Paraphrasing Sandro Rosell and his famous “I will not fail you” which he pronounced when he was elected president of Barça in 2010, Xavi Hernández has decided not to fail. But not in the direction of the team or in the management of the games, nor in personal treatment.
“I’m not going to talk anymore about the referees, I promised you and I can’t let you down,” he reiterated in the following press conference in which he took that oath. It was in Vitoria, after Barça beat Alavés and the Barça team, in the opinion of its coach, went out again harmed by an arbitration decision. That mistake by Juan Martínez Munuera did not cost him points – “another mistake”, Xavi emphasized -, but it cost him the loss of not being able to count on Vitor Roque in the match against Granada this Sunday (9 p.m.).
Vitor Roque, in training on Friday. / FCB
Two yellow cards in five minutes
Munuera sent off Vitor Roque by showing him two yellow cards in just five minutes. The referee did not see either action, since his back was turned. In the second, he wrote that Vitor Roque struck a “reckless blow.” The Competition Committee rejected Barça’s allegations with the video of the play and the Appeals Committee did not listen to the appeal.
“I already gave my opinion about the referees, and I’m not going to talk more about them. With all the education in the world, I’m not going to answer you,” Xavi explained calmly about the decisions of the two sanctioning committees and the different standards they have followed. with other footballers from other clubs.
The squad is preparing to start the preparatory session this Saturday. / Javi Ferrandiz
Live the day-to-day
In the same way that he does not rectify his public promise not to talk about the referees, he also does not rectify his intention to leave the bench at the end of the season. Even though there is a current that suggests that it could be reversed if the team finishes the course well.
Nothing has changed in his mood, although he continues to intervene and give his opinion on future decisions. “I have decided to focus on the day to day, I don’t even think about Vigo or Naples,” she said, alluding to the next league exit or the return of the Champions League.
Raphinha jokes with his teammates after receiving the medical discharge. / Javi Ferrandiz
Planning the future
“I have a friendly relationship with Deco and I will help him. “I want to help him and the club I love in every way I can,” said Xavi, who feels “just as motivated or more to finish the season well” after having announced his departure.
The day-to-day life that Xavi occupies brings Barcelona to Granada, a candidate for relegation due to its poor season. The reaction to the arrival of the new coach, Alexander ‘Cacique’ Medina, has not been significant in terms of results, but in the style of seeking them. “Granada has improved a lot in terms of defense and aggressiveness in winning duels,” Xavi valued, who is waiting for a rival locked behind.
Ter Stegen, in training this week. / FCB
Two comebacks
And he awaits it with fewer worries. Marc André ter Stegen, Barça’s captain, is going to reappear between the sticks, and Raphinha has been discharged. Oriol Romeu, with discomfort, must stop on medical recommendation and Andreas Christensen will continue to play as a midfielder.
Barça has an opportunity to close the gap on the lead with the Real Madrid-Girona duel. “One or both of them will leave points, and what we cannot do is fail like we failed on Villarreal’s day,” the coach highlighted.
2024-02-10 12:02:13
#Xavi #talk #referees #promised
