Barça generates controversy even without intending to. A coach like Luis Enrique, who usually accuses the press of provoking invented conflicts, was at ease yesterday sitting in the press room of the modern PSG campus, located on the outskirts of Paris, that is to say, very far away. That’s where the journalists went and that’s where they stayed. “Who better represents Barça’s style, Xavi or you?”, an Italian colleague asked the Asturian. The answer, far from following the guidelines of the usual diplomacy in these cases, and more dealing with presumed friends, was rough to the point of reminding sandpaper. “Look at the statistics, in possession, in high pressure, in titles. I represent him, without a doubt”, he let go.
Minutes earlier, another answer had already served as a clue to know where the shots would go. They asked Luis Enrique for his opinion on Xavi the coach, and he was not very affectionate. “I’m sorry to poke your balloon, I don’t know Xavi the coach. I know him as a fan like you. I had him as a teammate with me as captain and I trained him as a coach, but I could only tell you what I see on television about him as a coach.” Not a word of affection, then, and statistics used as a weapon of contempt. (Clarification: Luis Enrique wins in titles, but in other statistics they are similar.)
Xavi Hernández did not like Luis Enrique’s statements very well, but he concealed it in the press room, knowing that a fire would favor his colleague, since relations between the two clubs are not good and the game of one way is to Paris His tone was conciliatory when it was his turn to appear before the media. “I followed his press conference, yes. What can I say, it’s Luis Enrique. I have a very good relationship with him and for my part there is no controversy. Ask him again. Both him and Guardiola, me and even Arteta represent the Barça DNA as coaches, which makes us so proud. We are all looking for the same thing, we see football in a global way because we were all midfielders, so in my opinion there is no need to compete with each other”, he said, feigning an effortful attitude of calm.
The coach was asked how he remembered his last season as a player at Barça (2014-2015), in which he was under the orders of Luis Enrique, looking for the possible root of the Asturian’s surprising statements: “It was a strange and difficult year at the beginning [he was a substitute], then it straightened out and I ended up lifting the Champions League. I have a good relationship with him”, he insisted.
Xavi was more vindictive when it was mentioned to him that Luis Enrique labeled himself as a victim and not as a favorite. “They have five Champions and we have none”, the PSG coach had said in the morning. This is how Xavi counterattacked: “I remember our last Champions League because I won it as a player several years ago, but what I do know is that they signed Dembélé this summer, so they are the favourites. Luis Enrique is one of the best coaches in the world and has a team made to win the Champions League. Believe me, I know the Qataris well and what their ambition is.”
Xavi, increasingly uncomfortable with the comparison with Luis Enrique, focused the press conference on other aspects: “I face the tie with motivation and responsibility but not as a personal thing, it is Barça who is competing, not me. The decisive time of the season has arrived. We have a very good dressing room, with a very good relationship between the players. The more veterans who have already won this competition are helping the youngsters a lot. I’m delighted”.
Luis Enrique, uncomplicated and energetic, also wanted to make it clear that his speech gravitates around optimism. It is at these moments of the season when the coach, in agreement with his teams, is usually encouraged. His team has not lost for 27 games and it shows. “This match comes to us at the best mental, physical and football moment”, he emphasized. And he reserved the flowers he had spared Xavi for his exclusive: “My relationship with Barça is one of total love, but before everything there is my profession”. And, as you can see, winning well is equivalent to inaugurating a new battle. Total, there are so many at Barça…
