Xavi: "We will make changes against Athletic, there are physical discomforts and fatigue"

MADRID, 22 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The FC Barcelona coach, Xavi Hernández, has acknowledged that he will make "changes" in the eleven for this Sunday's match against Athletic Club, since there are "physical discomforts and fatigue" among his players, and has explained that although playing with Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé causes them to have "more losses" and forces him to try and insist on "one against one".

"I would like to give some of them the continuity they deserve, but there have been physical discomforts and fatigue. The priority is for the team to be one hundred percent," he declared at a press conference. "At a tactical level it is different from Villarreal, they have the same tactical disposition but the system is different, but we focus on ourselves. We will surely make changes because the calendar requires it; there are very tired players and there are physical discomforts. We will vary the team to try to put them in difficulties," he continued.

The Catalan coach also warned of the danger of facing a "very difficult and intense" and "aggressive pressure" rival. "Valverde is a more offensive coach than Marcelino and they will put pressure on us. They work very well tactically. I have a very high opinion of Valverde. It will be a very different match against Villarreal, it will be difficult", he pointed out.

In this sense, he was full of praise for the 'Txingurri', who will return to the Camp Nou. "We value him a lot, another thing is the environment. Coach Valverde seems to me to be a spectacular piece of coach. Without shrillness, polite, impeccable... He is an example, he is an extraordinary person who did an excellent job here in Barcelona", he explained.

Xavi was satisfied with the work done during the week in the victory against Villarreal (3-0) and recalled that this season they have played other "great games". "If we analyze how the team has been, it has been quite good; we have competed against all the teams, even when the result has been adverse. We have had the personality to have the ball, to press, to be intense... We are getting closer to what we really want. Perfection does not exist, but we have to get closer, both in terms of play and results, which is often not accompanied," he assured.

"Here there is always tension, it's Barça. You have to be very competitive, you have to win; there are very big and very high expectations. They played well against Villarreal, but now Athletic is coming, who are a very physical and very complicated rival and that will make things difficult for us. We have to win again tomorrow", he continued.

About Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé, he assured that "nothing changes" in attack whether he plays or not. "The idea is the same, we just don't open up as much on the wing; the profile of Ansu and Ousmane is more open than that of his teammates, one on one", he analyzed.

"He has that overflow on the wing, it does cause us more turnovers and we mess up a little more, but he has to try. He is a different player, and even if he loses balls I force him to do this one on one. Ousmane He's unique in the squad and he has to try, center... He's a different player and he'll continue to be important," he added.

In addition, regarding the possibility of Ansu Fati being his starting winger, he recalled that he has "no starters or substitutes, and more so as the calendar is designed." "Everyone competes with each other to be important at Barça and we will choose based on the game. Ansu is a footballer who can make a difference and has made a difference on many occasions. He has to be important," he insisted.

Lastly, he congratulated Gavi, "an extraordinary footballer", for winning the Kopa Trophy and the Golden Boy. "He is unique in his kind. On a defensive level he is a wonder and in attack he sees everything. He is 18 years old, he is wonderful. Pedri and Gavi are similar to what we played -Xavi Iniesta-, but each one has to do his career. They have an extraordinary present and future. They are two guarantees of success in the squad", he stated.