Xavi: “Barca were unlucky to be drawn against United”

Barça coach Xavi Hernández faced the media on Monday afternoon to discuss the league game against Osasuna as well as the outcome of today’s Europa League Round of 16 draw which pitted his team against Manchester United.

Tomorrow, Osasuna and in February, Man United…

The draw has given us the most difficult rival again. I don’t know if we’ll be lucky. We’ll go to Manchester to compete. They’ve grown a lot under Ten Hag. We could not have been drawn against a worse rival. Osasuna, tomorrow will be an intense, difficult game. Jagoba [Arrasate] has worked well developing his team’s defence and attack.

Europa League Draw:

We’re not having much luck. You pick out the worst you could face, and end up being drawn against them. We’ll need to compete, it will be a challenge.

You have been in the Barcelona job for one year. What marks out of 10 would you give yourself?

It’s up to you (the journalists) to do that. The balance will be based on the first half of the year – we arrived in a difficult moment but managed to get the team into the Champions League. And in this second half of the year, apart from what happened in the Champions League, we have been improving and having a good league campaign. In the internal mark out of 10 will have to wait until the end of the season. The external marks will be for you (the media). I think we have a model of play, an identity that has seen growth. I’d like to think that we’re on the right path.

Will Piqué play tomorrow?

He’s available so we’ll see. We’ll decide tomorrow.

Is Barcelona obliged to win the Europa League?

You are always up against an opponent with the same obligation. We like the word ‘obligation’, failure… We have to compete. We have a different job to do. But if both teams have an obligation, one of them will end up worse off.

Has a decision been made about Araújo, will he be going to the World Cup?

We have spoke to him and we are in contact with Uruguay and with the rest of the federations. The important thing is that the player feels well and makes a full recovery because he is an important player for the club. At the end of the day, some of it will be down to the player. If he feels ok, he will tell us. We have to discuss the situation with the Uruguayan Federation doctors before a decision is taken.

Neither Koundé nor Memphis have recovered. Pre-World Cup syndrome?

I don’t know about Benzema but Memphis and Jules have some discomfort. They have a slight pains and when they have needed to push themselves to be fit, they have. Memphis pushed himself last season and Jules did this season. All of the players have, I don’t think there’s a pre-World Cup syndrome. I’m not in any doubt about that.

How important will it be to gain a win tomorrow bearing in mind this is the end of an era?

It’s always important. Not winning is always seen as negative at Barça. We have good numbers in LaLiga and we need to show that we can battle for the league title right up until the end.

How do you handle the luck of the draw?

Well I’m here now! (laughs). I take it well. Sometimes, playing against the best sides gives you a lift. It’s a challenge. We could show our best side.

Will Cristiano’s drop in form be a factor in your favour?

I don’t know. They have great individual players, but it’s how they play as a team that impresses me. We will have to study them thoroughly because they are a great side. Not just for Cristiano and their other great players, but because we will be facing a great side that Ten Hag has put together.

Do you see Cristiano in decline?

I think he’s an amazing player who has defined an era in world football and still can.

You could have been drawn against Mourinho’s Roma. Who would you prefer to beat: Cristiano or Mourinho?

I just like winning, I don’t really care who we are up against. I hate losing, I like to win and even more with my lifelong club.

What is the plan for the non-international players?

They’ll have holidays. It’s good for those who won;t be going to the World Cup. We’ll have a lot of time on our hands and we will return to training at the end of November or the start of December. So they will have almost a month to rest.

The Barça job is famous for burning out coaches. Have you had many sleepless nights?

Being coach at Barça isn’t easy but I handle it quite well. From the outside, it seems like a very boisterous club. But I’m relaxed. I think the team’s growing and that was the objective. The other objective this season is to win trophies. Last season, the aim was to restore order and qualify for the Champions League. This season, it’s to win something.

What will you be doing while the World Cup is on?

Following it. I’ll try to get out there because I spent six years there and I think it will be an historic World Cup. The players will be going there just as they hit peak form. I’ll watch Spain’s games, Qatar’s games. Of course I’ll be following it.

Ter Stegen is expected to become the team’s fourth captain. How will the roles change?

They won’t change very much. We’ll miss Gerard but the roles will be adjusted and I don’t envisage any problems.