Xavi Hernández is not happy about having to play tomorrow at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (4:15 p.m.) against Getafe just 72 hours after playing the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 in Naples. “Logically I would have liked to play on Sunday or Monday. But that’s no excuse. We will compete to take the three points,” said the coach.
Compete to score points and so that Barcelona continues to have options to climb positions in the League. The technician does not throw in the towel. “Now everything is final. We cannot fail if we want to compete for the League and the Champions. In case of victory we would sleep in second position and it would be good to put pressure on Girona and Madrid,” insisted Xavi, who seemed tired and less smiling. “We have to talk less at a press conference and act,” he pointed out.
Act to stop Getafe, one of the most intense teams in the First Division. Along with Real Sociedad and Mallorca, they are one of those that commit the most fouls. “For me it is not a defensive team. It is a brave team with a very high defensive line and that has taken points from difficult fields like the Metropolitano. I like Bordalás for its intensity and for getting extraordinary performance from its players. Their teams “They are aggressive in the good sense of the word. What they do is commendable,” said Xavi, who this morning locked himself with his players in the video room to review how the Madrid team plays. Afterwards he completed a recovery training session by seriously observing his players. There was no time to joke.
The calmest of all was Robert Lewandowski, who is in the best moment of the season. “I think it is a consequence of the team’s improvement. They have more chances because we are better positioned. We attack and defend in a more orderly way and that helps,” analyzed Xavi,
With Lewandowski and 10 more Barcelona will leave tomorrow. After the team’s draw in Naples, Xavi does not rule out making rotations. But not too many. “It is time for the best to play. We will make some changes but not many, it is an important game,” he recalled.
Xavi does not recover Ferran Torres. Nor to Marcos Alonso. The coach will not train Balde and Gavi again, they are out for the rest of the season. “I think that the coach who comes should continue the Barcelona style. But that will be decided by the sports management,” he said.
