MADRID, 30 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of FC Barcelona, Xavi Hernández, has assured that they must react after losing “two golden opportunities” to qualify for the next edition of the Champions League, and has stressed that they have to “cover the minimum objectives of this season as whatever”, starting with this Sunday’s game against RCD Mallorca.
“On Monday we were very sad and very angry; on Tuesday less, and on Wednesday we started working. We haven’t been shooting rockets lately, it’s obvious, we’ve missed two golden opportunities to qualify for the ‘Champions’ in two home games “, he pointed out at a press conference.
Thus, he warned that they must make “a bestial effort” to recover. “We have a revalidation at home, very similar to those of Cádiz and Rayo, and we need a victory to add up again. We must make a bestial physical and mental effort. We must cover the minimum objectives for this season no matter what,” he said.
“‘Cholo’ said it: those who have more intensity, more faith and more desire are going to enter the ‘Champions’. This is a club made to win titles, and that is why it is not positive to be second. The second is the minimum It’s a reality and we have to prepare ourselves for that. You have to have faith to achieve the minimum objective”, he continued.
The Catalan coach did not avoid talking about the possibility of Real Madrid being crowned champion this Saturday. “If he is champion today, we will congratulate him. They will have been better because this is a long competition and normally it is won by the one who deserves it. We will congratulate him and next year, to compete better”, he stressed.
Regarding Mallorca and Javier Aguirre, he stressed that the Mexican coach “always gets performance” from his teams. “He is honest. He has changed the system, a more defensive profile and takes advantage of set pieces very well. He has managed to win important games and has them involved to save the category”, he affirmed.
In another order of things, he announced that Ansu Fati will be on the list for the duel against vermilion “He is very well, he feels very comfortable and he is making important physical efforts. Tomorrow he will play at least a few minutes. He is happy, you can see smiling. He’s a differential player and it’s a shame not to be able to have him these months. He’s a special player and he makes the difference,” he said.
About Pedri, he explained that he is “training apart and has good feelings”, while he assured that Gerard Piqué is still “in pain” and that Sergi Roberto “is not a relapse”. “Nico broke his finger in a clash with Ansu; it’s a shame, because we don’t have plenty of midfielders,” he lamented.
Nor was he concerned about the situation of Dutchman Frenkie de Jong, who believes that “he must make a difference in every game.” “We had a very good individual talk face to face. It is clear that that change frustrated him, he is very self-demanding, but I have to look out for the team. He has played excellent games, but he has to be constant. He is capable, with physical strength, with arrival in the area. He’s here to make a difference. I don’t see players with these conditions at the world level. He’s a very important player for the present and for the future”, he pointed out.