As the last international break of the 2023-24 season comes to an end, FC Barcelona will return to action in La Liga with their match against Las Palmas this Saturday.
Xavi will be hoping to continue with the same form that his team was showing prior to the international break, as the Catalan dominated one of the toughest teams in La Liga, Atletico Madrid, at their own home, after having progressed to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League after beating Napoli 4-2 on aggregate.
Two of the players who contributed significantly to these successes for the Catalan club were the youngsters Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal. Both of these La Masia graduates shone against top-class opposition, despite not even being 18 years of age yet.
With their incredible performances, this duo has been gathering praise from throughout the footballing world. As Mundo Deportivo has noted, their head coach, Xavi Hernandez, was the latest to speak highly of them as he addressed a press conference ahead of the match against Las Palmas.
Talking about the duo, Xavi outlined the aspect that both of these players should be looking to work on
“The next step for both of them (after being called up to the national team) is to maintain this level. Barcelona is the biggest stage in the world of football, just like the national team. It’s about sustaining it, having the challenge of staying at the elite level for many years.”
“They have everything to do it. The mentality, the skills… I believe we are witnessing two players who have everything to leave a mark, not only at the club but also at the global level.”
The former Barcelona midfielder also praised Lamine Yamal for the way that he holds himself against vastly more experienced players:
“I see him very calm. Very measured in the sense that he is managing everything that is happening to him very well, despite his young age. He is a mature person, responsible, aware of the situation he is experiencing.”
“He is very humble and is proving to be a different and differential player. A player destined to make history in this football, especially at Barça, and hopefully, we can always enjoy him at this level.”
While admitting that Lamine Yamal is a special player, Xavi disclosed that there was no special training regime for him: “Nothing different from the rest, we make videos, do specific work, physical strength training. He’s a teenager who is still growing.”
“Mentally, he’s a cheerful, joking boy who is handling what’s happening to him very well. Also, he’s enjoying himself, he’s content, and he’s happy. The team is helping him, and he’s helping us. I see him happy, it’s all positive.”
