MADRID, 30 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of FC Barcelona, Xavi Hernández, is clear that the break for the World Cup in Qatar can condition the teams, but he wants it to be “for the best” for his team, which arrives “at a good time” for the derby against RCD Espanyol this Saturday, where he hopes that, “at least”, they can be “at the level” of the last game against Osasuna a month and a half ago.
“Yes (conditions), but I hope it’s for the better. We’ve given the World Cup 7-10 good days and the break has been good for us because we’ve recovered practically all the players. The coach watches training and when it’s over he has feelings, and mine are very good”, said Xavi at a press conference.
The coach has seen “people with rhythm and a winning mentality”. “We haven’t played any games in this break and we’ll see, I think we arrived at a good moment, almost all of them 100 percent, but the game will tell where we are, I hope at least at the level of Pamplona,” he stressed.
“It’s a derby and we are very motivated after a month and a half without competition. There is desire and enthusiasm, we return to a competition in which we are leaders and we are very excited to win it and compete in it,” added the man from Terrassa.
The former player is “delighted” to have “everyone available” for this match, for which he has summoned 24 players awaiting “how is” the sanction against Robert Lewandowski, knowing that they must manage “the players who have trained less “, and with the return of Ronald Araújo, who was accompanied by the rehabilitators while he was with his team at the World Cup in Qatar.
“I spoke with Diego (Alonso, Uruguayan coach) and everything was fine. The player’s feelings are decided and now he’s very good, we have to slow him down a bit because he gives everything and we’re going to be cautious. He won’t start at the start, but if necessary He will play a few minutes. He needs rhythm”, he detailed about the center-back, injured since the end of September.
Regarding Espanyol, he described it as “a very difficult rival”. “He is very motivated by the derby and has a great coach, with good-level players and who has worked hard defensively. I think he has fewer points than he deserves, it will be a difficult game,” he warned.
The game will be directed by Mateu Lahoz from Valencia, a referee that Xavi likes “because he speaks”. “That’s positive and he, nervous is little seen. It’s difficult to be a referee and you can make mistakes like everyone else, but at least he argues for you,” he admitted.
“THE BUSQUETS IS MORE A PERSONAL DECISION OF HIS”
On the other hand, Xavi was asked about several names such as those of captain Sergio Busquets and his possible continuity when his contract ends in 2023. “He has a contract until June and he will continue until the end, we’ll see how he ends and how he feels, I think it’s more of a his personal decision and how it looks,” he said.
“For me he has an important role and on the field he is fundamental. It depends on him more than on me or the club, but we haven’t talked, there are six months left and we are focused on what happens this year where we all play a lot, we can’t make plans for June,” he added about it.
The one from Terrassa also sees Ousmane Dembélé “well and happy”. “It seems a failure to reach the final of a World Cup starting and playing very well, but I think he has made a difference. I see him at a very high level and he will continue to be a fundamental piece,” he remarked about the Frenchman. “Results aside, I think Barça’s have been at a good level,” he pointed out.
The coach of the Catalan team also recognized the possible potential of the 15-year-old youth squad Lamine Yamal. “We follow the entire quarry, especially those who are closest in age. He is a talent and he can succeed, many qualities, he has already trained with us and you can see a tremendous natural talent. I hope he stays here for many years, in the future we can have a great footballer”, he affirmed.
What the Barca coach is clear about is that he wants a “quiet” winter market. “I’m very happy with the squad, we’re going to compete with them and they’re very good at competing for the four titles. I prefer that no one leave, and if no one comes, I’m also happy,” said the Catalan, who dedicated the break to “analyze football and matches”. “In my case, my brain is thinking about soccer 24 hours a day,” he confessed.
Finally, he offered his condolences on the death of ‘Pelé’. “He is a legend of our sport, perhaps one of the pioneers of world figures and marked an entire generation. Like Maradona and Messi, I have made history and they become a legend when they leave,” he stressed.