MADRID, 28 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Barça coach, Xavi Hernández, celebrated a new win for his team by beating Athletic Club (4-0) this Sunday, with the importance also of the defensive improvement, while he praised Dembélé and Pedri, the best in the Camp Nou.
“I saw that we weren’t progressing inside and I thought that I had two daggers per band, one against one. Dembélé has made the difference, he has scored a goal, two assists,” he said at a press conference, about his decision to put the Gallic.
The striker entered with whistles but changed them for applause after five minutes with a great goal. Later, Dembélé continued to be inspired with two assists. “In football nothing can be ruled out, suddenly he couldn’t play and now he’s playing,” he said.
“If he is like this, well worked, he can be the best in his position, today he has shown it. This is the Dembélé who can do this every game. Whether to renew or not depends on him and the club,” he added.
“It has cost us a lot to generate, to progress, they are a very hard-working rival. We have finished very well, serious and solid in defense, happy with the feeling in general”, he pointed out.
The Barça coach also praised a Pedri who left a carat performance, to the enjoyment of a Camp Nou that left “proud” of his team. “In terms of talent, I haven’t seen anyone like him in the world, there isn’t. He reminds a lot of Andrés Iniesta. Purely talented, he’s the best in the world, for sure,” he said.
“The clean sheet is important, it gives security, the defensive line is higher, the recovery after loss is very good. We dominated the game and it’s a shame that the second goal didn’t come earlier,” he concluded.