Xavi on Barca - Manchester United: 'The most difficult opponent we could get'

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Xavi on Barca - Manchester United: 'The most difficult opponent we could get'
Barcelona head coach Xavi
Barcelona head coach Xavi
AFP
FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez (42) was resigned to the bad luck his side had in the Europa League draw, which saw them face Manchester United in the last 16. Despite this, the Catalan wanted to see the positive side and commented that this challenge will make his players "more motivated" to face a great rival. In addition, the coach also praised the difficulty of the LaLiga match against Osasuna, whom he praised for their good start to the season, and denied that his players will be playing in fear of injury ahead of the imminent World Cup in Qatar.

On the match against Osasuna in the league and Manchester United in the Europa League

"The draw has given us the most difficult opponent again. I don't know if we'll be lucky, but on paper it was the toughest opponent we could have been drawn against. We will have to compete, to go to Manchester against a great historic rival. They have grown a lot with the arrival of Ten Hag. They have great players and they are doing very well. Against Osasuna, they will be an intense, difficult opponent who are doing very well. Jagoba is working very well in defence and attack. They are in a great moment of form as you can see in the standings. They're strong at home, it's difficult at their stadium but we're in good form, especially in LaLiga. We want the three points to finish well before the World Cup."

Champions League and Europa League, cruel to Barça

"In football matters, yes, we've been unlucky with the draws. But we're going to compete, it's a challenge for us. The players will be even more motivated against a strong opponent."

Favourites to win the Europa League

"That's up to the press and the bookmakers. We will try to compete on the pitch knowing that it won't be easy against a historic opponent. It would also have been difficult against another opponent, but a priori it is the most difficult."

On the obligation to win the Europa League

"There is always a rival who also has the obligation, so there are some who come off badly. We are going to compete and analyse Manchester. We have a different job. We're going to try, it's a challenge because the club has never won the Europa League."

What grade do you give yourself after a year in charge?

"The press will have to give me a grade. The balance would be half a year in which we arrived in a very difficult situation and achieved the objective of getting into the Champions League. And this half year in which, despite not starting well in the Champions League, we are doing well in LaLiga. We'll see at the end of the season, but the balance is positive. We have an identity, a clear model of play, the team is growing and that's what I'm sticking with, but the results will tell, although I think we're on the right track."

What will happen with Araújo and the World Cup?

"We have spoken and are in constant communication with all the federations that have our players. With Uruguay there is very fluid communication and a good relationship. We will decide together. The most important thing is that the player feels well, that he is 100% and that he recovers well because for them and for us, he is an important player."

On whether Araújo is likely to be medically cleared for the World Cup

"We'll see how he feels, he's in charge. If he says he's fine, it's because he feels that way, and the other way around, too. In the end it's a matter of talking it over and reaching a consensus with the Uruguayan doctors and our doctors. It is important to have good communication."

How important would it be psychologically to get the win?

"It's always important. When you don't win it's always negative at Can Barça. It's important to finish well before the World Cup. We have sensational numbers in LaLiga and we want to show that we will fight until the end."

Cristiano Ronaldo's underperformance

"They have great individuals, but I would highlight the group. Ten Hag is doing well. We have to analyse it well because they are a great team. Not only because of Cristiano and other great players, but we're up against a great historical team that also needs to win. We are both great teams and we will challenge each other on the pitch."

On whether Cristiano is in decline

"I think he is a great player who has marked an era in world football and who can still make a difference."

What he will do with the non-internationals

"They will have a holiday, we'll see how many days. It's positive for those who won't be going to the World Cup, who have put in a lot of hard work. We have plenty of time and we will start training at the end of November or the beginning of December. We will have almost a month to do almost a pre-season for those players, but we will give them a few days."

The hotseat that is Barcelona bench

"It's not easy being coach of Barça, but I'm coping quite well. I knew the difficulty of the challenge and the situation of the club. But I am calm, we are doing a good job and the team has grown, which was the objective. The objective remains the same, which is to win titles. Last year the goal was to put things in order and save the season by being in the Champions League. And this year the objective is to win titles, I'm not hiding."

How will he experience the World Cup?

"I will follow it. I'll try to go for a few days because I feel at home there, I was there for six years and I know a lot of people, I wish them all the best. I think it's going to be a historic World Cup for the country and for football. The player is in the best moment of the season physically and mentally. He is going to be very good. I will try to watch some of the Spain and Qatar games. Obviously, I will follow them."

Raphinha's frustration in front of goal

"He has our full confidence. There are moments when things don't go the way you want them to, but you have to keep believing. We believe in him, he continues to work to the maximum and the goals will come."

How will the roles change with the retirement of Piqué?

"They won't change much. Everyone has their own leadership role. We will miss Gerard in the dressing room, but this has always happened. Roles are repositioned and I don't see any problems."

On whether he thinks Dembélé is the best in the world in his position

"I think he is making the difference in many games. His numbers have improved a lot. We have given him confidence and he is being important, he believes in it and he is happy. He has grown, but he lacks the consistency to do it every game. He can do it. That's the only thing he lacks, because in terms of talent and conditions, he can be the best in his position."

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