Xavi Hernandez, the coach of Barcelona, affirmed his team's readiness to face Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. During the press conference for the match on Tuesday, Xavi stated, "This is a crucial moment; returning to the quarter-finals after four years of absence is exciting, and I believe we have reached our best point in the season."
He added, "However, we will play against one of the best teams in Europe, with one of the best coaches, Luis Enrique." He mentioned, "I know Enrique well, and I have a great relationship with him; he has a team that is determined to win the title."
Xavi continued, "Our style is similar, as we carry the DNA of Barcelona, like Guardiola and Arteta." Regarding stopping Mbappe, he said, "It's not just about Mbappe, but also Dembélé, Koulo Mouani, Vitinha, and the entire team; we need to monitor them all." He also noted, "It is positive that all the players who traveled with us are available tomorrow, barring any surprises."
On facing Ousmane Dembélé, he revealed, "We exchanged messages after the draw and talked about our meeting in Paris." He added, "I have great respect for him, even though he decided to leave Barcelona and come to Paris, as it was a challenge for him, and PSG took from us a great player."
He continued, "We enter the quarter-finals with great motivation, but not for personal reasons; I think about the club and the players, and the goal is for Barcelona to reach the semi-finals." Regarding Barcelona being one of the favorites to win the title, he commented, "I raised the last trophy for Barcelona when I was a player, but now, no. I believe that PSG is the candidate to qualify, as they signed Dembélé who was our best player."
He concluded by addressing concerns about terrorist threats and bombings, saying, "We hope nothing happens, and that the fans come to the stadium safely to watch the match, with mutual respect from both teams' fans."
