Photo: Alberto Pizzoli / AFP / Getty Images
For: EFE
Friday, September 20
Xavi fears Chucky Lozano's Napoli: “He is a Champions rival”
The Barcelona coach, Xavi Hernández , said that the Napoli by Hirving Lozano is one of the “most difficult teams in the competition, a rival of ‘Champions ‘”, after this Monday’s draw for the Europa League round of 32 paired the Barça team with the Italian team.
“ We have had an unfavorable draw, but there are two months left and we hope to be then at a good time to face the competition. It will practically once again be a tribute to Maradona “, explained the Barça coach at the press conference prior to the Maradona Cup that Barça will play on Tuesday ( 18. 00 hours) against Boca Juniors in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
Xavi’s goal is “to put Barça back in the ‘Champions League’ as soon as possible”, but he pointed out that “now we have to be honest” and “Fight” for the second European competition.
Regarding the match that will be played at Mrsool Park Stadium, with capacity for 25. 00 0 spectators, the Spanish coach said that for Barça “it is an honor to be in the tribute of one of the best players in history, a footballer who has marked the whole world football ”.
Although he admitted that at this time “The trip” is not good for Barça, he considers that “they are circumstances of the club, which already had it agreed”. For Xavi the most important thing will be “to manage the physical load” and he will take advantage of it to “test young players and other footballers in new positions”.