Xavi on Negreira case ahead of clásico: 'They won't be able to destabilise us'
The Barcelona coach spoke ahead of Sunday's visit from Real Madrid
There was a relaxed atmosphere at Barcelona training on Saturday. Not for lack of hostility or external noise around a clásico that could be definitive in the title race -- or it could open it all up again.
With the bad news from the previous day's session in the form of Pedri being ruled out of the game, the squad took to the pitch at the Joan Gamper with a 'special' visit from Rafa Yuste. The vice president greeted all the players one by one. And he spoke briefly with Xavi and his assistants.
As usual in the build-up to clásicos, there was much more expectation than usual in the media rom. Especially from the foreign press. There was barely room for a pin to see and hear Xavi's reflections.
And, also for the occasion, the Barça coach answered more questions than usual. In a patient and calm manner. The Negreira case, Pedri, Araujo-Vinicius. There was a lot of material to get through.
"They are not going to destabilise us. They won't succeed. We are going to compete and try to win tomorrow, it would be big statement in our aim to win the league. We are very stable. That's not a problem," said Xavi. He was blunt, clear and direct again and again regarding the honour of the club and the whole mess over the 'Negreira case'.
He added: "With all the hostility we experienced in Bilbao.... I imagine it will be similar from now on. We must be hermetic and think about football. And try to win our games, nothing else. We are focused on the game."
Xavi also backed Joan Laporta's comments that there is a campaign against Barça.
"Whatever the president says goes without saying," he added. "He is the leader of the project. I don't want to talk about the 'Negreira case', I'm focused on football and winning the league, which is the main objective of this season."
