Xavi Hernández’s appearance before the media was eagerly awaited after hours before Luis Enrique had referred to his role as a coach with certain disdain, ensuring that it was he and not the Catalan who best represented Barça’s most genuine style of play. . The one from Terrassa preferred to conciliate rather than open a new battle, one that is difficult to see coming. “I have followed his press conference, yes. What am I going to 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 he and Guardiola, like me and even Arteta represent the Barça DNA as coaches, which makes us so proud. “We all look 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 among us.” The coach was asked how he remembered his last year as a player at Barça (2014-15 season) under Luis Enrique, looking for the origin of the Asturian’s surprising statements: “It was a strange and difficult year at the beginning, then it straightened out and I ended up lifting the Champions League. I have a good relationship with him,” he insisted.
Xavi wanted to remove the label of favorite team at all times, another chapter in which Luis Enrique wanted to anticipate him in the morning. “He has said that Barça has five Champions Leagues and PSG none but I raised our last one as a player and also this summer they signed Dembélé for us, so they are the favorites. Luis Enrique is one of the best coaches in the world and he has a team made to win the Champions League. Believe me, I know the Qataris well and what their objective is.”
Xavi, uncomfortable with the comparison with Luis Enrique, focused the press conference on other aspects of the tie: “I face it with motivation and responsibility but not as something personal, it is Barça who is competing, not me. The decisive hour of the season has arrived. We have a very good locker room, with a great relationship between the players. The older players who have already won this competition are helping the young people a lot. I am delighted”.
“The word, after four years without being in the Champions League as a club at this point,” he continued, “is excitement. We arrived at probably the best moment of the season.”
In more strictly footballing aspects, De Jong. “In a match like this it will not vary much if one or the other plays, but I will prioritize the player who is physically better, I will give continuity to the states of form. He will play whoever is better, I don’t think he will influence tactically.”
