“There was talk at the time that we were the ‘Champions’ jester, is it necessary? What do we do now with the ‘Champions’ jester?”
BARCELONA, 13 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of FC Barcelona, “well deserved” for having “made the grade”, while he regretted the lack of support from the press and was visceral in his frontal attack on certain media.
“We are playing better than last year, I understand better what we play. For me this team has a lot of merit. You said that on big stages the team does not measure up and we have given it in Naples and here. The objective remains intact, I am very happy and very happy,” he said at a press conference.
“We have played one of the best games of the season. I am very happy, very proud of the team, of the young people and the veterans, everyone has taken an important step forward. We are among the eight best in the ‘Champions’. We must look back at what we have had to suffer in two years in the Europa League. We are back in the quarterfinals and we have to be proud,” he reiterated.
In addition, he thought that his players are “put too much pressure.” “This today seemed like a face to face, a ‘life or death’, an ultimatum. I told the players to calm down, that no one should die today,” he lamented.
“There was talk at the time that we were the jester of the ‘Champions’. Is this necessary? And of journalists who cover Barça and are from Barça. Now, with this match, what do we do with the jester of the ‘Champions’ ‘? Now we’re not going to win the ‘Champions’ either. The pressure is on me,” he said, very upset with some of the media.
“The players have to play without problems, to compete and show that we are a better team. I am very proud, content and happy. It is one of my best moments as a coach, we are in the quarterfinals of the ‘Champions’ and we will wait for the draw with joy and desire to advance to the semifinals. But I think there are things that are unnecessary,” he reiterated.
Of course, no matter how well the season ends, his decision to leave has been made. “Today nothing changes. If we lose today, you would say I’m on the street. Calm down, it’s too emotional, everything. Calm down. Let’s wait for Friday’s draw for Atlético. Step by step,” he said. “It seems that today we are breathing again. If from August until now the atmosphere was unbreathable, the normal thing was to lose today and not pass,” he added.
Still regarding the move to the quarterfinals, he assured that it is “very deserved.” “We have been playing very good football for a while and understanding the game, which has been complete on many levels. We have generated many scoring chances to finish before, but we must be very happy, proud and satisfied with the team today. I think the to go to the quarterfinals, very deserved, because we have been better in Naples and here,” he noted.
Asked about the 17-year-old center back Pau Cubarsí, best player of the match, he was clear. “When Cubarsi has the ball, my heart rate doesn’t go up. It’s his best virtue. When he has the ball, a 17-year-old kid, I’m calm. He always plays with judgment and sense, even when he’s pressured. For me it’s wonderful. “He is calm, slow, humble and asks us for videos to improve. This makes him better every day. We are facing a wonderful emergence for Barça,” he was sincere.