Xavi Hernández spoke to the media prior to the Europa League quarter-final second leg against Eintracht. These were his statements, with some references to Madrid’s game this Tuesday and the difference in idiosyncrasy between clubs.
What should they improve compared to the first leg?
Turnovers should go away. You have to be more neat. The grass will help us. You have to minimize his counterattacks, defend more with the ball to avoid his transitions. And it takes intensity and better competition. They complicated us in the first leg, but the key is to be better football-wise. We have to minimize losses.
And what will they do to attack better?
Well, first of all, be more responsible with the ball. Reviewing the video, what happened in the first leg cannot pass. It is true that the field was not perfect. Tomorrow it will be. Then you have to understand when to attack the spaces. The timing of the space attack. Today we have trained tactically to attack and defend better than in the first leg.
How is Piqué, will he take risks?
Gerard will depend on the sensations. There is no doubt that he wants to be. He is committed and competitive. He likes big games and tomorrow’s is. But we will see the sensations of him. If he is not one hundred percent in a game of this level, it is difficult for him to participate.
What deadlines are marked with Ansu? Laporta spoke of two weeks.
I go back to the same. The issue is that he feels good. Today he has done a good training, the sprints, the shot. It is a matter of sensations. That’s when I say I’m ready. He feels like a footballer again and that’s the most important thing. When he tells us he’s ready.
Do you expect people’s support?
It sure won’t fail. We need a warm environment. To encourage the players, to press and squeeze. It is important that the fans are well and will not fail.
What does it mean to go to the semifinals?
For the whole group, a step forward to achieve one of the objectives of the season. We wanted to win the Champions League but circumstances have led us to play this one and we are excited. Yesterday we watched it from home. It must hurt us not to be in the Champions League and that’s what we work for. It would be an important step for the whole group to win tomorrow. Show ourselves that we can compete in Europe.
Do you think they have an obligation to pass?
But this is Barca. We have the obligation to win and play well. It’s not worth it for us to win 1-0 and in the 90th minute. We are Barca. It’s about being excellent in everything we do. There is no comparison. Barça is the most difficult and demanding club. We have an obligation to win by playing well. This is the difficult thing in football. That is why this is the most difficult club in the world.
Madrd did not play well and passed. Can it benefit them for LaLiga?
What happened yesterday makes me think that LaLiga is not that far from the Premier. In the end, LaLiga is always LaLiga and it’s competitive. I saw both games. I am very soccer. But our goal is to be in the Champions League. By the way, Villarreal is a great team now, isn’t it? Put it on the big list.
There are planned to be 25,000 Germans. Are you worried?
They already said that for them it was the most important game in history. We have to match that desire and that desire they will have. We have to match that in every game. We have to match that. Life is going to us in every game, we can’t throw away any competition.
Is the winning mentality basic?
Well. We have improved things, but nothing has been done yet. It is true that we are in a good dynamic, but we have to improve and compete better. The winning mentality is in footballers. Perhaps they had it a bit asleep, but at Barça you have to show it day by day. Because every game is an exam. We have to get excited and we have to get excited about winning the Europa League, which is the only title the club doesn’t have.
He is associated with Lewandowski. Would he like to have it?
This is not the time to talk about Lewandowski, but to focus on tomorrow’s game. I can not say anything more.
Watching the Madrid game, do you envy that less football is required of you?
The history of Barça demands of us, not Madrid. We do not look at Madrid to demand ourselves. Our history demands of us. Since Cruyff came, he set a bar for himself. Win by playing well. This is how we Catalans are. This is how we live it. I don’t know how it is in Madrid. Madrid has a spectacular competitive gene, but Barça is another story.
How do you see Nico?
It wasn’t bad against Levante. He worked, kept possession. He worked for the team. In the end, our assessment is good. I am happy with his evolution, he has scored decisive goals for us. The issue is that he competes with good players. But I don’t think it’s a physical issue.
Is there a soundtrack like in the times of Guardiola and Tito?
That’s up to them. There are no regulations there. You could have asked Eric. The players put it.
Dest has received a medical discharge. I could go?
If it can be. If you are on the list, you can participate. Also Memphis. Let’s see how Piqué is. Now we are recovering people and that is important to meet the objectives. Dest is an important player who gives us many things.