borussia Dortmund's Marc Bartra was sitting next to the window of the team bus when an explosive device prepared by a Russian-German electrician went off.

The culprit, a 28-year-old known as Sergei W for legal reasons, had planned on cashing in on the resultant fall in the club's stock prices. As a result of the explosion, centre-back Bartra was left with severe injuries to his right arm.

Five months on, the Spaniard is almost fully recovered on a physical level and the smile cannot be taken from his face as he takes part in the national team's World Cup qualifiers, a fresh outlook on life forced upon him but with a positive effect.

"First [I think] of my daughter, on her wellbeing, and that we are privileged to be healthy," Bartra told MARCA ahead of Spain's game with Liechtenstein. "After all I have lived, being healthy, being able to train and play, is what makes me happy.

"I'm still having sessions with my physio to get more mobility [in the injured arm]. It's perfect, but I still have a few degrees left.

"It changed me a lot, the way I see things, and the way I value what is truly important and what is not.

"There are many more good people than bad in this world.

"When you are just living day to day, you do not expect it. You never know when these things can touch you.

"It is the motivation to live, to value things more. It is a pity that you have to endure something so strong to give you more accountancy in your own life, but if you overcome it, it makes you live and squeeze every moment much more."

Stating that he has no intention of forgiving his attacker or understanding his motivation, Bartra described how he felt when finally able to return to the beautiful game.

"One of the best moments that I have lived," he said of his first training session back.

"It's what I like to do and what I do best. Besides, I had all the affection that people had given me. The return was incredible.

"I like being positive and thinking big. I think I'm on the right path to go [to the World Cup]. The fact that the philosophy of my coach at Dortmund is similar to that of the national team helps me."

Ahead of the Champions League kicking off, the Spanish defender gave his opinion of Ousmane Dembele, who has swapped Dortmund for Barcelona.

"[Dembele] is a very good player," Bartra stated. "He has a lot of talent, perhaps an imbalance, but you have to be patient.

"[He] has only spent one year at Champions League level. He will make [Barcelona fans] enjoy him a lot, but with patience."

Finally, Bartra discussed the recent terror attacks on Catalonia and his experience of the day as a Tarragona native.

"I was in Germany watching TV, but it was like I was there," he recalled. "Those were the streets that I walked a lot, especially when I was less known [as a player].

"I have family and friends who spend every day there.

"Of course, I had nerves, to call my family to know if they were all well. And then, [I was] very sad to see what was happening in places where I have lived for years."