It seemed like one more game, almost a procedure against a bottom and evicted Elche, but for Xavi Hernández it was a special day, a game that confirmed the cohesion in the Barça dressing room. The Egarense coach highlighted the strength of the "group", a team he came to call "family" after a win at the Martínez Valero that leaves the blaugrana a little closer to the league title (0-4).
"Very happy for the team in general. They have played players who have not participated much this season and have performed at a great level. This is a team. A family victory. I'm happy, for the team, for the group", praised the coach, who defined as a "round night" the passage of his pupils through the house of the Elche club, to which he also dedicated good words: "Elche has worked well but so have we. Whoever plays is at a high level".
Among the few regulars who played, regulars on the bench throughout the course, he highlighted an Eric Garcia who acted as a defensive pivot instead of a central defender and Ansu Fati, author of the second goal and news in recent days due to the controversial statements by his father . "I have told him that he should play calmly. We have a pivot. He has all the conditions to play in this position," he said of the Catalan, while the Spanish-Guinean man stressed that "the forwards live on goals."
"The players from above have given us a lot. They have a very good predisposition and that goes very well for the coach", Xavi praised the offensive line in general, surrendering to the attitude of the dressing room: "People have an involvement that excites from inside".
Despite the rival's position, the man from Terrassa warned his players before the duel. "Fortunately or unfortunately, we had the defeat in Almería in mind and we were coming from the national team break, which is always complicated. The team has taken a step forward. It is an important step to achieve the objective," said Xavi of his team, with 15 points rent in the absence of 11 days on Real Madrid, which has yet to play its match this day.
"But this is not over, we have to continue. Enjoy today and tomorrow to think about the Cup semifinal," recalled the coach about Barça's next appointment: the second leg of the semifinal against Real Madrid next Wednesday at the Camp Nou, where they will have to defend the income harvested in the first leg (0-1).
Barça will face the fifth clásico of the season with the more than likely losses of Dembélé, Pedri, Christensen and the most doubtful is Frenkie De Jong. "It will depend on his feelings," Xavi concluded about the presence of the Dutchman against the Whites with a smile from ear to ear after a game that, a priori, was not marked in red on the calendar.
Consult all the results of the Santander League.
