Ter Stegen interview: Pique has a personality which we need at the club

You get the feeling Cillessen's happily accepted being backup. Has his generosity surprised you? 

No, because we have a good relationship, very professional. I don't imagine it's an easy situation for him, but he deals with it well. Respect is important in football and he's very respectful. 

What aspect of his play would you take? What most impressed you about him? 

All goalkeepers have their own identity: Neuer, Jasper, Claudio Bravo, Oblak... each one has their own style. Oblak, for example, is very different to me because we play in teams with different styles. He's at a spectacular level, but what he does is different to what I do. Barça needs a certain type of goalkeeper, Atletico another. 

Who's the best goalkeeper in the world? 

There are several at a good level, but you have to look at it at the end of the season. 

But there are few as complete as you...

Thanks. In reality, each club has their own idea of how to play. If I was at another team, I wouldn't be the same. Buffon, for example, plays for Juventus and he does so spectacularly, but if he was at another club, he would be another type of goalkeeper. It depends on the needs of the team. There's a team for every type of goalkeeper. 

What's it like training with Lionel Messi? 

He is very intelligent and he knows exactly where to put the ball. Sometimes journalists say goalkeepers could do a little more when they play against Messi, but I see him in training all the time: it doesn't matter where you position yourself, he's going to shoot on the other side. He's intelligent: many players shoot just to shoot, but not him. He calculates things in a special way. 

You've also faced Ronaldo. What makes them different? 

You can't compare them. Personally, for me, Leo is the best because he lives football, he understands football like no one else and that makes the difference between him and the rest. Cristiano's a really good player and has made a huge effort to get to where he is. But Leo is Leo. I am delighted I don't have to face him, but Cristiano's one of the best forwards I have faced. 

Why do you think Pique's not been picked as one of the four captains before? 

For me, it's obvious he has the profile of a captain. He has a personality which we need at the club. And in the team. We know that it doesn't matter too much who wear the armband. We have Andres (Iniesta) and there's no need to talk about him, we all know how he is. But Pique's a leader even though he doesn't have the armband. 

Pique said he feels like it could be a big season. Do you have that same feeling with regards to the three titles? 

We're in good form. We have to keep that concentration. We have to keep winning and be in form in the Champions League, because it depends on two games and sometimes, as we saw last season, a team can score three or four goals against you. You have to be 100 percent focused. But it's one of those seasons in which you have the chance to win titles. And that's what we want. We're doing well in La Liga and we want to keep going. 

Are you calmer in a 4-4-2 this season? 

Who says it's a 4-4-2?! We have a system which is very interesting. And we adapt to it. It's true there are changes, even within the same game... 

Can you see yourself at Barça in 10 years? 

You never know. Having your health is the most important thing. If I am lucky enough to not get injured, then, of course, I could be here for a few more years. That's what I want and what I am hoping for.