FC Barcelona will face Porto in their upcoming match in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. This will be Barcelona’s second match in the group stage after they comprehensively beat Royal Antwerp 5-0 in their first match.
Xavi has addressed several questions associated with this match and with Barcelona in general in his customary pre-match press conference ahead of the clash against Porto. The main highlights of Xavi’s presser are reproduced below:
On Barcelona’s chances of winning the UCL
Xavi’s presser began with a question about his team’s chances of winning the UEFA Champions League. Xavi was pretty positive about this aspect:
“We have many players who are a year older, more experienced, who have already won titles here. We have reinforced well, and in this competition, we hope to be at the level required by Barcelona. It’s an ideal scenario to prove it.”
Xavi was taking winning the Champions League as a task pending for the club:
“We have to play good football and compete. We haven’t done it in recent years; it’s our pending task, part of our project, and tomorrow is an ideal scenario to do it.”
Barcelona’s struggles in the UEFA Champions League were a repeating subject of this press conference:
“I think we need to reflect in general and stop holding onto this. We see ghosts in the Champions League, but we have players who have won a lot in the Champions League, like Gündogan and Cancelo, and we need to think positively. We have to compete and take a step forward through our game and impose our personality. It won’t be easy against Porto, but we have started well, we are leaders.”
When asked about the club’s recent experiences in the past, Xavi was still adamant that the team is not afraid of anything:
“No, as I said, I face it naturally, eagerly. These are positive challenges; we don’t have a sense of footballing fear. We arrive in a good moment and we will try to win. These are three points.”
While this topic reappeared several times in the press conference, Xavi was not tired of answering questions about the club’s ability to win the UCL:
“I am fine; I am not tired. I understand all scenarios, saying that this is the year, the pressure… but I am happy, very motivated, I see the players with spark and desire, and let’s see how it goes tomorrow.”
On Porto and the match tomorrow
On paper, Porto is the toughest team for Barcelona in its group, but Xavi was not too concerned with this matter at the moment:
“I don’t think about being first or second. I think about qualification, and these are three points. There’s no need to look beyond. It’s the most important because it’s immediate. Difficult, tough opponent, historic, in a spectacular stadium, and a stage for great footballers. Welcome to this scenario.”
Xavi also commented on Porto’s style of play and his own strategy to deal with these tactics:
“They like to have the ball but also defend well. They win many duels; they are strong in set-pieces… we have analyzed it and will try to compete in the best possible way.”
“Playing against five defenders is complicated, and it’s difficult to break through and create chances, but whatever they choose, we will play our football and try to do it well.”
Xavi reassured that his team was ready for a defensive structure from the Portuguese:
“They are very strong and fast in transitions, and we are prepared if they play with a back five.”
While Barcelona are favorites for this match, the Barcelona head coach still recognized that this Porto team was one that commands respect:
“I remember Porto with Jardel, the Champions League-winning Porto, and it’s a very strong team. Conceiçao is doing things very well, both in Europe and in their league, and it’s a historic team that we respect a lot.”
While Porto can be dangerous, Xavi insisted that he will be brave with his decisions and not take a cautious approach in this match:
“I consider myself an offensive and brave coach, and I shouldn’t change that. We need balance but, above all, we need to be brave and attack.”
On his desire to play and his 100 matches with Barcelona
Xavi is one of the most decorated and beloved of Barcelona players in history. Now guiding the team from the dugout, Xavi would still have loved to play in such an atmosphere:
“Of course, I would like to play. Everyone wants to play in such scenarios, in the Champions League… There are always opportunities and challenges, and Barcelona has to take advantage of them. Welcome this challenge.”
The match against Porto will see Xavi complete his 100th game in the FC Barcelona dugout. This is definitely a significant achievement for the former midfielder and this subject was also raised in the presser:
“I have learned not to get too euphoric when things go well and vice versa. I need emotional stability for myself and my players. This is football, and you can win or lose, but with a lot of competitiveness. I have learned to deal with everything more naturally.”
On his players and changes in the team
Fermin Lopez has seen his importance in the team increase in the last few matches. He has been surprising with his performances, and Xavi himself was surprised with the youngster’s abilities:
“He is part of the first team; he has earned it. He trains very well, is dynamic, I like him a lot, and he is a surprise to everyone. We didn’t count on him at the beginning of the season, but we saw him in training, and he is a player who can help us a lot. He has a high level, and if he believes in himself, he can be a Barcelona player for many years. He is ready to play tomorrow.”
Barcelona have a player on loan at Porto in Nico Gonzalez, who can make an appearance against his parent club tomorrow. Xavi commented on his development and potential:
“We rate him highly; he still needs to develop and needs minutes, and we believe his move to Porto could benefit him. Although there’s a lot of competition at Porto, I think he has the level.”
Lewandowski is one of the key players for Xavi and his contributions can be decisive in the club’s pursuit of the Champions League trophy. Xavi talked about his situation at the club:
“I talk a lot with him. He is dedicated, he tells me what he sees… last year, we didn’t compete, and everything happened to us, but it’s not an excuse anymore. We have to compete, at least to reach the round of 16.”
Former Real Madrid defender Pepe will not be able to play the match against Barcelona, and Porto have several other players absent as well. But Xavi did not believe these absences would impact the match too much:
“They have significant absences, so do we, but that’s not an excuse. They have players to cover the absences. It’ll be 11 against 11.”
Joao Felix will be returning to his home country and talked to the media before Xavi’s own press conference. Xavi praised several aspects of Felix’s game in this presser:
“In summary, he is happy, content, benefits from a position where he can enhance his talent, looks out for the team, and all his talent comes out. He is selfless and generous, and that’s why things are going well for him.”
Lamine Yamal is arguably the most exciting player this season for Barcelona, and Cules throughout the world wait to see him weave his magic on the pitch. Xavi has also been giving him good chances in the last few games but did not want him to be compared to Messi at this stage:
“We have experienced players and very young ones like Balde, Gavi, Lamine… and this mix makes the team flow. Experience matters, as well as the spontaneity and dynamism of the youth. Hopefully, Lamine will make his mark, but we’re not doing him a favor by talking about that and comparing him to Messi.”
Xavi has been going with a 4-3-3 formation since Felix got into the starting lineup and this system is expected to remain in the upcoming match as well. However, Xavi did not rule out going with four midfielders:
“Last year it gave us stability and confidence, and we might see it again, nothing new. A team with four midfielders can be seen at any moment.”
Source: Mundo Deportivo
