“The Cup is a clear objective and we want to repeat the title, yes”
“We must follow the president, it is very positive to say that we have returned”
BARCELONA, 4 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The FC Barcelona coach, Xavi Hernández, assured that his player Ousmane Dembélé should “make an effort” to renew and thus avoid the negotiation, while acknowledging the difficulty of playing the defense of the Cup title with a first match complicated in Linares and assured that the optimism of the president, Joan Laporta, must be followed.
“It is a moment that Ousmane should make an effort and think about him, too, and his future, which goes through Barça. He should make an effort and I hope he will. The sports project cannot be better and he will not be happier. elsewhere, “he said at a press conference.
On a personal level, he said he was “very well and calm” and waiting for news in this regard. “Now it no longer depends on me, it depends on the club and Ousmane and their representatives. I cannot advance anything or say anything, only that the situation is this,” he acknowledged.
The one who could have the club’s doors open in this winter market is Philippe Coutinho. “He is a professional, but for there to be entries there must be exits, it is evidence. We are trying to register Alves, it could be today, and Ferran Torres has to be registered and we need to have exits or for Dembélé to renew. But not with Philippe I have specifically talked about their situation, “said Xavi.
Distracted, asked about Marc-André Ter Stegen’s saving stop in Mallorca, he assured that he jokingly commented to the German that he would also have stopped that ball. “He is happy, and he needed it. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and every goalkeeper can fail. It is true that he was somewhat below his level, but he was excellent. That save will help him gain confidence and continue to show that It is one of the best, “he valued.
Regarding the Copa del Rey and the debut against Linares Deportivo, a single match and at the Municipal Stadium of Linarejos, he assured that he anticipates a “difficult and complicated” match. “Linares is a good team, they are well placed, they came up with this same coach, the transitions work well and it is a good team,” he warned.
“They are in the group of Barça B, who won there, we will try to compete and pass but seeing the difficulties of these games it will not be easy. It is a very attractive format for small teams and for fans, for us there is almost nothing to win because everyone considers us favorites. It will be difficult to achieve victory, for sure, “he predicted.
Anyway, it is clear that the Cup is a clear objective. “It is a title and an objective, we are going with all the enthusiasm and desire to compete tomorrow, to open the competition well. The Cup continues to be a goal regardless of the situation in LaLiga. It is a clear objective of the season, we are the current champions and we want to repeat the title, yes “, he was honest.
HAPPY WITH LAPORTA’S OPTIMISM
Xavi celebrated that the president, Joan Laporta, assured with optimism that Barça “has returned”, in reference to his sporting improvement. “I am with the president, I am very optimistic and I like the positive character and ambition of the president, he is a very brave guy. I am delighted with him and with the club, we are in it to return,” he said.
“We were ninth and we are now fifth, we are coming back. Signings like Ferran Torres make the fans breathe, that the economic situation is difficult but things can be done. We are working 24 hours with difficult situations and we must follow the president. It is a very positive message that we have returned. If we sink into misery, it is useless. We must always be positive, “he reiterated.