While praising his victory over Galatasaray in the Europa League, Barcelona coach Xavi says it will mean nothing when he thinks of Sunday’s El Clasico.
The Blaugrana will have to back up quickly on Thursday’s 2-1 aggregate victory, advancing to the quarter-finals of the tournament, with a trip to the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid waiting.
“Today was an important game because we are playing in the European Cup,” Xavi told reporters after the game. “We want to go far in this tournament, and we are very happy to be in the quarter-finals, as we deserve to be.
“Yes, we are in good form at the moment as we look forward to El Clasico, but that doesn’t mean anything.
“I’ve heard all about those games, I play badly and then I win or I play well and they beat us. Sunday is going to be a different story, very difficult and difficult.”
Barcelona’s win in Istanbul was linked with injuries to Sergino Dest and Gerard Pique, who both needed to come out on top in the second half.
With Barca already leading 2-1, Dest produced a slippery slope but with a good time to Muhammed Aturkoglu in the 55th minute, he injured a muscle in time.
Dest’s injury comes at the wrong time for the club, as Sunday’s Clasico awaits, as well as the country when Gregg Berhalter announces Dest’s recent US national team a few hours after the final whistle.
Gerard Pique also took the place of the second half, aggravating a groin injury coming into the game and coming off Clement Lenglet in the 81st minute.
“He finally told me it was hard for him to run and we decided to make a change,” Xavi told Movieist + after the game.
“We were not going to give it up. We only won by one goal, and Pique has been miserable for a whole month.”
Although Dest’s condition is uncertain on Sunday, it is unclear whether Pique will be ready for Barcelona’s clash with rival rivals.
