He arrived to change the dynamics of a team mired in a big bump in results, but Dani Alves, despite his good work at 39 years old, has not been able to prevent Barça from finishing in second position, far from fighting for the League title with Real Madrid, and who closed the season at the Camp Nou with a bland defeat against Villarreal (0-2).
"A little sad for the result, for not responding to the support of the people. We have to reflect, and next season change the mentality. Put more strength on the pitch. We are representing a club with a great history. We cannot reach the end of the season without aspirations. We hope to come back with another spirit", the Brazilian told Barça TV.
The winger assures that within the team they are "very demanding" and the objective is always "to go for more". To do this, Alves indicated that the Catalans must "be more stable during the season, have more consistency and be more balanced." "That's what makes you fight for titles," pointed out the veteran defender, a regular starter since his arrival ahead of Sergiño Dest.
Alves arrived in the middle of the season with a minimum salary and with two objectives: to help Barça and maintain a competitive tone to arrive in the best shape for the World Cup in Qatar in November. However, his contract ends on June 30. "I only live in the present, the future is unknown. My wish is to continue helping the club, but it doesn't depend on me," he said about it.
"I have left my spirit to try to change the mentality, that the team has a competitive spirit. I always do my best. That is how I live it. I am happy with my dedication this season. Hopefully I can continue next season and if not 100% grateful to all the people who have allowed me to return to Barça," he added.
In the same way as Alves, the Barça coach, Xavi Hernández, arrived with the season underway. "I came at a difficult, difficult moment. I am satisfied on a personal level. We have improved, but not enough for the club's demands, because of how we have to play", valued the player from Terrassa, although celebrating that the team has reached " minimum goal" of finishing second.
"We have to be more solvent and constant. More reliable in the game. We have also been through everything: injuries, covid outbreaks. We have saved a season that could have been disastrous. From now on to work", insisted Xavi, who for another part recognized the fatigue with which his pupils have reached the final stretch of the course: "The team has made a very strong mental effort since November. Now the season was weighing on us".
For a moment, the player from Egar had "expectations" of winning titles and despite not lifting any trophies, he explained that "it's not a good season, but it's not a negative one either." "We have to make a positive balance taking into account where we come from and where we are", summed up a Xavi who assigned duties to the board: "Now it's time to work in the offices, which is even more important than football work. We have to reinforce well, because if we don't we won't be able to compete. We can't be another year in white".
Regarding the defeat against Villarreal at the end of the season, Xavi assured that he ended up dissatisfied with the failures of his players in the goals: "The second is a resounding mistake and the first is a mark. We could have scored, but if we don't minimize errors , you end up paying for it".
"We wanted to finish well against a great rival. It's a shame the game. For me it's a false result. We had a good first half and they scored with the first shot. The second they scored because of our mistake", analyzed Ronald Araújo. , which encouraged the culé fans to "stay with the good" of the season".
"You have to remember to learn the bad things. We played great games, at the Bernabeu, in Naples... Personally, I'm very happy, also with the renewal. We're going to have a great season next year. We'll have a great preseason and we'll have more time to work with the coach", predicted the Uruguayan about the next course.
Check the classification of the Santander League.
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