MADRID, 3 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of FC Barcelona, Xavi Hernández, has assured that this Tuesday’s game against Inter Milan, on the third day of the Champions League group stage, “is not” “definitive” but it is “important and transcendent” because it will mark “the future of the group”, and has urged “not to fail” to continue with options.
“I am clear about what we should be tomorrow, despite the size of the rival; we want to have the ball. It is ‘Champions’, it is not a definitive match, but it is important for the future of the group,” he declared at a press conference. “We will try to show character and be brave,” he added.
In this sense, he stressed that they are “in a good moment” and that they “have to prove it”, and he is aware that Barça and Italians will likely have to fight for second place in the group. “It seems that way. We have lost both to Bayern. Tomorrow is a transcendent game, very important for us, and next week’s, too. The prediction is more or less that way. We cannot fail tomorrow, we we have put it in the head”, explained.
In addition, the Catalan coach, who confessed that he has “in his head” this Tuesday’s eleven, appealed to maintain the essence at Giuseppe Meazza. “One thing is to adapt and the other is to change something to generate things. We adapt many times in strategy, corner, in how we defend, but we want to continue being protagonists in the match to take a step forward”, he affirmed.
“The state of form is not significant. It is Inter, it is a very strong block, Inzaghi is a great coach, they have very dynamic attacking systems, two points. They are a strong and difficult rival, the worst group of ‘Champions’ in years. We arrived in good game dynamics. We will try to match the game in Munich but with good results”, he continued.
Nor did he give importance to the casualties of Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martínez. “Beyond the casualties, I highlight the Inter block, they have automated movements. They deserved to win against Roma. It will be very difficult for us to win here tomorrow,” he said.
The culé coach also recognized that the leadership in LaLiga Santander gives them “confidence”. “It is an important point of morale and confidence for us. Things are being done well, but tomorrow is another story; we have not scored points in Munich and we have to show personality. It is time to perform in this competition,” he said.
He also recalled the importance of having conceded just one goal in LaLiga. “It is important to defend well, high, not to concede many chances. In the ‘Champions’ the strategic goal from Munich hurt us a lot,” he stressed, before praising Pole Robert Lewandowski. “His effectiveness is tremendous. The rest of us also have to help on the scoring issue. I’m happy for Robert, the others have to join in,” he said.
“THE SEMIFINAL OF 2010 IS A POOR MEMORIES FOR US”
In another order of things, he recalled the semifinal of the ‘Champions’ 2010, in which, with him on the field, they fell to the Italians. “I have not had a feeling of revenge. I have thought about it, we had to travel by bus because of the volcano issue. They were a great team well trained by Mourinho. It was very controversial, but it is like that. It is a bitter memory for us, “he said.
In this regard, he considers that the referees should give their version after controversial games. “I think that the referees should hold press conferences to explain themselves. If they explain themselves, we would humanize them more. I believe in the honesty of the referees,” he insisted. “He has lost the importance of playing at home or away, but it is positive,” he clarified about the disappearance of the double value of away goals.
On the other hand, Xavi confessed that winning the Champions League seems more difficult to him than winning the domestic championship. “The ‘Champions’ is more complicated, because you have to be at an ideal moment at the right moment. Many times a detail throws you out. LaLiga is fairer”, he assured.
Finally, he refused to talk about a possible return of the Argentine Leo Messi to FC Barcelona. “I love Leo very much, he is a friend, but I think this is not the time to talk about Leo. I hope he is enjoying himself in Paris and I wish him all the best,” he concluded.