After 12 outings in the League, Xavi’s Barcelona remains undefeated away from home. But three of the next trips are to San Mamés this Sunday, to the Metropolitano (March 17) and the Santiago Bernabéu. There the Blaugrana team will know if they will be able to fight for a title that now seems difficult. However, the Terrassa coach believes that his team reaches the decisive moment “with good feelings.” “It is the moment of truth, with matches against direct rivals and the Champions League, but we arrive with good feelings,” he said.
“Now we are fine. I see the team loose and less tense than days ago,” he explained after the good game in Naples and the win over Getafe. “I feel good about the team. More responsible, more competitive, more reliable with and without the ball. San Mamés will be a trial by fire but we arrived at a good time,” he added.
Barça has four wins and two draws since Xavi himself announced his goodbye on June 30, something that for now has not yet made the coach go back on his words. “To this day nothing has changed. There is no theme. Step by step and for Athletic”, the question slipped. “Today there is no change,” he stressed again later, refusing to close the debate.
San Mamés will examine that growth. In his three visits, Xavi has not lost in 90 minutes since both eliminations in the Cup were in extra time. “It is an ideal scenario. You have to match their faith and intensity. It is the team with a lot of soul. We have to achieve the consistency that has been missing all season.” In case of victory, the Barcelona fans would open an 11-point gap with fifth position with 11 rounds to play.
At Barça they hope that Athletic, the brand new finalist of the Cup, will notice the wear and tear. “They will be tired from playing on Thursday but their confidence is through the roof. They can be proud of the season they are having. Let’s hope that the losses of Nico Williams, Vivian and Yuri are noticeable,” he wished. The first two are suspended while the third is suspended.
On the other hand, Xavi has had the whole week to prepare for the duel and analyze the rival. “In the League they are the most intense team and in their field they double the intensity. They are a tough team, their pace is extraordinary and that is a credit to their coach. Valverde is one of the best coaches,” he praised the people of Bilbao.
But at the same time he believes the formula that gave Getafe the 4 goals can serve him again. “There will be a lot of space behind the defense. It will be similar to the match we faced against Getafe. Athletic puts pressure on you with every ball. We have to be more vertical and be more effective. You have to try to dominate the game even in the Cup,” he prescribed.
Xavi spoke about Lewandowski, João Félix, Vitor Roque and even Ferran Torres, who will return next week against Mallorca, but not about Lamine Yamal, who had a great game at the Cathedral in the Cup. There, at the which was his home for five and a half seasons, Iñigo Martínez can return for the first time.
Finally, the Egarense had a nice memory for Andrés Iniesta for his thousandth game as a professional. “He is a friend and we are in contact a lot. He is the greatest talent of a Spanish footballer. I have not seen one like him in my life,” he highlighted.
