Xavi Hernández: “We hardly have time to rest”

Rest time is gold.

And more so for FC Barcelona, ​​who, after facing and drawing against Naples in the Champions League round of 16 last Wednesday, faces Getafe this Saturday (4:15 p.m., Movistar +).

From a demanding match to another against one of the most physical teams in LaLiga.

“It's going to be a difficult match,” shared Xavi Hernández in the press conference prior to the match.

“We need the esteem of the fans.

It is an important match against a very well-trained team.

Aggressive players, and a competitive team, not defensive, but brave.

We will have to get out of the pressure well,” explained the coach, who praised José Bordalás on several occasions about his role with the team.

The legs begin to feel heavy, the trips are noticeable, and the minutes can mark the physical wear and tear.

Xavi also knows it: “I think it would have been better to put the game on Sunday or Monday, but we had to play at this time.

It is not an excuse, we will try to go and win with the three points.”

And he added: “The team is ready to compete, although two and a half days are not enough.”

“We'll see how we all get there.

We have done more tactical training, but we don't have much time to rest.

There will be some lineup changes, but not many.

It is time for important players to play,” added the coach.

In the morning training some stationary bikes and mats came to light on the grass.

For Xavi, it has been more of a recovery session.

Last Wednesday they played in Naples, with an intense start that faded as the game went on.

The Terrassa coach did not make changes until the 80th minute.

“We ended up attacking and pressing.

Napoli dominated us for 10 minutes and we tied.

But it wasn't the physical fault, it was more mental.

On a physical level we are very good,” countered Xavi.

One of the players who left the pitch was Lamine Yamal.

The young 16-year-old winger has played every minute in eight games in a row – except against Napoli, when he was substituted ten minutes from the end.

The short staff and injuries have hit Barcelona since the start of the season.

Ferran Torres – “we will see how they feel, we do not have an exact date,” shared Xavi –, Gavi, Alejandro Balde and Marcos Alonso continue to be absent from the team.

“Oriol Romeu has had discomfort, but now he is one hundred percent.

It is also necessary.

“Andreas [Christensen] provides balance on a defensive level, we were conceding a lot of goals,” added the Barça coach.

Barça will have to face Getafe if they want to stay alive in the League.

He will have a Lewandowski “as a consequence of the team's improvement”, according to Xavi.

“Until we mathematically can, we will fight it.

“We are not throwing in the towel to win LaLiga,” shared the coach.

And he added: “We talked too much at the press conference: it is time to act.

The team has had a good reaction, now we cannot fail if we want to win both LaLiga and the Champions League.”

A victory against Getafe at home – where Bordalás' team has never won – would give Barcelona peace of mind, according to Xavi, and a week to rest and sleep, at least until Monday, in second position in the league standings.

You can follow EL PAÍS Deportes on