Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez, on Saturday, expressed confidence in his team’s ability to overcome the negative atmosphere surrounding the club and mount a successful defense of their league title.
While securing La Liga in the previous season, the Catalans are presently in fourth position, facing an eight-point gap behind leaders Girona and trailing second-place Real Madrid by seven points.
Barcelona’s schedule includes a Sunday visit to Real Betis, followed by a demanding away fixture against Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
Xavi’s team has been subjected to substantial criticism after Real Madrid’s resounding triumph over Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final last Sunday.
‘We are optimistic, we know these seven or eight points we can make up,’ Xavi told a news conference.
‘Tomorrow we will try to play our football, using our idea of the game, there’s the whole second half of the season to go and we have the most hope possible.’
The coach said he was extremely positive in life, even though many around the club and in Catalonia typically have a more negative outlook.
Read also: Xavi Calls For Better Defense At Barcelona
‘(Positivity) is what’s lacking most, but I counter that,’ continued Xavi.
‘Catalans, the club, its history, we are sufferers … I see (these tough games) as an opportunity.’
‘As I’ve been a player and won a lot, I am calmer, but I also lost a lot — Barcelona have not always won.’
‘The level of demand on us, we accept, but a lot of the time positivity is lacking.’
Xavi admitted his team need to tighten up at the back and finish more of their chances, but insisted he believed the team can triumph this season.
‘It’s about attitude, I always look at things positively … I wake up positive, I’m made like that,’ he added.
‘Barca, in some ways, everything around the club, isn’t like that.’
‘We can achieve things this season and we will fight, and if not, we will have tried — failure is not trying.’
Girona, currently topping the league, will host Sevilla on Sunday, while Real Madrid is set to entertain bottom-of-the-table Almeria.