Despite Barça's victory in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League (2-3), Xavi is not completely calm on the eve of the PSG reception.
The result acquired in the first leg is excellent for FC Barcelona – a 2-3 victory at the Parc des Princes last Wednesday – and yet Xavi Hernandez is certainly not boasting on the eve of the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League between his team and PSG. At a press conference this Monday, the person concerned did not hide his concern.
At the origin of this anxiety, two warnings received on the way out and synonymous with suspension for the Catalan captain Sergi Roberto and the Dane Andreas Christensen. “ The losses of Christensen and Sergi will be noticed, it's damaging for us », Says the Blaugranas coach, who sees two interesting alternatives escaping him, in the midfield in particular.
The Pedri-Gündogan key
“ There are times in the match when we need one thing or another. The suspensions hurt us. The key for tomorrow will be to behave as a team. We must give our best and show solidarity to reach the semi-finals. If we are a team, we will have the means to reach the semi-finals. » Limited in his choices, of course, Xavi will still have great assets in midfield to set the tone.
The Frenkie De Jong-Ilkay Gündogan-Pedri trio is set to begin Tuesday evening on the pitch at the Montjuic Olympic Stadium. “ I like them both close to the surfacebreathes the Catalan coach when mentioning the last two. I imagine them with the ball at their feet, creating danger or making the last pass. This is their great quality, they are very similar players. They can delay or give speed to our game. It will be a difficult match for the midfielders. But if Gündogan and Pedri are given space and time, we will have a lot to play for. »
