Xavi bites his tongue: “I won’t talk about the referees anymore, I promised you and I can’t let you down”

Barcelona plays against Granada tomorrow with the need to win to avoid dropping out of the League. Xavi Hernández directed the last training session and analyzed the match in front of the press. «A few days ago Granda changed coaches. With Medina they have improved in terms of defense and aggressiveness in duels. We imagine a match with a defensive Granada, difficult to generate, with an opponent in need. There have been games that have deserved much more. We need the warmth of the fans to continue with this mini streak of positive results,” commented the Egarense, who added: “You can see Medina’s hand, he gives very little away. He wins duels, he is aggressive, he does not give away specific situations in the game. They are more solid, they defend very well. Medina’s hand is noticeable. Xavi declined to talk about the referees again: «I’m not going to talk about referees anymore. I already said my opinion last week. With all the education in the world I am not going to answer you. I’m not going to talk more about the referees. “I promised you and I can’t let you down.” And he assured that he will be watching Real Madrid-Girona: «For us, what is best for us is to win tomorrow and even more knowing that one of the two, or both, will leave points. What we cannot do is fail like the day of Villarreal… of course we will be aware of Atlético… of all those fighting for the LaLiga title. But, the most important thing is not to fail ourselves. In this sense, he was reminded that as a coach he has not yet beaten Granada: «One more motivation on a personal level and also for the footballers. He is a difficult opponent. A motivation to show that we have made an improvement. In Vitoria there were very good moments in the game. He also confirmed his idea of ​​leaving Barcelona: «I made it very clear. I am focused on the day to day. The decision was a success because the club needed this change in dynamics and success, also seeing the reaction of the footballers. The decision is what I told you, with nothing different. And he insisted on his good relationship with Deco: «I have had a friendly relationship with Deco for many years. If you ask me I will tell you what is best for the club and the team. My relationship with him is extraordinary. “I am more motivated knowing that I have more left in the position.” The coach confirmed that Raphinha has recovered from his injury and will be in the squad: “He will be available tomorrow. He has recovered very well. He is positive, with the same dynamic as before the injury. The evolution is better than that of Sergi Roberto: “It’s going just right, not tomorrow, but next week.” Regarding the captain, he expanded by ensuring that he did not know if the club would renew him: “I don’t know. I already gave my recommendation to the club, which would be to renew it. He is a very important footballer for the team, very good in the locker room and on the field. When he has been available he has always been very helpful. My recommendation is this but, as happened with Busquets or Alba, they are personal decisions that one has to feel. Praise for Oriol Romeu and Ter Stegen he also spoke of some proper names. He valued Oriol Romeu positively: “He is moved by his commitment and involvement. He has played many games with discomfort. Someone else would have stopped and he, instead, looked for the team. Tomorrow he will rest and he will be available for the next one. And he praised the figure of Ter Stegen: «he is very important. He is a fundamental footballer, one of the captains, one of the natural leaders of the squad. I am very happy with Iñaki, he has shown that he is a goalkeeper for Barça, guaranteed, he has done a good job. “We need the more people the better and Ter Stegen is a capital player for the squad.” «He is compatible with Raphinha. You can play together. Raphinha’s recovery is very good news. This long week has been very good for all of us, especially those who have done the most work,” he said about Lamine Yamal. There was also praise for Fermín: «I am very happy with him. He has been one of the most pleasant surprises, along with the young people who have been rising. But there is competition. Related News standard No Xavi Hernández’s luxury house: a swimming pool on the roof and 760 meters of sports area María Albert standard Yes Football From illusion to depression: verbiage as a portrait of Xavi’s torture Sergi Font Xavi also gave his opinion on FIFA’s intention to implement the blue card, which would mean a ten-minute exclusion: «It seems to me that we have to try it. FIFA does well to try things in lower categories and, if it works, one more tool. If it’s good for football you’ll see. “We have not tested it.”