MADRID, 12 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of FC Barcelona, Xavi Hernández, has assured that they do not rule out “absolutely nothing” in the fight for LaLiga Santander, although they know that they “cannot” “put their chests out” because they are fourth, and considers that this Sunday’s derby against RCD Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium is “a litmus test” to find out where they stand.
“I already said that we did not rule out anything. The difficulty is there; we are 15 points behind the leader with one game in hand, but we are not ruling anything out. The first objective is to be among the top four, but we are not ruling out absolutely anything. The next games will tell We depend on the teams that are ahead puncturing”, he declared at a press conference.
To do this, they must “continue” reaping good results. “We have to continue with this intensity, with this rhythm, with fewer touches. We need to consolidate ourselves in the sensations and the results. We have to stay in the top four, stay,” he said.
“The day at Atlético de Madrid we saw a very good Barça until the expulsion. We defended well, we showed solidarity… We have to continue working with the utmost humility. We are in fourth position and we want to climb further to get as high as possible, and you have to work with humility, be aggressive, be a block, a family. We’re fine, but we can’t get our chests out, “he continued.
“We have to consolidate the very good things we did on the day against Atlético de Madrid, improve a lot in defensive and strategic issues. The team needs two or three positive results in a row. We are training very well, we have had the whole week to prepare for the match and the sensations are good”, he insisted.
Now, they will face “a derby against a tough rival” and “with a great coach”. “It’s one of the best Espanyol in recent years, Vicente Moreno has worked very well on them. I think we’ll see an Espanyol similar to the one we saw at the Camp Nou,” he said.
“Now we are in the best moment of form and we have to consolidate it, so that the Atlético de Madrid match will not be a flash in the pan. Tomorrow is a litmus test for us; an intense rival, at home, is a derby, with the intensity and the rivalry that exists… They will want a football revenge. It will be difficult”, he added.
Regarding the absence of Brazilian winger Dani Alves, who was red against Atlético de Madrid, Xavi acknowledged that he will be “missed”. “I feel bad because Dani is a very important player for us. We will miss him. Tomorrow we will decide if we will change the system, but it is clear that we will miss him because he is giving us a lot, especially in attack,” he said.
In another order of things, the Catalan coach assured that Eric García is recovered and will enter the list, while Memphis suffered “a small relapse in the same place” and will not be able to play, although he hopes that he will return next week to train with the team.
Lastly, Xavi spoke about the situation of Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé and assured that it is “a closed issue”. “I already said that I had the idea of making him play the second half against Atlético. I couldn’t, I had to make a change due to Dani’s expulsion. He’s one of the team and he’ll help us for sure. It’s a closed issue; he’s a team player and I will decide when he plays or not,” he concluded.