MADRID, 15 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of FC Barcelona, Xavi Hernández, has ensured that the next “three or four games are key” for achieving LaLiga Santander, starting with this Sunday’s duel against Getafe, and that for this reason “this is not the time for too many tests” with players, and has stated that Gavi’s future “passes through Barça” and that in “no team in the world” would he be “as happy” as he is in the culé team.
“I think that Gavi would not be as happy in any team in the world as here. Here he has everything and we value him, he is 18 years old and he is a starter and decisive for the team. He is a footballer that excites me, he is a marvelous footballer with 18 years old. His future goes through Barça, he won’t be so happy abroad”, he declared at a press conference.
On the other hand, he indicated that the next clashes will be “key” to decant the title. “We have an important advantage and these next three or four games are key. If we win three or four games in a row, we would practically be champions. We depend on ourselves and we want to win tomorrow,” he said.
“We compete against very strong rivals; you see both Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid play and you realize their potential, the quality they have in the squad. Being where we are in LaLiga has a lot of merit. I don’t know if they are focused or not, but we do. We want to win this competition against two great rivals; the two squads would choose to win the title, both Madrid and Atlético”, he continued.
Besides, the preparer culé warned of the danger of the duel in front of the azulones. “Getafe is a very aggressive team, especially in their field, where they have scored many points. They are a difficult opponent and the schedule doesn’t help us either. It will be a difficult match, with many duels, with many second balls and second plays. They are a direct team, very aggressive, and they do things very well, they defend very well, they usually play with a line of five, with direct play for Unal and Mayoral. We will try to generate more things than at home and I foresee a very difficult opponent and game” , exposed.
“For us, the difficult thing is to win games, it is being seen, and tomorrow will be another test. They are playing to lose a category, they are immersed in that fight, and they are risking their lives. For us it is very easy, we are excited to win LaLiga, we are in a privileged situation that I would have signed at the beginning of the season. The final ‘rush’ of LaLiga remains and we need to win many games to win it,” he added.
Regarding the injured Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, he assured that they are “almost ready”, but he clarified that he believes that it is “better not to risk” and that they hold out “one more week”, and pointed out that this is not the time for testing with players from the subsidiary . “Those who are in the best moment will play, we do not look at age or category. We have a sufficiently large squad to compete and win these games. This is not the time for too many tests, it is time to get this title,” he stressed.
In another order of things, he clarified why they have opted to travel by train to Madrid. “We had not done the traveling by train before because the journey is longer, but due to the issue of environmental pollution we thought it was the ideal moment. We will play tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. and rest in Madrid and we will return the same game day. It’s the ideal day to do it”, he explained.
Nor did he avoid talking about the appearance that Barca president Joan Laporta will offer this Monday on the ‘Negreira case’. “The president told me that he would go out to explain himself and tomorrow you are going to listen to him. From the inside we know what it is, but from the outside you are going to listen to him. The president is the leader of this project and on Monday you will listen to him. Perfect for the club” he assured.
Regarding his possible renewal, he acknowledged that he is “extremely happy” that the club appreciates his work. “There are day-to-day conversations with the president and with Mateu and there will be no problem understanding each other. You have to focus first on winning LaLiga, which is very important and would give us a lot of stability, and from there specify a possible renewal”, Indian.
Lastly, Xavi highlighted Pep Guardiola’s work as a coach. “I consider Pep the best in the world, practically since he started; he still hadn’t won titles and he was already a special coach. He’s brilliant and he’s still number one. Everyone who passes through Pep’s hands is captivated. I’m not I don’t compare much less with Pep, he has an extraordinary career and I just started, but hopefully I can have his record one day, but not for me, but for Barça”, he concluded.