Rarely has Xavi Hernández celebrated a victory against Real Madrid with such little effusiveness. Barça thrashed the whites in the friendly in Dallas, and the impressive At
“Today we will be the best and a great team and the other day a disaster, that’s how we culés are. We have done better things, but we have to keep working. The preseason is above all to pick up rhythm and physical tone. We have played well, but also We have suffered several times”, explained the technician to the TV3 microphone.
The man from Terrassa lamented the “silly turnovers” that led to a more uncontrolled match and with more moments of white dominance, especially after half an hour of play in the first half. “We have had good moments, but we have to have more of those. We are in the process, happy with the victory,” he insisted.
However, Xavi did not spare praise in the individual section. De Oriol Romeu said that he is a “great signing, a positional player who wins duels, a leader” and once again made it clear that he sees Dembélé “happy”, with no intention of going to PSG, that he has him on his agenda in case he Kylian Mbappé goes to Real Madrid.
But among all his pupils, on this occasion the coach especially highlighted Fermín López, who became the surprising protagonist of the clásico with a goal and an assist in the final stretch. “In the staff we don’t have complexes. If you train well… We’ve seen him loose, and I think he can help us throughout the season. He has personality,” he said of the 20-year-old youth squad, who was on loan last season in Linares.
“I’m living a dream, I don’t believe what has happened. But I have to keep working, there’s a lot left,” said the young player from Huelva, who fell to his feet in the Barça locker room: “From the beginning they have welcomed me Well. My teammates congratulated me. I celebrated with what I got. I didn’t expect to play”
“I saw that no one was missing me and I hit him with my soul. Happy for the goal and the victory,” he explained about how he opted for a left-footed shot from outside the area to beat Courtois. After his stellar moment, the best of his short career as a professional footballer, López remembered those who have supported him, especially his loved ones: “I have spoken with home and they are very happy, they have also had a hard time for me. I dedicate it to them and to my town, El Campillo.
He also had words for Linares, where he learned “a lot” the season and ended with a wish: “It’s not up to me to decide. Obviously I want to stay here. I’ve been culé since I was little.” For now, Xavi has already opened the door to the team for him and has reciprocated with a stellar performance against Madrid.