Sixteenths / Lap
The Barça coach positively assessed the growth of his team before the match against Napoli, a team “at the Champions level and that is competing for the scudetto“
Barça is risking its future in the Europa League on its visit to Napoli, after a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou that was little known in terms of Barça’s dominance but that greatly compromises the continuity of the culé in the competition in a very dangerous scenario . Xavi is aware of the difficulty of the scenario and the rival, but he faces the appointment with optimism, satisfied with the positive evolution of his team but also aware that this has to translate into results.
“If they let me choose, I would always prefer to win and play well, but there is a rival in front of us that is going to complicate us, it is Napoli. With me they played well and they didn’t win but I’m sure we’ll be closer to winning playing like in Valencia, against Atlético or Elche. We are growing but this is about winning and we need more results, ”acknowledged the Catalan coach in the preview of the duel on Partenopeo ground, with the pass to the second round of the Europa League at stake.
“We would face the game the same if we had won. The objective is to dominate with the ball, make a fairly intense high pressure and be fast in circulation. Napoli will press hard, push high and try to impose an intense pace of play. Tomorrow will be a football war and whoever controls the ball will have a lot to gain », explained the coach from Tarrasa regarding his idea of a match in Naples, a team that he considers « at the Champions level and that is competing for the scudetto ».
“It’s the next game and in the end every game, with the urgencies that exist in Barça today, is a final, but not doing homework at home and having to play it on their field, at Diego Armando Maradona. It’s football, it’s day to day”, Xavi valued respect to the importance he attaches to the duel, with the future in a competition at stake. “Not passing the tie would be a big disappointment. We have high hopes for the competition. It’s not the Champions League but it’s Europe and against a big team. We want to show that we can compete at this level. It will not be easy. I predict a very tough game », he ventured next.
“It is an honor, an extra motivation, to play for Diego Armando Maradona, who was a footballer who moved us all. We continue to watch his videos, he marked an era and today he would still be the best of all time if it weren’t for Messi”, said the Barça coach regarding the venue for the match, a stadium that is always hot and that Barça will step on for the first time after the change of name in memory of Pelusa.
Dembélé, one more
«We rely a lot on the quarry because it always gives us a plus. When we have won titles there have always been people from home. At Barcelona the quarry works very well, that’s why the Gavi, Nico, Ansu Fati, Araujo, although it was late, and before Busquets or Piqué, “he recalled when asked by the Italian press about his opinion on the role of the quarry in current football.
«Ousmané is taking care of himself, he is professional, he trains with the group and has been exemplary in the group. That’s why we have him, at the end of the season it will be seen. He is a footballer that I like, “he finally assured about Dembélé’s role once his departure in the winter transfer market was ruled out, in a clear nod to the French player and his role at Barça until the end of the season, when his contract ends.
“People always think and know more than me, but I always try to do my best and if I were in bad shape I wouldn’t be on the field because of my responsibility to the team and the club,” Ter Stegen settled, questioned by its current state. “I feel good and the team is also in good shape,” he added in this regard.
“This tie means a lot for the team because we are in a good moment and we have a lot of young people who are growing. In recent weeks we have taken a step forward and we have improved”, valued the German goalkeeper in terms of the importance given in the locker room to the goal of overcoming the tie against Napoli.
