Julio Salinas, former player among others of the Barcelona and the Atlético de Madrid, considered that this may be the year in which the rojiblancos get their first title of champions of Europe given the circumstances in which the final rounds of the Champions League will take place.
“Atlético has more advantage with this format. The first because it is classified. Barcelona have it easy in principle and Real Madrid, very complicated. It may be the year of Atlético. The circumstances that there are few games, training, stopping and playing … I think they can benefit him, “said the former Spanish international, who won the maximum continental wound with the Catalans.
On the latter, he believes they are favorites in their knockout round knockout against Naples Despite the losses: “We are talking about Naples, which is a good team but is not the Juventus Turin. If a Barcelona that aspires to win the Champions League has to be shaking against Naples with 1-1, we are going badly ”.
“Barcelona would have to pass even if they had 4, 5 or 6 injured. I see him concentrated so that the mistakes against Roma and Liverpool do not happen to him. Falling against Naples would be a catastrophe, “he added.
He also believes that the competitive break after the end of the league benefits them: “It has come as a ring to his finger. Barcelona plays with thirteen players or fourteen at most, they always played the same. And there comes a time when you're even tired. This break has been phenomenal because they arrive totally fresh to play three games ”.
“It has also broken the dynamics of the others, because there are many teams that are based on the physical issue and with so much it is difficult to get them hooked again. It also comes in handy to retrieve a headdress, ”he added during a Santander UEFA Champions League Talks where he participated alongside Manolo Sanchís and Milinko Pantic.
Asked about whether what has happened in the outcome of LaLiga Santander can condition the qualifying rounds for Barcelona and Real Madrid, he pointed out: “What has given Madrid a lot of peace of mind. Before confinement he looked a bit aimless, with no chance of winning any titles. Winning the league gives you peace of mind, a break. The season is already good ”.
“Barcelona instead is empty and the pressure in this case is for him, he needs to win. At least he has to correct the image of the last games, if he falls it would have to be in the semifinals against a Bayern or something like that. At the moment the one who has the most need and is under the most pressure is Barcelona ”, he completed.
On the other hand, he assessed as correct that he had not dismissed Quique Setién: “Barcelona have done well, changing now makes no sense. It is a matter of telling the players to be motivated, to all go together. ”
“A situation of personal issue, of coexistence. We know that in such a locker room, the players tip the scales in one direction and another. They will have talked about the problems, they will have fixed them and it is absurd to change it for a week. It would not make sense ”, he also considered.
Of course, he believes that the coach's destiny can be different if the Champions League is not won: “If he wins the Champions … how are you going to kick him? It seems impossible. In Barcelona it is very complicated. If you win the Champions League you have no reason, especially considering that he has a valid contract. But if it doesn't, it's a different story. “