The coach of FC Barcelona, Xavi Hernández, celebrated that his team is doing “their homework” to put pressure on Real Madrid in the fight for the league title, after a “deserved” victory against UD Las Palmas although they lacked more goals (1-0).
“The team has played well, high circulation, attacking spaces very well, we have missed goals, the summary of the season, but the team has been good and we have deserved the victory,” he said at a press conference, after getting closer to within five points from Madrid.
“Hopefully Madrid will lose points but it’s not up to us, we’ll wait for tomorrow and every day like that,” he said about the whites’ duel this Sunday against Athletic Club. Xavi celebrated the improvement in recent weeks, since he announced his departure.
“We compete better, we defend better, we lack the effectiveness to win more easily, but the improvement of the team in general is palpable,” said Xavi, who once again sowed uncertainty about the decision he made to leave the culé bench at the end of the season.
In the run-up to the match, Barça’s vice president, Rafa Yuste, pointed out that he will do “everything possible” so that Xavi remains the team’s coach next season. “Now to rest for a few days and think about PSG, step by step, nothing changes. Rafa is a friend, but nothing more. This scenario is better than the one where the coach has to be fired,” he stated.
“We have done our homework by winning the three points that were vital to continue in the fight. Now we have to wait, the shame is that it does not depend on us. Hopefully we can compete, there is a match at the Bernabéu in three weeks,” he added.
On the other hand, Xavi praised Koundé, Raphinha and Joao Félix. “Raphinha is in a dynamic state that he can participate in all the top positions. He is intense in the pressure, he gives us many things,” he said about the author of the 1-0 victory against the Canaries.
“For us he is a very important footballer, he has made a difference in many games, today he did it again. With a good attitude, with a good personality. It has not been easy to make the starting lineup, Joao could have come in perfectly,” he concluded.