“That it is expensive to play as a starter at Barça is fundamental”
MADRID, 30 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The FC Barcelona coach, Xavi Hernández, explained that the club is making “an effort” to be competitive with the aim of “winning titles” this season, but without breaking “any rule”, happy about the signings but asking for more.
“Everything that can be reinforced is good. In the end, there must be two players per position to compete. We need footballers to compete and be better in general, we want to reinforce ourselves more, the more the better,” he said this Friday at a conference. press in New Jersey (United States).
The Catalan coach did not speak of a specific position but trusted that reinforcements will continue to arrive, after the last one confirmed, defender Jules Kounde. “I am very happy with the arrival of Kounde. He has a very good ball output, he is fast, aggressive, he divides the opponents which is what we want, he corrects many counter situations”, he valued.
“He’s a great signing, he can play as a full-back. It means competition, for us he’s very good, we already saw it in the rhythm and intensity, everyone wants to give their best. Whoever trains and performs best on the pitch will play. We are Barça and there are to compete to play as a starter. That it is expensive to play as a starter at Barça is essential for us”, he added, with the option of various systems.
Xavi spoke to the media prior to the duel against New York Red Bull, the last of an American tour that is going “positively”. “We are having a good feeling, we want to play a good game and finish the tour well. It has been positive, everyone has participated at a very good level. I am liking what I am seeing on the pitch but it is too soon, we are on the right track “, he pointed.
The Barça coach was also asked by Robert Lewandowski and even by Leo Messi, after Joan Laporta’s statements about the desire for the Argentine ’10’ to return. “He is adapting very well. He will make the difference. He does not lose balls, he has many options to score, I am delighted to have him,” he said of the Polish striker.
“Now Messi has a contract with PSG. It’s a bit utopian to say that he will come. I wish Messi’s time at the club hadn’t ended and the way it ended. He deserves a second and last chance to show that he can leave well and that he is the best in history. But talking about this year, we have signed players, there is pressure to win, we have formed a great team. Next year we will see, but hopefully, I would love it. It is an idea that the club has for the future, not for this season,” he confessed.
Xavi insisted that everyone will have to earn their place in the eleven. “We all start from scratch. The signings, the veterans and the youngsters are going to compete for a position and whoever gives the most performance will play. The more solutions he has as a coach, the better. We are making a great team, the club is doing a great effort. We have generated hope but we have to compete and win titles, that’s the goal”, he stated.
“There is pressure but I like it. I knew about the difficulty and the situation of the club, but I think we are doing a positive job so that the club returns to where it deserves and that is where we are. I am where I want to be and more than pressure I see it as a opportunity”, he added, before assessing the financial effort of the club.
“I read a lot that ‘how do they do it’. We don’t want to skip any regulations, we are signing but with the feeling of doing things well, not breaking any rules. Trying to balance everything to be a competitive team,” he concluded.