“PSG is one of the worst rivals we could face”
“I hope that what happened with Pedri is not repeated with Cubarsi”
MADRID, 16 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of FC Barcelona, “mentally good” after advancing to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
“I see him calm, motivated, even extra-motivated for tomorrow’s game. He returns to what was his home. He already had a great game in the first round and I hope he can repeat it. We need the best version of Joao and the entire team to beat a great team like Atlético de Madrid,” he declared at a press conference.
Furthermore, he believes that this Sunday is a match “tailor-made for great players” and to “show personality on a really difficult field.” “Joao played a great game in the first round, tomorrow he and the entire team must be important. It is a stage to show everyone’s best side and to win the three points, and so will Joao,” he expressed.
“Personally, I liked hostile environments, to be able to prove my worth a little. Joao has a strong character, he is positive, he is brave. He really wants to show his talent, which he has a lot of, and tomorrow he will have to demonstrate it in a stadium in which a lot of personality is needed to win the game. Joao has many characteristics to play a great game,” he continued.
Regarding the match, to which he confirmed that Ferran Torres and Marcos Alonso will arrive, he assured that it is “vital” due to “the circumstances” they have in LaLiga. “He is a ‘Champions’ level rival, as he showed the other day; he is very strong and even more so at home with the help of the fans. Atlético de Madrid, with ‘Cholo’ Simeone, is doing very well in last years. It is a really difficult exit, it will surely be difficult for us. We both arrived well, in a very good state of confidence, and we are sure to see a great match. They have not lost there in LaLiga since we went last season, and That tells you how difficult it is to get the three points there,” he said.
Regarding the red and whites, he stated that “they defend well, although it is true that they risk more.” “Before they were more physical than now. ‘Cholo’ has changed his way of acting a little, of playing, he changed the system. He has gained a lot in talent in recent years,” he said. “Emotionally, both teams arrived very well, the state of confidence increases by moving to the ‘Champions’ quarterfinals. They had an important physical war, with extra time, penalties… and we got it out. They have had time to rest, but a day less than us. We will see tomorrow what ‘Cholo’ does, if he gives rest to some footballers. Our idea and our mentality are not going to change,” he continued.
In another order of things, the Catalan coach praised the work of former Barcelona player Memphis. “We know him perfectly, he is a footballer capable of making a difference, when he is motivated and inspired he does what he did the other day, scoring the goal that took them to extra time. He already created problems for us in the first round, I remember a stop by Iñaki -Peña – I’m sure he will have minutes tomorrow because of the performance he had in the ‘Champions’ match,” he said.
Regarding the departure of Antoine Griezmann from Barça, he assured that “it was an economic issue, a salary limit issue” and in no way a sports issue. “He is a player that I like a lot, he is a brutal footballer. He is an organizer playing as a midfielder or forward, he organizes the entire attack of Atlético de Madrid. He did not continue here due to many circumstances, but above all because of the salary limit,” he explained. .
“PSG IS ONE OF THE WORST RIVALS WE COULD HAVE TO FACE”
On the other hand, the Barça coach believes that “the excitement has returned a little” after passing the ‘Champions’ round of 16 tie against Naples. “Economically, this qualification for the quarterfinals is going very well for us and it gives us stability. I feel that it went well, but it could have gone wrong; if they hit us with a header and tied 2-2, we would still be talking about another game. That’s football, unfair sometimes “The other day everything went well, a wonderful and magical night in Montjuïc,” he declared.
He also described the quarterfinal tie against Paris Saint-Germain as “very complicated.” “He is one of the most difficult rivals that we could face. We know Luis Enrique very well, he is a brilliant coach, his teams are very well worked out. I know his staff, several players from the first team… He is one of the worst rivals we could face, but we have the hope and hope of making a great quarterfinal. The return home is a positive point. It is time to dream, to show that we can compete against this type of rival, currently one one of the best teams in Europe,” he said.
“Perhaps the role of favorite would go more to Paris Saint-Germain, beyond the history of the two teams and the fact that we have more ‘Champions’ than them. Economically we are not in the same situation. But with hope, with desire They are not going to beat us by dreaming. Yesterday we saw the draw together and people are happy to compete. We will have to show it on the field and talk on the field, demonstrate our talent and our worth there,” he continued.
In another order of things, he was happy about the call-up of Pau Cubarsí with the Spanish team, but acknowledged that he hopes that “what happened previously with Pedri is not repeated”, exhausted from playing the European Championship and the Olympic Games in the same summer of 2021. . “I hope all of this is not repeated, we should not put ourselves in the negative scenario,” he said.
“He deserves it, we are very happy for him, he is showing that he has national team level. I am also happy for De la Fuente’s courage to bet on these players. I am very happy for Pau. I can’t tell you anything about the rest because I can’t I decide if they go to the Games or the Euro Cup, there is a lot left,” he noted.
Finally, he acknowledged that he is involved in planning for next season, despite having announced his departure after this season. “I participate because I love this club and I want the best for Barcelona. My decision does not change, but I try to help as much as possible. I have always been, from day one, a club man. Any situation in which I can help the club to improve for next year, I will. That’s how Deco, the sports area and the president know.”
“We talk practically every day, Deco knows my position, what I think, and, to this day, nothing changes,” he said. “The intention is to be here until June 30 and, in principle, rest,” he concluded.