Xavi: "These stimuli are gasoline for Piqué"

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Xavi gives orders to Eric García while Piqué retires injured in the duel against Eintracht.KAI PFAFFENBACH (REUTERS)

An hour and a half after Barcelona almost certainly said goodbye to the League because they fell to Cádiz at the Camp Nou, already at the edge of the morning, Gerard Piqué spoke to journalists through his

.

An initiative from the Barça center-back because he wanted to explain himself - without any questions - about the contract that his company Kosmos closed with Saudi Arabia for the celebration of the Spanish Super Cup in Asian lands, also because of the commissions of four million euros that he receives for each edition of the tournament thanks to the intermediation with the Spanish Federation and Sela, a Saudi company in charge of organizing major sporting and cultural events.

"I'm not bothered, no," Xavi resolved at the press conference prior to the match with Real Sociedad in Anoeta (9:30 p.m. on Thursday on

);

“What bothers me is that my players aren't involved, that they don't give it their all in training or that they don't follow the rules... I've been Gerard's teammate, I know how to manage him, he manages himself very well and I think he even does good to compete.

He needs these stimuli to compete better.

I have no problem with him."

The Barça coach did not want, in any case, to assess whether there was a conflict of interest in that a player who participates in the competition was the lever to forge the operation with Saudi Arabia, to the point that he also gave his opinion on the prizes to be distributed;

or, neither, about a president who does business with a player who is in his competitions.

"It is very difficult.

My opinion will not change anything.

One made a

and Rubiales has made a press conference.

The questions are for them”, replied Xavi.

Although he added: “I know Rubiales well, he is a noble uncle, he looks out for the good of all.

He was in the AFE and I trust his honesty.

He must explain.

And Piqué… I think that both of them look out for the good of the great majority.

If not, they would not have done it at all.

If it is Ethical or not, there are all kinds of opinions, but I think the benefit is for everyone”.

Especially economically because, as the Barça central defender revealed, the competition has gone from reporting 120,000 euros to 40 million profits per course.

Although when they met in the locker room their relationship was not the best due to their opposite personalities, they always understood each other on the field.

And with Xavi as coach, the relationship has been strengthened, also helped because they have the same agent.

“There were doubts about which Piqué we would meet, but he has been the best possible, a very involved leader”, they pointed out from the coaching staff.

Xavi explained it: “Piqué is like that.

He is very outgoing and likes to be on people's lips.

We are antagonistic, he is not as diplomatic as I am”.

And he expanded: “It's Gerard, I know him and if he was unfocused I would let him know.

But this gives him gasoline, adrenaline.

He is involved, he has given us a brutal performance in recent times and we have missed him”.

Absence that will not be repeated,

“I do not have a dictatorial leadership”

Xavi needs the best Piqué and a much more refined Barça than in the last games against Eintracht -he was knocked out of the Europa League- and Cádiz.

“Eintracht's tie was not good, we didn't play well and we didn't know how to stop their cons.

And against Cádiz it's something mental because it's a game to win well.

But we lacked faith, the desire to win and that's how I showed it to them with a video and they were aware that we must compete better”, lamented the Barça coach.

“But it has not been a fight but to say things clearly.

I do not have a dictatorial leadership.

It's about talking about it to improve.

And it is not easy for them because they have won everything, but you have to be humble.

It's hard to get excited but it's our reality”.

Concerned about the performance of his players – not so for the honesty of the referees when asked if it could affect what happened with Piqué to prove the opposite of a favored treatment-, Xavi incited his squad.

"Great stories come with a good start and we are going to try to start again, recovering the good game, dynamics, joy... The anger is over, the joy and the desire to do well have returned".

They have no other.

“We have many urgencies again and we had hoped to compete in the League, but now we must focus on getting second place to play in the Champions League.

The League is a long way from us”, he acknowledged while adding: “As a coach I feel bad.

I like to win titles.

But you have to keep believing in this.

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