Xavi Hernández applauded enthusiastically when he heard the Champions League anthem again at the Camp Nou. The coach applauded even more with the win that his Barça dedicated to Viktoria Pilsen. “It’s hard to keep a good thing. I keep the intensity and understanding of the game. The people are dedicated. It’s a great start but the road will be long”, analyzed the coach.
“Everyone is plugged in. There is hunger and we must not lose it,” he said proudly. Once the levers are activated, “this is what it is” is history and Xavi finally has a choice. The meritocracy on which the coach insists so much is a message that has penetrated deep into the squad. Because now it turns out that plan B is just as competitive as plan A. Blessed is the pressure that Xavi now has to prepare his elevens. “Everyone played very well, we shared minutes and it was a great game for everyone”, said Xavi.
Praise was not lacking for either Dembélé or Lewandowski. “Dembélé is enjoying himself. There aren’t many like him. He’s a pure winger that’s difficult to defend and he’s here to make a difference. He deserves it, I already knew he could play like that”, boasted Xavi. As for Lewandowski, the coach pointed out that “For me he is the best nine in Europe along with Benzema and Håland. He is a leader but not only because of the hat-trick. It is because of all his ability. He is very humble and had a terrible desire to come to Barça. It’s wonderful”.
Xavi doesn’t want anyone to get lost. Barça has returned yes, but with nuances. “This is very long and no one should forget it. Very important games are coming now. Victories give morale and confidence and tomorrow many will wake up thinking that they have made a great game and it is true. But this is only three points, it is the first game of the league. I join the euphoria but with caution,” he said.
The coach does not think about Barça’s next rivals in the Champions League, much more demanding teams than Pilsen. “For me, the next game is Saturday. And then we’ll think about Bayern. We have to go step by step,” he said.
The technician also had a message in relation to the PSG controversy and the plane trips. “We cannot live in a bubble on the margins of society. If the Government or the Generalitat asked us to travel in a more sustainable way, Barça is more than a club and we would listen to it. And we would,” he stated in a clear message to PSG of Mbappé and his coach, Christophe Galtier.
