"It is not legal to condition anyone, not even the referees. We all look out for ourselves. But we have to let them work," said Xavi Hernández as soon as they brought up the Sevilla-Real Madrid hangover, resolved the day before. with a draw (1-1).
(Irritated by the refereeing of De Burgos Bengoetxea, Carlo Ancelotti, white coach, had declared: "If I say what I think, several games will fall and what I like most is sitting on the Madrid bench, so to avoid suspensions I don't say what what I think. That's why sometimes you have to use irony.")
Beyond that assessment, the Barça coach has declared himself satisfied with his team's performance and, above all, with the result: "It was a hard-fought victory. Athletic is very brave, they had their chances, but we have "We had three or four very clear chances. In the end, a local kid made the difference for us," he added, referring to Marc Guiu, scorer of the winning goal.
"I thought about him (Guiu) because of the goal, he has a spark, I personally like him and it is not difficult for me to look at what is at home. I told him that I would have one and I would put it in. When we see that they are ready, then on to the field. "They have personality and courage, and we must also have that courage, we must count on them, especially because we need them."
The intervention of the youth players in this season is fascinating the Barça coach, who sees the present and the future in all of them: "I am surprised that they are not scared. They look at me with a spark and desire... That look of desire, energy and positivity. I saw Gavi, Balde, Fermín and Marc. And many others who are below. The look is not one of fright, but of 'put me on now, I'm ready'. There is a very good generation, that of 2005 , 2006 and 2007, and we can count on her.
"I was also able to make my debut and score in my life. He is a striker and he did it 23 seconds after entering the field, on the first ball he touched," recalled the Barça coach.
"If you analyze the game, in the first half we did not know how to get out of their high pressure. We did not understand it in that period, but then, yes. It was difficult for us to find the patience to play in the opposite field, but in the end we did it. We have achieved it. Both teams have ended up with cramps, imagine the effort that has been there," he said as a summary of the victory.
He has also ruled out Koundé and Sergi Roberto for the Classic. "They don't arrive," he said. Who he has not ruled out is Frenkie de Jong, still affected.
