Pedri: “I hope it will be the first of many games”
Pedri was named the best player from the second semi-final. The Tenerife midfielder again showed humility, with teammate Marc André highlighting Ter Stegen as the decisive figure. Summary of the match: he deserved recognition more than anyone because the final became possible thanks to his saves [citation: Movistar Supercopa].
The midfielder expressed excitement for this inaugural final of Xavi’s era as coach: he said there was no attention paid to Real Madrid’s celebrations because focus remained on the team’s work. The squad is eager to bring the trophy home, united in the belief that there will be more championships to come under Xavi’s guidance. “I hope it will be the first of many championships for Xavi as a coach,” he stated.
Pedri anticipates a very tough match against Real Madrid: “As always, we will try to dominate the game. We know what we need to improve in the league after the defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu, but Real Madrid will not be a burden because they are a team that has always played well. We’ll have to play with real intensity to win the final.” He added that the choice of penalty taker was Sergio Alegre’s decision, who oversees the team’s strategy. Fortunately, everyone was able to score.
He echoed his coach’s reflections on the match: “We are not closing the games. It’s hard not to relax after the first goal. We must aim for the second and third, because letting a team like Betis back in can be costly.”
Ansu Fati: “You should always be one hundred percent because if you’re not…”
The Blaugrana delivered a game with both dazzling moments and rough spells, as Betis pressed and Xavi’s side made several unforced errors. Yet Ansu Fati stood out, ending the match in high spirits while acknowledging that nothing is decided yet.
“It was a tough game; Betis is a great team and we finally won on penalties. The important thing is that we’re in the final,” he said. He urged teammates to stay alert: “Football is relentless. We must stay at one hundred percent because if not, that’s it.” He also congratulated Ter Stegen: “He’s a star, and he showed it again today, I’m happy for him.”
Ter Stegen: “I would like to work less”
Marc André Ter Stegen emerged as the key performer for the night. The German goalkeeper saved two penalties from Juanmi and Carvalho and made several crucial stops that kept Barça in contention. By the end, he joked that he wouldn’t mind having less work [citation: match coverage].
Ter Stegen credited the rest of the staff for the successes: “What you see on the surface isn’t always what happens. It happened by chance this time, but I’ve been at a high level for a year thanks to an amazing team that keeps me improving every day.”
Admitting Betis caused them trouble, he noted the team’s better control in the second half, despite fatigue: “We were good in the first half with plenty of possession, but they challenged us more after the break with their midfield change. We had more control and the ball in the second half, and although we were tired, the goal was to reach the final—and here we are.”
Regarding the looming clash with Real Madrid, Ter Stegen added, “Everyone wants to see Barça against Madrid. It’s exciting to play and win such matches.”