Xavi: "I´m extra motivated to win the Super Cup as it’s against Madrid".
The Barça coach spoke to the media ahead of the Super Cup final between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh.
Xavi Hernández goes into his second consecutive Super Cup final. A match with an undeniable similarity to last year's edition of the tournament with Real Madrid the opponents once again.
A Clásico as the culmination of this week-long festival of Spanish football in Riyadh is the icing on the cake for fans and players alike. In the words of the manager, there is no better scenario for us: "The team is very motivated and excited. It's the ideal scenario for a footballer: playing a Super Cup final in a Clasico against Real Madrid".
On a personal level, Xavi acknowledged that "I'm extra motivated to face Real Madrid in a Super Cup final. We're going to give everything to lift the title".
❝Me motiva muchísimo el Real Madrid, la final y la Supercopa. Vamos a darlo todo para levantar este título❞
— RFEF (@rfef) January 13, 2024
🗣️ Xavi Hernández | @FCBarcelona_es#superSupercopa pic.twitter.com/xCjjEJ7tyq
Xavi also mentioned FC Barcelona's success in last season's final, in which they beat Real Madrid by three goals to one: "We have an example to follow from last season, we have to play the perfect game and impose our style, take control of the ball and show our personality".
The Barcelona coach went on to reiterate what he expects from his players: "I'm very clear about what I want for tomorrow: to show the Barça DNA, take the ball away from Madrid and dominate".
Barcelona go into the final after beating Osasuna two-nil in the second semi-final and will face an opponent and a coach they know all too well. Xavi was full of praise for Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti: "He is one of the best coaches in the world, both now and in history. He has triumphed everywhere he’s been. He is a gentleman, a great coach and a role model. I have extraordinary respect for him".
❝(Ancelotti) me parece uno de los mejores del mundo y de la historia. Ha triunfado en todos los países en los que ha competido❞
— RFEF (@rfef) January 13, 2024
🗣️ Xavi Hernández | @FCBarcelona_es#superSupercopa pic.twitter.com/bRkrC3eVkU
"All the Real Madrid players have an extraordinary level. Bellingham stands out because of his goalscoring threat when coming from deep, he is an extraordinary player who makes the difference", said Xavi Hernández, who also highlighted the quality of other players such as Vinicius, Rodrygo, Modrić, Kroos, Camavinga and Tchouaméni: "They are players of the highest level".
The Catalan coach didn't want to give any clues about his team's starting eleven for tomorrow, but said that both Pedri and Balde are 100% fit for tomorrow's game. That being said, Raphinha joins Ter Stegen and Gavi, Iñigo Martínez and Marcos Alonso on the sidelines through injury.