For Xavi Hernández this League is not getting long. Quite the opposite. He is enjoying it watching his Barça lead the table. "Last season it was an eternity when we were fighting to finish second. Now I see the classification and I'm happy. I'm having a good time in this League. Who wouldn't have signed this?" reflected the coach in the prelude to the game. against Betis.
With an eleven-point advantage over Real Madrid, the coach did acknowledge that he would like to see a more competitive Barcelona in the last seven days remaining before the end of the domestic championship. "The other day in Vallecas we played the worst game of the season in terms of values such as sacrifice and football. I have spoken with the players. That the pursuer lost the day before makes you relax when it should be a motivating aspect. The game against Betis tomorrow is a good opportunity. You have to always be hungry to win," he said, warning of the dangers of the team coached by Pellegrini. "It is a team that is clear about what it is playing for. It has technical quality in all its ranks."
For this game, Xavi Hernández recovers the Danish central defender Andreas Christensen, whom he defines as "a personal signing, mine. We have missed him. On the defensive line he is always aware of what can happen and he is a total guarantee". The long-awaited Ousmane Dembélé, injured since January 28, also returns to the list. An injury to the rectus femoris of his left leg was detected against Girona in Montilivi and he was scheduled to be out for a month and a half.
Due to his history of slow-healing injuries, the Frenchman finally received a medical discharge three months later. "The injury was in a kick zone that is more difficult to heal. He has very good feelings, we'll see if he starts or kicks in", said Xavi. The coach is still just as dazzled by the French. "We don't have anyone who improves one on one. He is the most unbalancing footballer in the squad. So yes, of course we have missed him. You can do a survey on the sides to see who they prefer to score, Dembélé or another. It is differential," he claimed.
From Raphinha, his replacement during these three months, the coach also had good words. "Rafa is having a good season, with goals and hard work. He is very perfectionist and sometimes has that point of frustration. He always works and with the right predisposition to succeed. In his first year at Barça he is having a great season", he pointed out.
He does not receive the same praise from Ansu Fati, who has practically disappeared in recent games. "Ansu Fati has competition, he is at Barça and now I think Raphinha and Ferran Torres are better. And Robert Lewandowski is a guarantee", he pointed out. Competition is also Pablo Torre's great obstacle. "The same thing happens to Ansu. But it's false that he doesn't work, that he has a bad attitude or bad habits. Pablo is an example in the dressing room. He works a lot and is very loved in the dressing room. But he has a lot of competition," he said.
And from forwards or footballers who are part of the first team squad to others who could arrive. This week a meeting was held in LaLiga to discuss the issue of financial fair play and the feasibility plan presented by FC Barcelona, which includes, among others, Leo Messi. "The meeting between Mateu Alemany and LaLiga is not only for the possible arrival of Leo, it is to improve next year's squad. But now it is not an important issue, there is a League to win. Mateu informs us and in theory everything is going good," he said.
Next season, with or without Messi, the first team will play on Montjuïc, the stage where Bruce Springsteen is performing this weekend. "Bruce I would like to go, but I don't have tickets," joked the coach. As for Montjuïc, this week the club presented the new ticket management model and the mobility plan to access the Olympic mountain. In their plan, the Laporta board of directors significantly reduces the number of subscribers and raises prices. "There may be fewer members and subscribers, but Barça goes wherever and the field is full. What we have to try is to generate that illusion", reflected the Barcelona coach.
Finally, the coach had words of praise for Joaquín, a Betic footballer who announced that this is his last year. He hangs up the boots. "I always thought that Joaquín could have played for Barça. He could have adapted to our philosophy. But beyond that he is a happy and good person. The best memory is his smile".
