MADRID, 17 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of FC Barcelona, Xavi Hernández, insisted that “we must maintain the illusion” that his team generates and “continue working with humility”, so that Barcelona continue to be “plugged in”, now that it is “more alive than ever”, at the same time that he assured that being momentary leaders of LaLiga Santander “is not transcendent”.
“There is enthusiasm and very good expectations, the illusion is palpable in the stadium, on the street. We have to maintain that illusion and continue working, with humility, but it is good that there is illusion. That 85,000 people have come says that Barcelona is plugged in and more alive than ever. People see that we work and run, and we give everything, that’s important”, valued the coach at the press conference after the Barça victory (3-0) against Elche.
With this win, Xavi’s team are leaders of the First Division with 16 points, waiting for what happens in the derby between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid. “I’ll try to follow it and I’ll be on the lookout”, revealed the man from Terrassa, who insisted that it is “positive” to be at the top, although it is not “important”. “We have done our job and that is the most important thing, we go into the break with the feeling that we are on the right track,” he added.
“These two weeks will help me rest and unwind, they won’t be long, then it’s a very tough calendar, with games every three days, it will be intense and difficult. It’s a remarkable start for the team, the penalty was Rayo and above all Munich, but the start is positive”, he analyzed the good work of his team at this start of the course, with the stains against Iraola’s team and their defeat against the Bavarians.
Xavi celebrated that the team has “improved” in “desire”, and that Robert Lewandowski also has it, “an example”, after having won everything. “Winning must be a drug for us in the good sense of the word. It’s very positive,” he added, before emphasizing the “human facet” of the Pole and his “hunger for him.”
“Pedri is a superlative footballer, he is capable of making the difference with goals and passes, he hardly loses the ball, he does many things well. He has to be decisive with the qualities he has, he is comparable to the best midfielders who have passed through here. It is transcendental, it is a guarantee to have him, we have to pamper him, manage his minutes”, he warned about the midfielder, author of one of the goals this Saturday.
Another of the names of the appearance was Ansu Fati, substitute and protagonist of the week as he was not called up with the Spanish team. “I see him well, I spoke with him and I see him happy. He is going to participate, today he has entered very well and it will be very important, we have a plan with him, we are going to dose him and it will be very important”, he pointed out about The front.
“Dembélé is playing at a high level, yesterday he was a father, he slept very little but he always wants to play. He has a tremendous commitment, it’s a guarantee, when he receives on the wing I know many things can happen. At the moment his stage with us is being successful “He expressed about the French winger, who started against Elche.
Finally, Xavi praised Alejandro Balde, starting on the left side, confessing that it is “complicated” for him to decide between three sides -Balde, Marcos Alonso and Alba- “with many guarantees”. Before, the Barça coach valued the expulsion of the Elche coach, Francisco Rodríguez, stating that he understands his anger. “I trust the honesty of the referees. It is normal for Francisco to get angry, when they take away from you, you get angry,” he settled.