Xavi: "For me, Madrid is still a favourite"

"They are cycles and now we try to match Madrid, which has many titles in Europe"

BARCELONA, 1 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The coach of FC Barcelona, ​​Xavi Hernández, acknowledged that Real Madrid is the "favourite" in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey between the two teams, although he clarified that they will go out to win at the Santiago Bernabéu and that the tie will be decided except surprise in the second leg at the Spotify Camp Nou, in a duel for which he could recover Lewandowski, Pedri or Dembélé, now important casualties.

"It's a Cup semifinal, with the addition that it's a Clásico. For us it's a title. For me, Madrid is still a favorite because they are current Cup and Champions League champions. I think they are favorites regardless of the casualties and Super Cup, where we were very good. They arrive at a good time, despite the draw against Atlético, and I think Madrid is the favourite," he reiterated at a press conference.

For Xavi, his Barça is still a team under construction. "Yes, we won a title and against Madrid and with extraordinary football, but Madrid is Madrid and they are competing in the 'Champions'. They are favourites, but we have personality and players to hurt them and we have shown it. I envision a very evened out," he said.

To try to win, he believes that they must be "more of a team than ever" in attack and defense. "We must have the ball and be the protagonist with the ball, minimize losses because they give you chances in transition. It's a game that we have to control with the ball, we have to play in the opposite field. It's a game model game, like we did in the Super Cup", he commented.

And for this reason he will raise a match against that Super Cup that they won 3-1. "He is a very tough rival, at times they do not dominate you but they have transitions in which they do dominate and in two or three touches they plant themselves in your goal. we beat them well in the Super Cup," he recalled.

"There are two games, we are very happy to be here, and it is totally different from LaLiga and the Europa League. I think everything will be decided at the Camp Nou but we will go out to win and show our personality, it is a golden opportunity to win another title. We will give one hundred percent and tomorrow's goal is to win the game", he qualified, despite giving favoritism to the eternal rival.

And the white team highlighted the good moment of Vinicius. "He is making a difference, he is an exceptional player. He has added a goal to his football, he is decisive for Real Madrid. He is a differential footballer and is at a very high level, a lot", he commented.

For this first leg, without Robert Lewandowski, Pedri or Ousmane Dembélé, the goal could be expensive. Of course, recover Ansu Fati. "He returned to training today, he feels good and has good feelings. I see him motivated and happy, it must be important for tomorrow," he said.

"The mental aspect is worked on daily. It is another competition, we make a clean slate. In this Cup we have been very good and it is an opportunity to win a title. We have to give one hundred percent despite the casualties, it is a good opportunity to react", he argued in this regard.

On a personal level, the coach goes to the Bernabéu "with enthusiasm". "It always motivates me to go to the Bernabéu. I love going there and trying to play good matches and take the ball away from them. It motivates me much more than any other type of match, this match puts me in the mood. I would love to go play and touch the ball but I can't, That's why I tell my players to dare because winning at the Bernabéu is a very nice feeling," he said, sincere.

In addition, its balance sheet is good. "We are in the semifinals of the Cup, leaders in LaLiga with 7 points, we have won the Super Cup and in Europe we have competed, despite being eliminated. The film has been quite good, we have shown our faces and we have very rarely been inferior to our rival. In LaLiga we continue in the fight. The balance has to be positive", he argued.

"It would be important for us to win, show good feelings, win, play well, but you have a very strong Madrid. It will be a very competitive game and there will be another one in April at the Camp Nou. We will try to have the game controlled and dominance", he valued .

"The 'oh, oh, oh' can only bring negative things. Inside we have the mentality of winning. Tomorrow we will go out to compete face to face and try to win. We will go out to show our personality. But I am euphoric coming from where we came from. We have won the Super Cup and we can win the League and the Cup; go for it", he concluded.

As for the 'Negreira Case' and that the RFEF and CTA hold a press conference on Thursday, hours after the game, he was cautious. "Of the referees who do it in the best possible way. My feeling being at Barça is that the referees have not helped us. I don't like to win by cheating, I have already said it many times", he reiterated.