Xavi: “We’ve hit the table”

Xavi Hernandez could not hide his satisfaction for a very important victory against the Athletic including changing the system when starting with a 3-4-3 in attack. The technician of boat He celebrated the success of the bet at the beginning although he recognized that it was the rival that put the culés in trouble. “The first half hour convinced me. Inside we had superiority that’s why the three of us were left behind. Purpose comes from the heights within Peter, Gavi and looking to the band for dembele”, argued the man from Egar, which had an impact on the weight of the victory after the fall of the Madrid on the eve: “There are three golden points. We have seized the opportunity. We know how to suffer and keep a clean sheet. The day of spanish we deserved more and today without playing so well we got the three points”.

Xavi affected the psychological value of 0-1. “It’s a victory that gives us massive morale and confidence for what’s left League. We can win in these fields, suffer but as a family and to the end. We did not play in a good way, like the times in the day of spanish or before him Intercity, when we play well but we win. We hit the table to show that we are candidates. In this sense, he added: “The game plan was to dominate it, have possession and have the highest ball possible. We probably lacked depth even though we had dominance. kessie Y Ferran. I also believe we abused the pass back to score (Ter Stegen) and it’s hard to get away from Atlético pressure and one-on-one. It is always more important to play in the opponent’s half and not in your own to avoid getting stuck at the back. This is a major achievement. We know how to suffer. We are doing a lot in the game after losing Madrid”.

Returning to his approach, he added that “when the system is changed, the football player is sometimes uncomfortable. I thought it would give us more possession and cleanliness in the game, more control. Then they crowded us and it was difficult get rid of that pressure. We suffered but it was a big victory”.

Regarding defensive solvency, he would like to have more words of emphasis: “The victory leaves us a message that if we don’t play well we can also win. We defended and conceded only six goals us in 16 games. It says a lot about the attitude of the team, that He puts his soul into it and has been very supportive. We can’t always play well. Everything is positive today, although we need to improve our game and have more alternatives when they put pressure on us. What did I tell you at halftime? That we must continue the intensity and dominating in the first half hour. My first command is to hold the ball. The basis of our game model is to defend with the ball but sometimes the opponent wins’ let it go and you are not very inspired”.

Ronald Araujo He was praised like the rest of the defense: “Ronald He’s an extraordinary defender, like Andreas, bucket Y Julesto make a good game.

And asked him about the absence of Robert Lewandowski: “It’s also important to win without Robert, which is a key component for us. We missed him with high blood.”

Xavi the change of Frank Kessiethat was comforting Frenkie de Jong there’s still half an hour: “One of the aspects of Frank it does not tire him. The other day (before the Intercity) ran 16 kilometers. He is very strong, wins duels and is accurate on the ball. with him and Ferran We are back to play on the right field and that is very important”.

Finally, in the face of an embodied joy in the environment in the face of so much tactical debate, Xavi wanted to highlight the victory again: “I am very happy. It is a very good victory and the advantage to Athletic it is big. From here, be careful and keep working.”