FC Barcelona are back in action after the Christmas break, as Xavi’s men will be traveling to the Canary Islands to face Las Palmas on matchday 19 of La Liga.
The Catalans will be looking to improve the form that they have shown in the last few months, which has resulted in them trailing the league leaders Real Madrid by seven points.
Xavi talked to the media ahead of this match in his customary press conference and addressed different subjects related to the club and this match in particular, including Vitor Roque, his talk to the team in the match against Alaves, Aleix Garcia, Frenkie de Jong, etc.
The main highlights of this press conference are as follows:
On the match against Las Palmas
“A tough match ahead, and I believe Girona is the surprise team of the season. They have a great coach and play a fantastic style of football, doing an excellent job. I hold him in high regard and wish him the best. It’ll be a battle for possession and control. Perhaps their offensive approach might benefit us.
The break has been good for us, actions speak louder than words; it’s time to show continuity in our game.”
On Vitor Roque
“He is missing the registration process. He’ll be on the squad list. We hope to have him available.”
“He’s very young, I see him ready. He’s in good shape physically, he’s taken care of himself. A lot of professionalism, a lot of desire, but we’ll proceed with caution. He’s adapted well to the group.”
On his hard-talk before the break
“I don’t see this match as a barometer. I’m taking these remaining months of competition to assess the dynamics. The break was good to disconnect. I’m not one to convey messages through the press, but I think the scolding from the last match was necessary, and I believe it worked well.”
“The team picked up in the second half. I think we needed to speak clearly and decisively, and the players are aligned with the staff. They understood it, there was a different face in the second half, and hopefully, we’ll see a Barça like the one in the second half.”
On Aleix Garcia
“I did mention I liked him, but I haven’t spoken, I’m not sure if we’ll be able to bring in any more players. We’ll see what the club is capable of doing. For now, there’s no news, I’m in constant conversation with the president and Deco.”
On Inigo Martinez
“Tomorrow he won’t be available against Las Palmas.”
On his wishes for the new year
“Success, just as I asked for last year. Health, happiness, that the players have a good time, but above all, winning.”
On Pedri
“He’s doing well, feeling good. Hopefully, he can join us sooner rather than later, but he’s upbeat and happy.”
On team’s efficiency in front of goal
“Often the result is deceiving. I believe that results will come through our style of play. Our defensive mistakes and lack of effectiveness in attack are hurting us. We need to aim to play games like we did against Real Madrid for the full 90 minutes.”
On meritocracy in the team
“It’s in the past now. I can’t treat one player differently from another, otherwise the group won’t function well. The last match was an example of that tension between both sides. It’s nothing new.”
On compatibility between Lewandowski and Roque
“Yes, Vitor can adapt to any attacking position. As for the scolding, perhaps it received more attention, but it was more of a collective issue.”
On Messinho
“I’ve seen very little of him; at the moment, we’re not focused on these players. Tomorrow, we have an important match. You’re asking about names, but I can’t provide much information.”
On his ideal player
“That’s a tough one, you’re putting me in a spot. If you add Iniesta and me? Well, then, that’s good! That’s how I’d go about it (laughs).”
On Vitor Roque’s adaptation
“It’s been quite straightforward. Bojan, Raphinha, Araujo. We’ve already shown him videos to help him adapt as quickly as possible.”
On Haaland or Mbappe
“We’re not in a position to consider these kinds of signings, unfortunately. I’ll stick with the players I have; we need to reach excellence. It’s going to be a tough season, and we’ll need stability and unity. I believe we’ve done things very well, and hopefully, we can replicate last season. I still think we’re on the right track.”
On Frenkie de Jong
“He’s very demanding of himself. He has undergone a tremendous change, in terms of maturity and playing level. We’ve found a position that suits his abilities perfectly, and when he’s not there, it’s noticeable. He doesn’t shy away from the ball, he has leadership qualities… he’s very important and one of the best in the world.”
On defensive problems
“I’m more concerned about the defensive aspect. Even if we score two or three goals, we haven’t won, especially due to our defensive performance. We’re conceding too much.”
On ability to compete for all the titles
“Absolutely yes, we did it last year. I’m convinced we can fight for our goals in the remaining four to five months of this season.”
On Las Palmas
“Creating chances, in the last few games in the league, we’ve had over 30 shots. It’s going to be a highly competitive match. García Pimienta’s team works hard. Álvaro Vallés is the goalkeeper with the most saves, so we’ll try to create a lot, just like they will.”
On Julian Araujo
“We positively evaluate Julián’s performance. Bojan is keeping track of the loaned players, and he’s one of those performing positively. He’s not only playing well but also showing great personality. He’s having a fantastic season, and I’m happy for him.”
Source: Mundo Deportivo
