Laporta goes down to the locker room and Xavi appeals to Joao Félix

And Joan Laporta went down to the locker room. This time to the first team, to avoid misunderstandings. It was on the eve of Barcelona's key match in LaLiga, after qualifying for the Champions League round of 16.. “We need the support of the fans,” said the Barça president, although from his visit it is deduced that the main need lies in his own team, in the locker room.. «The Barça-Atlético matches are very intense, electric matches. “They are coming strong, both teams are doing well and we have to take the three points,” he said..

Laporta insisted that the players are “super motivated”, but pointed out that “they need, as always and in this match more than ever, the support of the fans.”. In that sense, he called for people to come en masse to the party.. “You have an appointment with the players, who are looking forward to offering a great football exercise and victory,” he added.. For the president, Barça is at “a turning point, but we are getting better and better”.

Xavi Hernández normalized this visit, after the one Laporta made to the subsidiary's locker room, led by Rafa Márquez, aroused some suspicions. The coach reiterated that the support for the president's team is total. He also referred to the pressure that Joao Félix may feel, and even more so after the statements of those who were his teammates at Atlético. «Joao is from Benfica and that motivated him against Porto. Tomorrow it has to be extra motivation to play against the team you belong to,” he predicted.. And he did not hesitate to reaffirm that the former colchonero “is happy and happy” in Barcelona, and highlighted that “he is contributing a lot, with important goals.”.

The coach still cannot count on Ter Stegen, still with lower back pain, so Iñaki Peña is expected to make his third consecutive start under the sticks.. «It has been tried and there are discomforts. We'll see next week,” he lamented.. Finally, I do not hesitate to praise Joao Cancelo's performance against Porto, when the full-back moved to the left lane. “It gives us many alternatives, it is a key variant.”