Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has sought to alleviate some of the pressure surrounding his team’s upcoming match against Napoli in the Champions League, amidst sensationalist headlines. In his statement, he emphasized, “Nobody will perish this evening.”
Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, it is pertinent to note that the absence of the away goals rule in UEFA competitions implies that any draw will necessitate extra time and potentially penalty shootouts.
Xavi’s squad is notably lacking key players such as Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Marcos Alonso, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde. However, his tactical decisions have raised eyebrows, notably with the inclusion of Pau Cubarsi in defense and Raphinha upfront, as opposed to selecting Joao Felix.
“I thought this was the best team for the match and the others will be important coming off the bench as the game progresses,” Xavi told Sky Sport Italia.
“I know we are missing some players, but I have the utmost faith in Fermin Lopez, Raphina, Cubarsi, who have not played as often this season, but can do well. I think Napoli have improved under Calzona and it will be an interesting match.”
The coach was apprised of the content of the headlines featured in the Spanish sports newspapers of the morning, which portrayed a markedly apocalyptic tone, indicating a scenario of ‘victory or calamity’ and ‘existence hanging in the balance’ for the team. The inquiry arises as to how players of such tender age will manage to navigate the substantial pressure inherent in such circumstances.
“This is Barca! It’s a big club, we know the pressure is all on me, they just need to relax, because nobody will die tonight for this match. We must play to dominate the match and bring out the best version of Barca.”