Xavi talks El Clásico, Araujo & Gündogan and his future
The boss spoke to the press before Sunday’s big game
Barcelona first team coach Xavi Hernández spoke to the press on Saturday to preview Sunday night’s El Clásico against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Barça needing a win to keep their remote La Liga title hopes alive.
The boss had to address some tough questions after a very difficult week following the Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain, with a dressing room controversy involving Ronald Araujo and Ilkay Gündogan and a lot of criticism towards several players.
There’s also the matter of Xavi’s future as the coach continues to be asked if he’ll reverse his decision to leave the club in the summer, and all of this creates a dark cloud ahead of a crucial game that is the Blaugrana’s last chance to save their season.
Xavi addressed all of those issues, and here’s a selection of his most meaningful quotes:
On Araujo and Gündogan
Everything is solved. There is no more problem. By talking, people understand each other. When there is no bad intention there is no problem and that’s how everything has been. Everything is settled.
On Real Madrid and El Clásico strategy
Madrid had to defend against City, which is the best team in the world today. They had to defend and they did it well. They are situations that must be mastered and they know how to do it. In the first half against us the last time we played, they did it well too. They have potential, they know how to attack and make transitions.
Today we talked about it, that in the first minutes of each half, Madrid will push. They are at home. We have to be very brave. It is the perfect setting to show personality. We have prepared the game well, I think we can have a good game and win. The first minutes will be key, calming down the game while they’re pressing high.
On if he’s had a meeting about his future
There is no meeting. They have not called me. And that is not important. Tomorrow we are playing for the La Liga title. If we don’t win, it will be very difficult. And if we lose... We are playing for La Liga.
Source: barcablaugranes.com
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