In an almost perfect week, Barcelona got into the top eight of the Champions League, won at the Metropolitano with a clear 0-3 and regained second place. “It was probably the most complete match,” Xavi analyzed. “It was a perfect match in positional play,” the Barcelona coach defined it.
The Egarense greatly applauded his players’ good interpretation of the match script. “In many parts of the game we were brilliant and we knew when to attack. We have found the free man well in the center of the field. “It is an ideal match for our methodology and ideology,” he added.
The coach assured that many of his players were excellent individually, but he wanted to personalize it especially in Lewandowski, author of a goal and two assists. “Robert has perhaps played the best game since he became a Barcelona player,” he said. The Pole placed emphasis on good preparation. “I think that in recent weeks we have changed our training a little, with more intensity. “I feel very good and so do my teammates,” he said.
Nobody had beaten Atlético in the League in their stadium, where Simeone’s team had added 40 points of their 55 points and had only conceded one draw (to Getafe). And the first to attack the Metropolitano is a Barça that is undefeated away from home in the championship after 14 outings. A knock on the table to show that the team wants to fight to win a title until the end.
“It can’t be anything else. We are Barça and no one relaxes here,” Xavi clarified. “I’m going to push them harder than ever, and even more so now that I’m leaving in June. There is no time for relaxation. We are going to compete for the two most important titles: the League and the Champions League,” the coach promised. “It’s a time to dream,” was his conclusion.
Sergi Roberto, captain and Xavi’s trusted man, corroborated the message. “It has been a very important week: Naples in the Champions League and this field to fight for the League. It has been a great game for the entire team,” he highlighted. “The team is up. “We are very well,” he stressed.
Xavi was expelled for his repeated protests in the band. The Terrassa coach complained about fouls that his team received and asked for a yellow card for fouls that his players received. It is his second expulsion as Barcelona coach (132 games), the same ones he saw during his time as a Blaugrana player, a shirt he defended in 767 games. “It’s the least important thing,” he played down the red thing.
The Barça coach explained the possible reason. “The fourth referee told me that it was because of the gestures. I am passionate but I respect them a lot. For me the expulsion was unnecessary and unfair. Let’s see what it says in the minutes…”, he slid over Sánchez Martínez’s writing.
Regarding Christensen’s injury in the warm-up, Xavi discovered that “Andreas has had discomfort in his Achilles.” To enter the eleven, he opted for Fermín, who scored 0-3. “We have chosen Fermín because he attacks spaces very well.”
The youth player is one of those who thinks that Barça is in its best moment of the season. “I think so. We are in good shape and we hope to extend it as much as possible. After reaching second place, we have to try to close the gap with the leadership,” he set himself as a goal.