When Anthony Taylor, the referee who directed PSG-Barça, whistled the end of the game, Xavi Hernández quickly went to the locker room. "Euphoria? Yeah. But the fair one. We have only won the first half. Tuesday will be a war. If you lose 0-2, you're out. Barcelona is missing and we will suffer a lot. We are 1-0 at half-time and we have to finish it off,” Xavi told his players. The coach knows Luis Enrique well, a guy with personality and character who takes defeat especially badly and who currently directs a team designed by and to win the Champions League. The one from Terrassa spoke a week ago with the “chiefs of Qatar”, who a few years ago were also his. Is there money? Whoever they want. But in Qatar results are also demanded, they are no longer satisfied with winning Ligue 1.
Barça's sports leadership is very clear that PSG is a club that "wants the Champions League at all costs, just like Manchester City." And they give the example of Dembélé: “His price was 50 million. But if it had cost 100, they would have paid them the same,” they emphasize.
The cautionary speech that Xavi gave after the victory does not mean that the coach is not happy with what he has achieved. He has seen how in the last three months, since he announced his departure at the end of the course, something has changed. Emotionally, the footballers have taken a step forward. Also by a coaching staff whose physical trainers are the last to leave the sports city, planning and improving each individual plan. But above all they do it for themselves. As Raphinha explained, there was an internal conversation in which the captains spoke and they all agreed on their intention to take a step forward. Unconsciously they know that, with Xavi a foot and a half away from the club, they lose the shield that monopolized all the criticism. Also to a reference of Barcelona fans. And I don't like that. “When I think of Barça I think that it is the best club in the world. And when I go out I want to win just like Xavi did,” Pedri recalled in Paris.
The technicians praised the canary's work. One minute after he came on, he signed a magical assist for Raphinha to make it 2-1. They know that his technique and his talent, whether with the right or the left, are essential for this earthly Barça and with very young footballers. With Lamine Yamal, for example, we will seek to improve his speed so that in the future he can overcome footballers of Nuno Mendes' caliber. They also recognize in the locker room that having ten days to prepare for the game had been a gift from heaven. “The tactic was worked on for several days. We also did defensive, offensive and strategy work. Another day, the transitions; another, surveillance”...
Now it's the other way around. PSG is the one who has six days to focus on how to overcome the tie. On the contrary, Barça will try to make some rotation in Cádiz. In defense, Araújo had discomfort and Koundé accumulated more than 200 minutes. Yes, Christensen and Sergi Roberto will start, suspended for the return leg in Montjuïc, while Pedri will play at least 30 minutes to continue gaining pace. It is very possible that players like De Jong, who returned after injury, and Raphinha, who ended up exhausted, will also see their participation in the Cadista fiefdom reduced. Indeed, the Brazilian earned the congratulations of the entire team on Wednesday after scoring his first goals in the Champions League. The coaching staff believes that Raphinha's work is helping his talent shine. Also Christensen, who, coming off a corner served by Gündogan, scored the header to make it 3-2.
Without his two pivots available for Paris, Xavi will bet on Pedri, Gündogan and De Jong on Tuesday. And eternal trust in Lewandowski so that he can help, as he already did in Paris, to protect the ball and look for Lamine Yamal or Raphinha more. “This victory gives us prestige. When they score the second the easiest thing would have been to collapse. Regardless of whether we pass or not, it gives the feeling that you can play one on one,” Xavi reminded the players yesterday.
After training the coaching staff watched Atlético's match against Borussia Dortmund. They see the tie as very close. And President Laporta hugged Xavi like never before in the Parc des Princes and told him: “You are the best.”
