Xavi’s Excitement Ahead of PSG Showdown

SPORT’s Coverage of the Pre-Match Press Conference for Barça – PSG Encounter Xavi Hernández: “Tomorrow, Montjuïc Must Be a Cauldron, We Need the Fans” Xavi Hernández Speaks in the Press Conference Before the Champions League Clash Against PSG

Xavi Hernández is relishing his best moment since taking charge of FC Barcelona’s bench. Freed from pressure after announcing his departure and witnessing the team’s reaction, the coach expressed feeling “excited” before facing PSG in the Champions League quarter-final second leg.

Xavi emphasized that “we have to give our all to reach the semifinals.” According to the manager, the key lies in “being a team; if we achieve that, we have a good chance of progressing.” The game plan is clear, and Xavi anticipates facing a PSG side that “will press us high, match us man for man. We need a lot of personality to reach the semifinals.”

His praise for the opponent led him to assert that “we are facing one of the best teams in the world and one of the best coaches in the world. We will see a PSG that will undoubtedly be brave.”

With guns blazing Regarding the French team, Xavi stressed their attitude: “I haven’t seen a match from Luis Enrique’s teams where they don’t attack, especially when they are trailing by a goal. They’ve never played defensively, and even less so this time.” To counter PSG, Pedri and Gündgoan are crucial players for imprinting Barcelona’s style: “They provide us with control and the final pass, as Pedri did in the first leg or Gündo in many games. They are very similar, they have composure and set the pace. It’s a tough match because they play man-marking. The midfielders need to feint, dribble, make a controlled touch, play a one-two… we’re facing one of the most intense teams in the world, and they don’t give anything away. With space and time, with Gündogan and Pedri, we have a lot to gain.”

Advice for Pedri Xavi doesn’t intend to conserve Pedri and clarified that “all the players called up are ready to play the full 90 minutes; there’s no problem. Half-time is for discussing fatigue, knocks, discomfort… Pedri needs to be very important.”

On a personal level, Xavi said he feels “very motivated, proud to be in the quarter-finals, and have the opportunity to reach the semi-finals. We haven’t done it in five seasons, and I’m excited for this match.” Within this level of involvement, Xavi clarified that “we must control our emotions, our temperament; an expulsion would heavily impact the match. We need to keep possession, be protagonists, even if it’s difficult, we must show our best side.”

Raphinha and the Youth Regarding individual names, the Terrassa native spoke about Raphinha’s improvement, linking it “with the team’s improvement, the importance of being a group. It’s the same with Raphinha; he has many qualities, he’s very impactful. He was in the first leg, and hopefully, he will be in the return.”

Xavi was firm in his discourse: “Reaching the semifinals would be a resounding success; it would make it mystical; we are happy and excited to reach the semifinals.”

Luis Enrique won’t speculate; the deficit forces him, but Xavi clarified that his players won’t play with thoughts of the one-goal advantage from the first leg. “We’re not a team that speculates, far from it. We will attack and try to win the match.”

The coach reiterated that “hopefully, our best version will emerge to progress; they will demand a lot from us with their high pressure; I envision a similar match to the first leg; it will be a very important football battle. It’s the Champions League, it’s Paris, and we won’t speculate.”

Xavi Hernández has a clear idea of how to play against Paris Saint-Germain. It will be a match where any mistake can be lethal, but he wants his players to be bold in seeking the opposing goal. Winning would be the best way to progress smoothly and be on the brink of the final.

Luis Enrique Xavi explained that Luis Enrique is a coach he knows well and who was one of the three most influential figures in his career as a player, alongside his great mentor Luis Aragonés and Pep Guardiola, with whom he won all possible titles.

The debate about the Barça DNA from the first leg was put aside, and Xavi emphasized that “a great school of coaches is also being generated at Can Barça; many former players are now coaching, and it’s one more reason to feel proud.”

Xavi and Luis Enrique coincided in the 2014-15 season, with Xavi as captain and Luis Enrique debuting as the first-team coach.

The result couldn’t have been better, with the conquest of the treble and Xavi lifting the Champions League trophy as the crowning achievement of his time as a Barcelona player. A trophy he now aspires to win as a technical director.