Xavi Hernandez revealed that Barca‘s players are eager to respond after their latest defeat to Girona, even though the Azulgrana have already clinched their place in the knockout stages.
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has revealed that the players are eager to respond after Sunday’s loss to Girona. Before facing Antwerp in the final game of the Champions League group stage this Wednesday, according to a report from Mundo Deportivo on Tuesday ทางเข้า UFABET
‘We’re focused on controlling the players and getting away from things we can’t control. Many of my assistants are from Barcelona and have played football. Since we are in Qatar So I tell them to get ready because the challenge is huge.’
‘You will feel very tired but this is Barcelona, we focus on what we can control. We do our best work as professionals and employees.’
Xavi also mentioned the defeat against Girona in the latest game.
‘There has been criticism from outside the dressing room and behind closed doors. They were angry because it was a match where we controlled and played better than Girona. It was similar to the Madrid game.’
‘The dressing room was angry and eager to respond. We have done this many times. And we want to respond tomorrow. It’s an important game even though we’ve made it to the round of 16.’
Asked if Barcelona were rebuilding, Xavi replied: ‘What I want to say is that we have to improve. We are in the process of rebuilding. Because we have been competing in the Europa League for two years now, this is Barcelona, I am not asking for time. I’m talking about a rebuild in terms of the game. We’re halfway to making Barcelona great again.’
Xavi also spoke of the support he received from Antwerp’s coach, Mark van Bommel, a former team-mate. ‘Van Bommel understands me, he is a person who sympathizes with others. I have a very good relationship with him. He’s a great teammate.’
‘He has the leadership to be a great coach. He doesn’t have an easy group. Maybe they expected something more. But he is doing very important work in Antwerp.’
‘He wins, he wants to win, he tries to play football. He is a very good coach. And he will be a very good coach in the future.’