Xavi is very pleased with the way Luuk de Jong presents himself at Barcelona. The striker proved his worth again last weekend by heading the equalizer against the ropes deep into injury time on a visit to Espanyol. Barcelona is therefore unbeaten in eight games in a row in LaLiga. On Thursday evening, the Catalans will visit Napoli in the battle for the Europa League.
“When you see him training, it’s no surprise,” Xavi refers to De Jong’s share in the results of Barcelona. “His commitment, determination and conviction are admirable. He works very hard in training. He is always there. And that also applies to the games: when we need him, he is there.” Luuk de Jong is Barcelona’s top scorer this calendar year with four goals. He was accurate against Real Mallorca, Granada, Real Madrid (Supercopa) and Espanyol.
During the press conference, Xavi indicated that he could no longer hear the anthem of the Champions League. “It makes me angry. On the other hand, the Europa League is a title that Barcelona has never won. We see it as an opportunity. We want to show that we can compete in Europe. It can also be a way to get to next season.” to play in the Champions League, which we are very motivated for. This is also a great competition, it is not the third division.”
The Spanish coach refused to take on the role of favorite. “We are a contender, not a favourite. Napoli also has a great team and is fighting for the national championship. The reality is that we are both active in the Europa League. We have to show that we keep growing. We don’t do our homework well enough done in the Champions League and that is why we are here,” said Xavi, who has been with Barcelona for 100 days. “It feels like we have been on the road for a hundred years, also because of the injuries and the corona pandemic. I work very hard, because I am a big fan of the club.”
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