Xavi Hernández: "Dembélé is at the level of the best Neymar when he was at Barça"

"If Lewandowski is not the best striker in Europe, he will be with Benzema among the two best"

BARCELONA, 8 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The FC Barcelona coach, Xavi Hernández, showed his joy at the placid victory (5-1) against Viktoria Plzen on the first day of the Champions League, led by Ousmane Dembélé, who is "at the level of the best" Neymar in his time as a Barça player, and Robert Lewandowski, "the best" striker in Europe "together" with Karim Benzema.

"The capacity that Dembélé has in one-on-one I have seen few players in my career. He is at the level of the best Neymar when he was here. He has to dare more to shoot on goal, but very happy with him. He had suffered in recent years and now he's happy. There aren't many players like him in the world," he said after the game at the Spotify Camp Nou.

Also, Xavi referred to the Pole Lewandowski, who scored his first hat-trick as a 'culé'. "He gives us many solutions in attack, he is a player with tremendous maturity. If he is not the best in Europe, he will be with Benzema as the two best. There is also Haaland, but without the intention of comparing it, it is a spectacle to have him," he added.

"It's normal for people to be excited about Lewandowski. He's one more, hence his greatness. In Seville he asked me to change because he was a little tired. Today I saw him enjoying himself and I've decided he'll continue. He adapts to any situation" , pointed out about the new hero of FC Barcelona.

The Catalan team gave themselves a new feast, although the promising premiere will not serve to forget Leo Messi. "The mourning for the best player in history will never end. Everything he gave to Barça was extraordinary, unfortunately it's over and now there are other players called to make a difference," he said.

The azulgranas overwhelmed a Czech team unable to keep up with Barça's cruising speed. "I like the intensity and understanding of the game. This intensity makes us create many chances. Kicking more than 20 times per game, you are closer to winning than losing," he said.

"It's a great start, but it's only three points. It's still a difficult group, we're very happy, but we have to continue to be very humble, this has only just begun. Victories always give morale and confidence," he said of the first three points from the group stage.

A party that the fans returned with encouragement and songs, including for Xavi himself. "We have generated a lot of enthusiasm, which cannot be lost. The Camp Nou was a party at many times. People see that we make an effort and that we want to", he said.

Asked about the unstoppable Pedri-Lewandowski duo, the man from Terrassa was full of praise for both. "Talent connections on the field always work. What is not normal at 19 years of age is that Pedri understands practically everything on the pitch, they are two inexhaustible talents, a duo that is going to give us a lot of joy," he concluded.

Regarding Sergi Roberto's substitution at half-time, Xavi acknowledged that the captain had discomfort today. "We have preferred to change him. Koundé I see him more as a center back, but he has played as an emergency winger", he referred.

Lastly, when asked about his opinion regarding traveling by train instead of by plane, Xavi stated that it was "more than a club". "We cannot be in a different bubble of society. We play for the people, if the Government or the Generalitat asked us to, at least we would listen to it and with all humility, if we could change something we would do it", he concluded.