Barcelona beat Porto and reached the second round of the Champions League. Now we need to redirect the trajectory in the League. And nothing like a visit from Simeone's Atlético, the quintessential antagonist of the Barcelona style, for Xavi's team to show what their current moment is. “We cannot say that we are in our best moment of the season. It is evidence,” acknowledges the Barça coach. “The team has suffered a decline in the game and the expected results did not come, they go hand in hand,” he resolved.
Atlético, who have not won at Barcelona since 2006, are the owners of João Félix, who plays on loan for Barça. “It should serve as extra motivation. Like being from Benfica and playing against Porto, a match in which he gave us an important victory,” he harangued him. It will be the first time they see each other's faces. Xavi defended the Portuguese forward from the messages and darts of inconstancy that came to him from the mattress club. “Of course it's a stick,” he said in reference to Simeone's own words. “But here we are very happy. I can only speak from what I have seen. From day one he has been hard-working, dynamic, a joker, he has adapted very well to the group. We have no complaints,” he said.
Xavi has won his three duels against Simeone, both last season by 1-0. But this Atlético has taken a leap. “He is a super rival,” the Terrassa coach catalogs him. “We consider him a direct rival to win titles,” he added. And he highlighted Morata and Griezmann, “a forward in great shape and at world level.”
The Egarense is clear that the key to the red and white renewal is Simeone himself. “Every day I spend as a coach I have more respect for Cholo and everything he has achieved. He has changed the history of his club and has a lot of merit. He has been adapting to what he has, now to players with a more technical profile. “Everyone is involved and plugged in and that is the greatness of him,” he dedicated to her.
Given the importance of the match, Joan Laporta was at Barcelona's last training session. “From time to time he comes. It goes down quite a bit. It has encouraged us. He shows confidence in the project, the players and us. Whenever he comes, it is a joy and it is a pleasure to listen to the president,” said Xavi, who assures that he never felt that his position was at stake.
Xavi continues without being able to have Ter Stegen, suffering from low back pain. “He has tried it and has discomfort. We'll see next week. He is sad because he is one of the captains and suffers when he is not there,” he revealed. He will repeat Iñaki Peña, for the third game in a row. The coach played down the statements of Koundé and Araújo, that both prefer to play as a center back and not as a winger. “The problem will be for the selectors because with their countries they play as a winger. With me they play central and some fall on the wing when we defend. They play where their coach says, both of them,” he said.
Finally, Barcelona trusts in the Pedri-De Jong-Gündogan triangle to dominate the match. Lewandowski should be in charge of the goals, who is focused on improving his numbers. “Robert is a machine at that. He doesn't stop working. Every day he improves his finishing. He is practically a robot who trains and trains. There is no doubt about him: he is Lewandowski, he is our best forward player. You have to nourish it more. It's a matter of time. Two games ago he scored two goals. He doesn't worry me. I am worried about generating more,” concluded Xavi.
