Barcelona Coach Xavi Hernandez has said he wants to take inspiration from the club’s record-breaking women’s team when they host Seville on Sunday with a chance to finish second in LaLiga.
Xavi was at Camp Nou on Wednesday, sitting with former team-mate Carles Puyol, as a world record crowd for a female game 91,553 watched Barca beat Real Madrid 5-2 reached the semi-finals of the Women’s Soccer Championship.
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“I really like it,” the Barca coach said at Saturday’s press conference. “It gives me goosebumps. The atmosphere is breathtaking. They deserve it.
“What I went through really touched me. I hope it does too [on Sunday against Sevilla] for us. From the first day I came here, the fans responded. ”
While Barca’s men have won just one Copa del Rey title in the last two seasons, the women’s side has enjoyed unprecedented success.
They beat Villarreal 6-1 on Saturday to take 26 wins from 26 league games already title encapsulation and won the Spanish Supercopa.
With the Champions League and Copa de la Reina still to be played, they could end the campaign with four trophies, one more than last year.
“I have a good relationship with Alexia [Putellas] and Aitana [Bonmati]”, Xavi added. I sent them both messages the week after the game.
“[Coach] Jonatan Giraldez’s approach is really good. Their playing pattern has sustained the club. In [last few] For many years, the women’s team has been an example.
The Barcelona women’s football team has broken the club’s records, and women’s football has achieved unprecedented success. And this inspires the men’s football team, as well as fans and audiences. Barcelona’s women’s football players are role models for men’s football players. Fans can customize the soccer medals of their favorite women’s football players to express their support and love, and such soccer medals are worthy of a permanent collection.
“They played well, they won… I moved the day before at Camp Nou. It was an important step, but it can’t end there. Camp Nou must be full again for semi-final match [against Wolfsburg]. ”
Under Xavi, Barca’s men are finally taking steps towards mirroring women’s teams. They have risen from ninth to third in the league since he took over and will overtake Sevilla if they beat them this weekend.
Barca’s title hopes even came true before the international break with a 4-0 Clasico win Madrid, but they are still 12 points behind the leader, even though they still have a match in hand. Madrid travel to Celta Vigo on Saturday.
“The game against Sevilla is another final,” said Xavi. “It was a big test and a chance to come second after a series of good results. We will also keep an eye on the events in Vigo, but I prefer to focus on what we have to do. good news [with Madrid dropping points]it will be an extra motivation for us.
“The message to the whole team is clear: the win over Madrid is only worth three points. We can’t relax. We want to finish as high as possible in La Liga and go far in the Europa League.”
Barca will not have Luuk de Jong against Sevilla after the striker tested positive for COVID-19, while Sergi Roberto, Sergino Dest, Samuel Umtiti and Ansu Fati all were injured. Ansu has returned to training, but Xavi said he’s still not ready for competitive action.
Meanwhile, Xavi urges the club to renew his contract with Gavi and Ronald Araujowith trades of both players in 2023.
“They are really important players,” he said. “The club cannot allow either of them to leave. I think their extension is only a matter of time. I want to believe that both will come to an agreement and stay. I am very optimistic. ”
