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Barcelona face their biggest test of the season yet on Wednesday when they lock horns with PSG in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
The game will be played away at Parc des Princes, where Barça will be in for a hostile reception from the PSG ultras.
Having made it this far after two seasons of group-stage eliminations, the Catalans will be intent on going the distance in the competition.
On the eve of the match, Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez appeared in front of the media for the customary press conference and gave an update on the fitness of key stars Pedri and Frenkie de Jong while discussing several other topics.
On team news and tactics
“I can confirm that all those who have travelled will be available tomorrow, barring any surprises,” said Xavi when asked about Pedri and De Jong, confirming a huge boost for the Blaugrana.
Xavi was then asked about his plans for midfield mainstay Ilkay Gundogan and the position the German international will be taking up tomorrow, especially with the possible return of Pedri and De Jong. In response, Xavi said:
“I won’t give any clues, but it will be important. They will give us individual duels, Luis Enrique’s teams are perhaps the most intense in the world. The demand is maximum, we will have to come out of this pressure very well. I think we have worked well.”
When further pushed about how the midfield might look tomorrow, Xavi hinted that the recent returnees might not be starting, saying:
“I don’t think it will vary much tomorrow, we visualise a lot of individual duels. Maybe in this match, we value more how the players are physically and tomorrow is a match to be at 100%. We won’t be able to think, they will push us for 90 minutes.”
Pedri, De Jong are back. (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA/AFP via Getty Images)
On the mood in the locker room heading into the match, Xavi said: “The veterans are very motivated. We have an exemplary dressing room, how they train, how they want…
Source link : https://barcauniversal.com/xavi-talks-pedri-de-jong-gundogan-mbappe-dembele-luis-enrique-ahead-of-psg-vs-barcelona/
Author : Michel Durant
Publish date : 2024-04-09 17:07:45
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