After qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Cup, Barcelona has two games ahead of it, two outings (it has not yet played in Montjuïc in 2024) in four days, which can mark its aspirations this season. This Sunday at Villamarín and Wednesday at San Mamés, staying alive is played in two tournaments. But Xavi believes that the situation must be approached differently. “There is a lack of positivity in the Barça environment. It's what's missing the most. But I already counteract it,” he said, being optimistic.
“I guess it's because of history, because we are Catalans…” the coach continued with his reasoning. “Yes, Betis and Athletic are coming. Well yes, I see it as an opportunity. We do have a high level of demand but we lack positivity,” he lamented.
Xavi cannot forget that his team can still fight for the three most important competitions. “We begin the second round of the League with all the enthusiasm in the world. We are at a disadvantage against Girona and Madrid but we think it can be overcome,” he said before traveling to Seville. The coach recalled that “last year we were five points ahead and they told us we could lose the League. We are optimistic that it can be overcome. We believe because the entire second round remains.”
The Egarense avoided deciding where Barça has more options, whether in the League or the Cup. “We cannot rule out either of the two. Let's go for both. And in February the Champions League returns. You have to win games by convincing. Everything is at stake and we want to compete for all the titles,” he promised.
In that sense, Xavi gave Ferran Torres as an example of a good mentality, who "he only embodies what a mentally strong footballer is and what a Barça player should be." “On a daily basis here they make you feel small, that you are worthless, as a coach, as a player, as a doctor or as a press officer. It's a shame but that's how it is,” he insisted. And about the Valencian he revealed that in the summer “he wrote me a very important message and there I saw that the kid would turn the tables. He has 8 goals, which is a lot.”
The Barcelona coach considers that there is merit in fighting with so many casualties and pulling from the youth team and regrets that the positive points that the team has are not seen, although he despairs. “In the last pass it is difficult for us to choose well. I despair because I already see the pass, which was my specialty, and I see that it does not happen. We have young players. The other day there were 13 youth players in the squad and I haven't seen any news about this. We are playing with a lot of 17-18 year olds. They have killed me for saying that we are under construction. That's why I say there's a lack of positivity in the environment. I wake up positive because they have made me be like that. Failure would be not trying, and we will try,” he pointed out.
