BarcelonaBarça coach Xavi Hernández appeared at a press conference in the preview of the match that his team will play against Eintracht Frankfurt, corresponding to the return of the quarterfinals of the Europa League. Egarenc urged his players to take a positive step in relation to the first leg, measured the level of the Spanish League, recalled Barça’s history from Cruyff and questioned the participation of Gerard Piqué to tomorrow’s match (9pm, Movistar Champions League).
Improve on the go. “We have to be more neat and responsible with the ball, avoid losses. Reviewing the videos we have seen. The grass will help us, it will be good, not like there. We will no longer have this excuse. In general we have to be better. to minimize transitions and, if there are any, we need to stop them.
Piqué, doubt until the end. “It depends on his feelings. He has the commitment, he wants to be there. We’ll see how he feels. It depends on whether he’s in pain. If he’s not 100% for a game of this level, it will be difficult for him to be there.” .
Term with Ansu Fati. “We don’t hide anything. He is training very well. Today, for example, he has done definition exercises with maximum speeds for him. He is already doing the sessions 100% with us. He already sees that he is a footballer again, but set deadlines, it will depend on your feelings “.
Watch Madrid’s successes on TV. “It must hurt us to watch the Champions League matches at home. Now it’s our turn to play in the Europa League and we have to compete to win it.”
Prioritize style. “We don’t have to win 1-0 in stoppage time. That’s why Barça is the most difficult and demanding club in the world. History forces us to win by playing well.”
The League, at the level of the Premier. “The league is not so far from the Premier League. At the moment, there are two Spanish teams in the semi-finals of the Champions League. I saw both games (Madrid and Villarreal), yes. Our goal is to be the year that comes in this competition to play against these teams “.
The Eintracht will move many Germans to the Camp Nou. “For them, it means almost the most important game in their history. We have to match their great motivation to play against us.”
Lewandowski, Barça’s goal? “I understand the question, but it’s not the time to talk about possible signings, even though we know Lewandowski is a great player.”
Barça’s demand for Madrid’s. “We don’t look at Madrid to demand more or less. We look at our history. Madrid, although I don’t know much about its history, is a spectacular rival, but Barça is something else. When Johan Cruyff arrived It made us raise the bar. Now, if we don’t win by playing well, we’re not happy. Catalans are like that. “
Eric Garcia, “dead” with Xavi’s ideas
Xavi’s role in improving the team. “The union he has created within the team has been based on ideas, we have gone to death with them. It is no coincidence that winning games in the 90th minute. Xavi brings us many solutions, also for matches that are complicating our lives the last days “.
There is no relaxation. “Rivals are adapting a lot to us. And that speaks well of the team, of how we’re doing things. I don’t think it’s at all because we’re relaxing. On the contrary, we have to look for solutions.”
It is an honor to play with Piqué. “I’ve always been a fan of his, I’ve been to the field a lot to see him and now it’s a privilege for me to play alongside him. The national team? You should ask him.”
Ask for people’s support. “We are obliged to win every game. Representing this club means always trying to win. I hope the fans support us. Tomorrow is a European night and I hope people will support us.”
The difference is not physical. “The teams are getting better with the ball. The physical level is high, yes, but I think the difference is in the ball. The other day Levante, in the league, tried to take us in the first half.” .
Araujo, an “animal”. “Ronald has been proving for a year and a half how central he is. He is an animal, a very fast player … Perfect for the type of game we want to play at Barça.”
