“Those who did not come to the tour are unable to play this year, I was very clear with them”
MADRID, 26 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of FC Barcelona, Xavi Hernández, assured this Tuesday that the Barça club is “a magnet for footballers” due to its “global and historical greatness”, which makes the players “excited about playing for Barça”, by At the same time he insisted that the discards of the American tour have “impossible” to play this season.
“I don’t compare projects, I try to convince them that we will be competitive, with a clear project that they are going to enjoy. I get involved because I give one hundred percent, otherwise I would stay at home. I try to make them feel important, in the end Barça helps. Barça is a magnet for footballers”, said Xavi about his role when undertaking a signing at the press conference prior to the friendly match against Juventus this morning (2:30 am) in Dallas.
Until now, Barça has made a total of five signings -Lewandowski, Kessié, Christensen, Raphinha and Torre-, and for Xavi the key to their arrivals is that they see the Barça team as an “exciting project”. “He speaks of the greatness of the club at a world and historical level. People are excited to play for Barça and we have to take advantage of that, we are excited to win titles and return to the top,” said the coach.
Thus, the arrival of the Polish striker stood out above the rest, a player who has made the level of the squad “grow a lot”. “Lewandowski is a star, he will help us a lot. His adaptation and professionalism is good. That players of the stature of Lewandowski want to play for Barcelona is a historic success for the club,” he assured.
However, he did not want to enter into the possible incorporation of French defender Jules Koundé, now in the ranks of Sevilla. “I can’t make any progress, the club is working to continue strengthening the squad and increase competition. When it’s official, we’ll tell you,” he said.
However, Xavi is clear that they must find a “solution” for the players who have not traveled to the United States tour, because it will be “impossible” for them to play for Barça. “They will never be separated, they are first team players. A solution will be found, I was very clear with them, since May. It will be impossible for them to play here, they know the situation perfectly, although we have time. They must find a team and a solution for play”, stressed the coach about the situation of Riqui Puig, Neto, Mingueza, Umtiti and Braithwite.
“LEWANDOWSKI COMING TO BARÇA IS A HISTORICAL SUCCESS FOR THE CLUB”
The one who does enter the plans of the one from Terrassa is Pablo Torre, a footballer who arrived this summer from Racing de Santander and who will be in “first team dynamics”. “He is a talent, he plays fast and easy, he associates very well, he has goals, arrival, vision. When he does not have to participate with the first team, he will do it with the reserve team, he is of an age to play. He is surprising us all, he is very intelligent and very talented,” he praised the young midfielder.
“We are training very well, eagerly, decisively, the competition is good for us, everyone is giving their best. I see a lot of intensity in training, that is non-negotiable,” he said about what is going on in the preseason, after confirming that Ferrán Torres will not be against Juventus due to “an injury to his foot, in a shooting zone.”
Thus, Xavi’s idea against the Italians is to “rotate” and “distribute minutes”, to also adapt to the high temperatures in Dallas. “The most important thing is not the result, we like to win, but we have to get sensations and rotate, tomorrow we will practically make two teams”, he announced.
Asked about the style of this new Barça, Xavi insisted that it is an “evolution” of what Johan Cruyff began and followed by “Frank Rijkaard, Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique… “We are trying to evolve, you have to adapt to football modern,” he said.
“Guardiola’s shadow doesn’t weigh, I dream of Barça winning, I don’t have such a big ego. My football career has been unbeatable, I have an ego to satisfy three lives. I don’t want to beat anyone, they are not enemies, I am a student I want to try to return Barça to the top of the world”, he added about the Catalan coach.
Finally, he addressed the “impossible” return of Leo Messi to Barcelona. “Yes, I would like to, but Leo has a contract, it’s impossible. It doesn’t make sense to talk about Messi now. It’s an exciting year,” he concluded.