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After Wednesday night’s disappointment in the Champions League against Inter Milan, Xavi quickly wants to forget and is now focusing on La Liga and the Clasico. The objective is simple for the Blaugranas: above all not to lose so as not to leave the leader’s chair to the Merengues. The Spanish technician took the opportunity to announce the availability of Jules Koundé and showed his fangs before this shock! Words reported by Mundo Deportivo.
About Kounde
“He’s fine, 100 per cent, happy and physically fit. He’s trained hard and is available, we’ll see tomorrow.”
On last year’s game
“It can serve as a benchmark to be brave, to have possessions in the rival camp… They feel comfortable in a low and medium block to go to the counter but we also have to be in a block and attack in a compact way “That’s what we like. We have to have personality. We are much better in the league than last year and we have to take advantage of that.”
On the importance of the game
“It’s important, vital for both teams. Let’s see who comes out on top. The project is coming soon. I have the feeling that we are under construction. What happened the other day in Europe makes us angry and saddens us, but we have to be positive. We are in good shape. We are having a magnificent championship, there are still other competitions and the ratings are at the end of the season, even if in Europe it is not good at all. But the project has just started.
About Busquets
“He’s an important player. We didn’t have the best second half against Inter, we were unbalanced and especially the midfielders were suffering. Is he untouchable? Everyone must be ready to always participate “.
On the atmosphere in the locker room
“Let’s hope it doesn’t wreak havoc. We gave it our all, with a great first half and we lost it because of the details, Europe wreak havoc. We don’t like this disappointment. I’m always optimistic and I want to see the team want to win things this season, you have to keep working, I don’t know any other way to success.”
On a possible injustice towards the “captains”
“I don’t know, I try to read a bit, because I know this club and everything will be in doubt. I try to focus on work and tomorrow’s game. I don’t know if it’s fair or unfair. We drew a game where we shouldn’t have. Critics will come, we are Barca. But you don’t have to be aware of the noise from outside or the environment.”
On the goals conceded in C1
“Difficult to explain but there are individual errors, defensive line errors… in many cases it’s our fault. We have been very good in the league”.
On the atmosphere before the Clasico
“It’s unpredictable. It’s the game that gives the least importance to the previous game, I experienced it as a player. Last year we didn’t arrive in great shape and we won” .
Win without playing well?
“No, no. It’s not the goal, which is to win, to play well, as we believe, to be protagonists, to attack in the best way possible and the consequence is to win. We try not to analyze based on the result, that’s what it costs, but people are very result-oriented, which is normal”.
On how to stop Vinicius
“There are options. We will decide tomorrow. Not just Vinicius, it’s Benzema, if Valverde plays, Rodrygo… It’s a great game, we’ll see the pair of centre-backs. Vinicius shouldn’t just be stopped but stop Madrid as a team.”
On his optimism
“We’ve improved since we took over the team. In terms of results, it’s a shame to step back with Inter, because we were doing well. We are leaders in La Liga, without losing and the season makes me optimistic. I know where I am and I won’t stop working and insisting on what we are doing. When I don’t see it clearly, I will go home, but for now I see it well and I’m optimistic. I won’t be a problem for Barça the day they think I’m not a solution”.
About Laporta
“The president is very optimistic, he always gives you wings. This Champions League is cruel to us but we must not stay on it, we are doing well in the league and we must continue this work that we are developing.”
On the impatience of a Clasico
“I don’t know if exciting is the word. But I like playing against Madrid, I’m competitive and I would like to continue being a player, I said that against Inter before. The atmosphere was wonderful. “It’s in these games where you have to be up to it, and also as a coach. This game is an opportunity to become the sole leader.”
On criticism of him
“I understand them, I know where I am. In the end we missed a match that should not be missed. If I have something it’s empathy and I understand the supporters, I’m sad too. We didn’t win but we have to keep being positive I came to turn things around and it can be achieved When I don’t see it I’ll tell you but I see wickers in the team, from good signings. It’s early to draw conclusions, although yes, in Europe we are failing. But La Liga and the other competitions remain.”
On his future
“We’re not talking about it, I guess it will come out in the press, but we’re not talking about an extension. Let’s work and let the season run its course.”
On a possible mental bankruptcy in Europe
“I don’t think so. In the end we equalized, if there was really a failure we wouldn’t have equalized twice. The team believes in itself and has faith, it has soul, courage , and we believed in it until the end, even if we didn’t win. It’s hard to explain. If we compare with last year in Europe, the feelings are different. I’ll take the positives to keep growing.”
On the changes to be made
“A bit of everything. We saw mistakes, good things and in the first half we attacked well, but the mistakes on the defensive line penalized us a lot. The team was rebuilt this summer and will eventually compete in the higher level. We may have deserved more but the result is what it is. By emotionally recovering the team and insisting on this path, we will be fine”.
On the differences between player and coach
“You have more fun as a player. And you can do more with the ball than without. But I try to make them enjoy the competition, it’s a sport to enjoy. Wednesday I did that too. Tomorrow , it will be necessary to start the match, to enjoy, to be protagonists, that the best version of everyone comes out… that’s what I tried to do as a player. But there are times, being a Barça coach is ungrateful. It’s better to be a player than a coach.”
