Xavi Hernandez will take his FC Barcelona team to their first really decisive match of the season tomorrow as the Catalans face Real Madrid in the final of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Barcelona are the defending champions and will be looking to retain the title this season as well after having progressed to the final with a comfortable win over Osasuna. However, Real Madrid are also in very good form, as they come after a 5-3 win over Atletico Madrid.
Ahead of this match, Xavi talked to the press about different matters related to the club and this match in particular. The Barcelona head coach addressed questions about the last year’s match against Real Madrid, the team’s form, and some players in particular.
The main highlights from the presser are as follows:
Xavi began his press conference with comments on how the team will be going into this decisive match against their traditional rivals:
“The team is very motivated, very excited; it’s the ideal scenario for a footballer—a Supercopa final against Madrid in a Clásico, a perfect setting. We’ll try to play a great game, following the example of last season. It’s the ideal game we have to play—impose ourselves with our style, dominate with the ball.
We arrive slightly less in form than Madrid, that’s the reality, and we have to be honest, but once the ball starts rolling, there are no favorites. We have to enjoy it. We are where we wanted to be, in the final of the first title of the season.”
“I work in general, not thinking about who will play but about who will occupy the position and what the one in that position has to do. I don’t work individually but as a group so that everyone is prepared to participate and knows what we want in each position.”
The head coach also provided some hints on what approach Barcelona will be looking to take in this match:
“It doesn’t depend on Pedri whether I play with four midfielders or not. He’s at 100%, and we’ll see the names. I have a clear idea; the identity has to be ours. Barça DNA, taking the ball away from Madrid.
The idea doesn’t change even if we play with four midfielders or three. It’s about fixing, triangulations, numerical superiority. A DNA that Johan Cruyff instilled 30 years ago. Last year, we were very proud of Barça in the final, and this is the path we’re looking for. True to Cruyffism.”
Xavi also took this opportunity to express that his team not always gotten the results that it deserved, but he will remain faithful to Barcelona’s way of playing:
“When has Barça won without deserving it? The opposite has happened to us, that we haven’t won when we deserved to. I don’t remember many games. Perhaps this year away to Real Sociedad, one in 200, but the opposite doesn’t usually happen to us.
Play well, control the game, and we have the example from last year. I insist, faithful to Cruyffism and identity. We will insist on how even though there may be moments when it doesn’t work out.”
The head coach did not believe that playing half an hour of extra time in their match against Atletico Madrid would impact the merengues too much in the final:
“There isn’t much importance in the difference in days of rest. They had an extra time. Last year, we were in a similar situation, played against Betis after extra time, and it turned out to be our best game in the last two years. I don’t think it’s an excuse.”
Raphinha went out with an injury in the last match, and Xavi provided an update on when he will be able to return:
“Raphinha will probably be available for the Champions League match. I have a clear idea of the plan and the names. It won’t change. We need to impose our personality against Madrid. Hopefully, we can have a game similar to last season.”
Xavi refrained from giving a more specific response on Araujo’s position, but ensured that the Uruguayan would play an important role in tomorrow’s match:
“I can’t give hints because that would help Ancelotti. You will see it tomorrow. Araujo, wherever he plays, is a guarantee. Defensively and how he has improved with the ball. How he divides, how he fixes. He has improved a lot with the ball since we took charge.”
Xavi once again recalled how good his team has performed against some very difficult teams this season, and claimed that his current team was better than the one he had at his disposal last season:
“This year we have played very well against Sevilla, Athletic, Real Madrid, even losing where we deserved much more. We have played very good football this season, I would say better than last year, but one thing is what you analyze and another is what I see.
We need to replicate the game from many moments of the season like against Porto, some moments against Girona. We need to have personality and dominate.”
The Barcelona head coach confessed that his team has been studying the last year’s match against Real Madrid, but was aware that some things have changed this season:
“We watched last year’s match a couple or three times because not everything was perfect, but this year changes, the players change, Madrid has changed the system, they attack spaces, they practically play with four midfielders… they have changed compared to last year.”
Xavi also had an interesting insight to share about the relationship between Barcelona and Real Madrid:
“I have the feeling that Madrid is stronger when Barça is stronger. Since I’ve been in charge, if we’ve won any titles, we’ve had to go through Real Madrid. Last year in the final, in La Liga we had to beat them, otherwise they would be six points ahead, then they didn’t get eliminated from the Copa.
They react when they see a strong Barça. Everything is very balanced, in terms of titles as well. Last year we won two titles and this year we’re fighting for this title. They are stronger when we are stronger.”
Playing against Real Madrid was an extra motivation for himself and his team, claimed Xavi:
“I’m playing for a title, I arrive more relaxed than last year, we’ve won, we’ve shown it’s a winning project, two titles were won, and I come with more tranquility, more experience. Madrid always has hunger, I remember the best Barça in history where we had to go to the Bernabéu to win 2-6 because otherwise, they would be just one point behind.
Madrid improves when they see a strong Barça, and they are seeing it. Facing Madrid in the Supercopa final is highly motivating, and we will give everything to win this title.”
Lamine Yamal was one of the most influential players for Barcelona in the match against Osasuna, and Xavi praised the youngster in this presser:
“I would ask him to continue showing what he has been demonstrating – boldness, talent, quality, no matter who the opponent is. He is young, but the stage won’t weigh him down because he has the boldness to make a difference even as a teenager.”
Balde was another player Xavi believed Madrid will be wary about in particular:
“The other day he played at less than full capacity but he held up. He’s giving us a lot, and he will continue to do so. Whether on the wing or through the middle, with his attacking runs. Madrid will surely be wary of Balde; the opponent knows we have a lot of potential on this left flank.”
About his Real Madrid counterpart, Xavi only had good things to say and mentioned the similarities and differences between his own and Ancelotti’s styles:
“I definitely haven’t underestimated him; quite the opposite. He seems to be one of the best coaches in the world and in history, as evidenced by his track record. He has succeeded in every country he has been in, leaving a mark. You’ll hardly find anyone speaking ill of Ancelotti. He’s a gentleman, and I have extraordinary respect for him.
Similarities? Just like we were both midfielders and saw football the same way, but our ideas and systems are different.”
Although it was Jude Bellingham who made the difference for Real Madrid in the last El Clasico, Xavi claimed that his team will not be focusing on any one player in particular:
“We don’t focus on one player because we’d go crazy. They all have an extraordinary level. Vinicius, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Modric, Tchouameni… it’s Real Madrid. Bellingham is an extraordinary player and is making a difference arriving from the second line, as in the Clásico.”
Lastly, the former midfielder also commented on the foreign venue for the Spanish Super Cup:
“We are very happy to be here, we have always been treated very well, and I believe Saudi football will improve a lot in the coming years.”
Source: Mundo Deportivo
