Barcelona will host Espanyol on Saturday evening in their first match at Camp Nou under the leadership of new coach Xavi Hernandez, as part of the 14th round of La Liga. He appealed to the fans for support for the team. Barcelona currently sits in ninth place in the La Liga standings with 17 points, level on points with their rivals Espanyol.
Xavi, who took over this month from Ronald Koeman, stated that the team desperately needs the fans' backing now more than ever. He explained, "I urge the fans to stand by us. We will not give up and we will do our utmost. We ask for your support."
Camp Nou has a capacity of over 99,000 spectators, but Barcelona has struggled to attract fans this season due to poor results, as only about 37,000 attended their last match, which ended in a 1-1 draw with Alaves.
When asked if he was nervous, Xavi replied, "I am very calm. In fact, I am positive, happy, and excited. I am thrilled to be in what I consider my home. I am less nervous than I was when I was a player."
Regarding the addition of Dani Alves, Xavi said, "I know him well. Dani will be an asset to the team. He is a positive man who loves to win and has spirit. We saw him in his recent matches and he was good physically. He underwent a medical examination and was in perfect condition."
Barcelona secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory in their last encounter with Espanyol in July 2020, and Xavi expects a challenging test against their rivals, who have been promoted to the top division this season. He added that Espanyol is "a good team capable of transitioning quickly and offensively" and that he believes overcoming such a team "will be difficult."
