Right here’s the most recent from the Barcelona boss
Xavi confronted confronted the press to debate his group’s Champions League marketing campaign forward of their opening group recreation towards Antwerp.
Mark van Bommel returns to Barca on Tuesday along with his Antwerp aspect, with Barca heading into the sport after an enormous win over Betis.
Xavi spoke about his group’s European ambitions, Pedri’s health, his choices in assault and when he expects Ronald Araujo to return from harm.
Listed here are the most effective bits:
Xavi on Champions League
It’s a privilege to be within the Champions League. It’s time to take a step ahead and turn into nice once more. We’re in a very good second. We begin at house, we want the followers. We’re very excited.
Xavi on ambitions
The target is obvious, to advance from the group, then we’ll speak. We have now to be within the spherical of 16 pot, it’s our most important goal after two years with out doing so. It’s the clear goal.
Xavi on Barca’s high quality
Final yr we had been good however the outcomes weren’t sufficient. We have now strengthened ourselves and now we have a squad to compete in Europe, however it’s not about phrases, it’s about actions.
Xavi on Van Bommel
I’ve nice reminiscences of him as a team-mate and as a rival, he was a really bodily sturdy footballer. He was a very good team-mate and a very good pal. He’s doing a very good job at Antwerp. He’s a really dynamic rival.
Xavi on competitors for locations in Barca’s assault
In the long run, it’s a blessed downside that there are such a lot of individuals in nice form, acting at a excessive stage. It’s tough to make it into the beginning eleven, however those that begin are simply as essential as those that come on within the second half.
Xavi on Ferran Torres
He informed me that he wanted to have an excellent preseason, that he was satisfied that he might give his greatest and he would show it. We’re not shocked as a result of now we have seen him in coaching.
Xavi on Ronald Araujo
We determined that there’s no level in risking him tomorrow. He’ll be out there for Saturday towards Celta.
Xavi’s message to supporters
It’s simple for the gamers as a result of they’re very plugged into the competitors, you may see of their faces. We promise the followers work and sacrifice and wish to make them benefit from the recreation like they did Saturday.
Xavi on Pedri
He’s doing very properly, he has excellent emotions, he nonetheless has slightly extra to do, I can’t give a date as a result of it is determined by his emotions, however the essential factor is that he recovers 100%.
Xavi on new contracts for Balde and Lamine Yamal
So far as I do know, they’re very properly underway and there might be information quickly.
Xavi on Joao Felix
Should you don’t have an perspective you may’t be within the group, in mine, at Barcelona. The perspective should at all times be constructive and his is like everybody else’s, constructive and wanting to assist the group.
Xavi on Champions League calls for
There’s a demand and the bar is ready very excessive. It’s the consequence of Barca’s current historical past, from after we received 4 Champions League titles from 2006 to 2015. We like challenges however the calls for of Barca are brutal, it comes from inheriting an excellent interval, the most effective within the membership’s historical past.