Barcelona coach, Xavi Hernández, stated this Saturday that the Barça team arrives “at a good time for the decisive stretch of the season”, in which they will have to face direct rivals such as Athletic Club, this Sunday in San Mamés.
«We arrived much better than a few games ago and with good feelings. It is the moment of truth, to compete against direct rivals and also in the ‘Champions’. “We arrived at the decisive stage of the season at a good time,” the technician assured.
From the press room of the Joan Gamper Sports City, history and will be an important test for the team.
Xavi Hernandez He reiterated today that his decision not to continue as Barcelona coach at the end of the season has been made. Despite the team’s recent positive streak, Xavi mentioned that his decision is not based on results, but on a personal and in-depth analysis. He stated that he does not feel with the necessary energy to face a new project and that he needs a break.
The Egarense coach believed that Barça rediscovered its game in last day’s victory against Getafe (4-0) and predicted that Athletic Club will propose “a similar match”, with the defense forward, so the team Barça will have to attack the spaces behind them in order to find “the continuity in the game” that they have lacked this season.
“Athletic is the most intense and physical rival in the category, and also the one that has the most confidence after easily reaching the Cup final. They are in a great moment,” said Xavi, who recalled the recent elimination in the Copa del Rey ( 4-2), on January 24, at the hands of the Biscayan team.
The Catalan coach stressed that “we must try to dominate the match more than on Cup day” and highlighted that San Mamés is “one of the most difficult stadiums” that Barça will visit this season, which makes the red-and-white coliseum “the “ideal scenario to play a great game” and take “a big step forward.”
«Athletic is a tough team that plays football very well. That is the merit of Ernesto Valverde, who is a great coach, as he already showed at Barça,” praised Xavi, who hopes that the losses of Vivian, Yuri Berchiche and, especially, Nico Williams “will be noticed” by Athletic, who “He will surely be more tired” after playing during the week, but “his confidence is through the roof.”
On the other hand, the Catalan coach assured that he sees defender Íñigo Martínez as “calm”, against him on his first visit to San Mamés since leaving Athletic in the summer: “He already returned to San Sebastián and played a great game. I don’t think he changes his mentality or performance, it can even give him extra motivation.
After ensuring that “to this day nothing has changed” about his decision to leave office at the end of the season, Xavi stressed that Robert Lewandowski “has made many differences” in the last games and revealed that Ferran Torres “in principle will be next week with the team.
He also commented that he is “happy” with Joao Félix, whose load they are “managing” after his recent injury and that against Getafe “he was decisive”, and that Vitor Roque “has adapted very well to the winger position.” EFE
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