Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba brushed off suggestions that the Copa del Rey is an insignificant trophy after Barcelona advanced to the finals with a 4-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid.

The Catalan giants have now won the cup for four years in a row, but their eternal rivals have won just twice in the last 25 years.

On being asked if the trophy is insignificant, Alba took a stance immediately and explained that it’s a trophy that the team works hard to win every year.

“We have given value to the Copa,” he said, according to Marca. “Real Madrid wanted it; many people were focusing before the game to liven it up.

“The excuse that it’s an insignificant trophy doesn’t cut it. We have suffered. In general, we’ve been good.”

A Luis Suarez brace and a Raphael Varane own goal sealed the deal for the visitors at Santiago Bernabeu.

“We’ve won by three goals, that’s not easy,” Alba said. “Ultimately we’ve won by a big margin. It’s a very good result for us, it makes us stronger.

“We were the better side against a great rival, which is difficult in their stadium. They’re always a complicated team and we have won in a convincing way.”