Bittersweet feeling for Dani Alves after Juve eliminate Barca

There were mixed emotions for Dani Alves after the
Juventus full-back helped dump former club
Barcelona out of the Champions League in the
quarter-finals.
Alves was left with a bittersweet feeling after
Juventus advanced to the semi-finals 3-0 on
aggregate following Wednesday's goalless draw.
The Italian visitors held firm at Camp Nou
midweek, neutralising Barca trio Lionel Messi, Luis
Suarez and Neymar.
Alves was seen comforting a tearful Neymar post-
match and the Brazilian admitted it was painful
inflicting misery on Barca, where he won six LaLiga
titles and three Champions League crowns among
others before leaving last season.
"It's different. So far the feeling is a bit strange,
bittersweet, by the fact that there have been so
many things lived here and then you have to come
back as an adversary," Alves said.
"I had already passed this stage of having to come
to face Barcelona, but unfortunately life forced me
to come back here on this way.
"I had already spoken before that I would not want
to face them, not by fearing them, but by the fact
that I did not want to feel that feeling that I ended
up feeling, but I believe we have to leave the
sentimental part aside when you are wearing other
colours and when you live your profession with as
much intensity as I live."
Of the result, Alves continued: "Neither in their
worst dreams [for Barcelona] or in my best dreams
I did imagine that this could happen. But this is
what happens when you compete a competition of
a such high level, where you have to face the best
and today we had the happiness of overcoming
them.
"I think we made a great knockout. Not conceding
a goal against this trio [MSN], against this team is
very difficult and I believe this is our great merit.
For all the effort we made, the clever way to
compete against this great team I'm pleased to be
in the draw on Friday."