Xavi Hernandez, the head coach of Barcelona, emphasized the difficulty of facing his guest Napoli tomorrow, Tuesday, in the second leg of the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. The first leg in Italy ended in a draw (1-1).
During the press conference ahead of the match on Monday, Xavi said: "Facing Napoli tomorrow is the most important match of the season, and we are ready with enthusiasm, as we have not reached the quarter-finals in 4 years."
He added: "We know that Napoli is not in its best form, but they are the champions of Italy, and we need the crowd to fill the stadium... Napoli has improved with the new coach and has become more dynamic, and we have significant absences... but we have to compete and be better."
Xavi continued: "When I talk about competition, I also mean controlling emotions, avoiding rash actions that lead to red cards, and being patient during the match... the small details are the key in the Champions League."
He continued: "I expect Napoli to play with strong defense and high pressing... they have great individual abilities, and their attacking trio is exceptional... we will face a great team."
Regarding his injured striker, Ferran Torres, Xavi said: "It's not a setback, but a feeling of discomfort, and I hope he will be present against Atletico Madrid (in La Liga)."
On Stanislav Lobotka, the Napoli midfielder, he commented: "I like him; he builds play and doesn't lose balls... I would like to see him at a club like Barcelona."
He concluded: "We have played well against big teams like Real Madrid, even though we lost some matches in La Liga... we need to play with strength and be more powerful in the opponent's areas... tomorrow is a night to show our identity and our character."
