“If he quits, it’s thanks to us.”said the coach Barcelona Xavi Hernandez this Sunday, one day later Real Madrid lost 3-2 at their home ground against Villarreal, A win on Monday would put his side 15 points clear Girona.
Succumbs that ended the title for Barcelona: Real Madrid lost to Villarreal, and Spain remained atop the table.
“We depend on ourselves. 15 points would be an amazing difference. It won’t do everything, but it can make a big difference. Winning the league is extraordinary,” the Barca coach told a press conference.
“Tomorrow’s game is now very important because we can get 15 points with 30 to play”, Xavi stressed about the white defeat at his stadium.
After falling in the semifinals on Wednesday Copa del Rey Against him at the Camp Nou Real Madrid 4-0, a defeat that would see Barca out after a 1-0 win in the first leg, the coach analyzed what happened.
“You can’t forgive in matches of this level, Madrid make you pay for it, and that’s what happened. We’ve turned the page, we’re focused on the league,” he said.
“We are a young team, we have to mature through setbacks. We have to be stronger, more effective, we don’t have to make too many mistakes. But this year we are competing,” he continued.
Barcelona have already signed him for free: big cracks for free at the end of the season
SaviReluctant to mention casualties to explain defeat against Real MadridOusmane Dembele and Pedri, two key players in his attack, spoke of the state of being in hospital.
“Feelings are not good and we will not take risks. They really want to come back and their feelings will dictate when they are ready,” he stressed.
-Other questions about the press conference-
Lack of performance
“You get better with practice. Performance depends on the player but also the confidence they feel on the part of the ‘staff’. What can work is definition and completion”.
Bodies and casualties
“On a physical level, I’ve got data that we’re a team that runs a lot, we put in a lot of effort, sprints… we’re the best at everything, injuries are normal. Which team has no injuries? Three or four casualties for Girona tomorrow. Everyone has them, but here they are given more importance.
Mood
”True, it is immature to unite when one is not well. We’re young and you grow up based on disappointments, but in life it’s unfortunate, like that. We have a positive attitude and want an extraordinary success to reach this league.
Incentives without faith?
“We’re talking about winning the league. I don’t understand. It’s the host. We’ve won five Champions Leagues in history, which is great, but we have to win. After winning the Champions League, Zidane recalled that the goal is to win the league. The league gives you stability and things. Tells you things are being done better.”
Stopped ball
“If we talk about corners, we have to try not to concede them first, and we’ve improved in this. The other day, in Else, a prepared strategic play was a big advantage for us in the 0-1. But like everything we have to improve.”
Apte returns next season
“He is playing well at Osasuna and has taken advantage of his loan. It will come back in the summer, we will see it, we will evaluate it, we will decide what we are going to do. I think it will be an important creation in the future. We will see”.
And he said: “He takes advantage of his credit and that makes a difference. You are professional. He plays well. He has played some very good games at Osasuna and it will be a challenge for Barca to keep this continuity going. He always has to show the level he showed yesterday with Osasuna because this is Barça. Here you have to prove your best position and have continuity. It will come back, we will respect it and we will decide what to do with it.
