Xavi: "We Have to Do Our Homework and Fight Until the End"
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández stated on Saturday, after defeating UD Las Palmas at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, that the Blaugrana team must "do their homework" for the remaining LaLiga EA Sports matches to "fight until the end" for the title.
"We've earned three vital points to keep up the fight. Let's see how tomorrow's match unfolds. We'll wait and see. The regret is that we don't control our fate; we've faltered too much. Hopefully, it'll be enough to compete. There's a match at the Bernabéu in two fixtures, and hopefully, we can close the gap. At least we have to do our homework and fight until the end," he summarized.
The Catalan coach expressed satisfaction with his team's performance: "The balance is positive, not only because of the victory. The team played quite well, with high circulation. We attacked the spaces very well, and we missed more goals than usual. It's a summary of many matches this season; lack of effectiveness makes us suffer more than necessary."
"We're defending very well, enjoying defending. Before the expulsion, high pressure was very good. We're intense, serious, and responsible. The team's defensive commitment is key to where we are right now, alive in the Champions League and hopeful of fighting for the league," he stated.
However, the Catalan coach admitted that the team "lacks effectiveness to win more comfortably," but he highlighted that "the improvement overall is palpable."
Xavi praised Raphinha, the scorer of the winning goal: "He's so dynamic that he can play in all five forward positions. He's the best at attacking spaces in the team and intense in pressing. Sometimes he may be a bit too hasty, but he contributes a lot to us."
He also praised Jules Kounde, stating that he has been "performing excellently for many matches," and Joao Félix, who assisted in Raphinha's goal after coming off the bench, noting that he has a "good attitude," has been "a very important player throughout the season," and today "made the difference" when the team needed it.
Finally, when asked about the possibility of remaining in the position next season, he responded: "Now, a few days of rest and thinking about PSG. Nothing else. Step by step. Nothing changes, but this scenario is better than having to dismiss the coach."
