Xavi believes Barcelona’s bad moment is just “a blip”: “I have lived through terrible crises here and this is not like that”

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández thinks his team’s bad moment is just “a blip”. “I have experienced terrible crises here and this is not it,” he said on Saturday at a press conference ahead of next Sunday’s match against Deportivo Alavés; In his appearance, he discussed the Barça news, saying this was “the coach’s moment” and confirming that Frenkie De Jong will return against Rayo Vallecano.

These are Xavi’s most striking statements in the press room:

The match

“With enthusiasm and the will to show play. We have had a few bad matches. Improve positional play. With order and identity.”

What are you asking for tomorrow?

“The same as always. Play well, be superior to the rival, dominate the game. Everything we have worked on so far, during these two years. But especially this season. Demand the maximum, this is Barça.”

The coaching moment

“I think it’s time to adjust things or look for alternatives. It’s the coach’s time to react. But we won’t try anything either. We have to get back positional play as a general concept.”

Mental block?

“I think the mental blockage comes because we are not as organized on the pitch as before. That’s why I think it’s more of a football problem than a mental problem. We talked a lot. It’s a very healthy dressing room. The blockage comes from not being well positioned on the field.”

United Group

“We lost in Hamburg without having played a good match. But the attitude has never failed. This team still wants to win titles. The group is very united, it is very healthy. We are in the right place as a group, as a family away.” .”

The 14 internationals

“We have trained well. We have analyzed what has happened recently. I think it is more about the placement. We have to get the feelings back. We knew in advance that many footballers would leave with their national team. Nothing new for us.”

Laporta, more optimistic than Xavi

“We talk after every game. When I am positive, one of the few people who surpasses me is the president. He is very calm. He has the utmost confidence in the team. Calm and keep working.”

Pedri and De Jong

“Frenkie will be present on Rayo day. Pedri is there 100%.”

Most delicate moment on the couch?

“No, it has nothing to do with it. Last year I had the worst moment as a coach. This has nothing to do with it. This is not a crisis or anything like that. Last year was delicate, but without it turning into a crisis came “I’ve been through terrible crises here and this isn’t it.”

critics

“You’ve beaten me all my life. You get used to it and you almost get used to criticism. This is Barça and you have to accept criticism. We had two bad games and you have to be honest. We didn’t do that.” to a certain extent. That is how it works. Unfortunately you get used to it.”

Must play

“We have to work on the position. Be neater than ever with the model. We have to recover what we had on the day against Madrid. Play football from there.”

Lamine Yamal

“It will be important. Play 30, 60, 90, 15 or 10 minutes. I already said it. Despite your age, it can make a difference.”

Hard or soft hand?

“I’m a whipping person. I’m a ‘pah’ type. When it comes to order, you don’t have to shout. If necessary, I shout, but I’m not a shouter. I’m a persuasive “I’m an ideas person . I wasn’t heavy handed before and now I’m not and a weak hand. What I have been through. There is nothing more. That wouldn’t be the main reason why the team isn’t good.”

Robert Lewandowski

“We have to try to play better football. Let him stay in his position. I maintain that it is more about the position than anything else. Also for Robert.”

The most striking

“I didn’t listen for four days, I didn’t analyze. The most important thing is to analyze what we are doing and not listen. There are people who want us to win and people who want us to lose. We have to restore the situation.” morale and the game that gave us an identity”.

Team changes

“I believe more in performing. That’s how I’ve always done it. I think those who are the best end up playing, without looking at names. That’s what I look at, whoever is the best wins the next match. That’s all. “

Leadership

“That’s what captains are for. There are different types of leadership. There is an extraordinary atmosphere in the dressing room. The problem is in the game and I have that as a coach. I think we will improve the feelings.”

Ronald Araujo

“Ronald will be very important. He will be available tomorrow and in all matches. He is a pillar for the team. He is a great captain. He drives the car and it is a guarantee to have him.”

Game

“Order them. Get back to what made us win titles and have good feelings. Time to demand we do the things we did right. Stop messing up.”

Do you suffer from criticism?

“It affects me three times as much because I feel it. If you win, I enjoy it three times as much. But if you don’t, there is criticism and it bothers me three times as much at home with my family. This As it is, there is no problem.”

Inigo Martinez

“We have spoken a lot about him. Even when he was criticized, and that is true. He is a natural leader. Proven experience. He has many virtues. It was a request from me and he is a very good asset to the club.” group.”

Alejandro Balde

“A question for the coach. We really appreciate him. His performance is good and he has to improve, just like the whole team. He will be decisive. He is doing very well in defense and attack and I am very happy with that. ” it.”

Ter Stegen

“I completely agree with Ter Stegen. He is one of the captains and knows the demands of this club. What we did not win is due to our mistakes. We have to fix this match. Marc is a natural leader and knows what he should do.” is talking about “.

Joao Cancelo

“He can play on the left, inside and on the wing… He has a lot of variations. It’s very good to have players with this versatility.”