COPA DEL REY | BARCELONA-REAL MADRID
"We've caught Madrid at their best moment of the season"
In an interview ahead of Barcelona's clash with Valencia this weekend, coach Ernesto Valverde gave his thoughts about the upcoming Clásico tie in the Copa del Rey.
Drawing Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey: "It’s a great tie, two big games that come at a time when both teams are immersed in the fight for the top positions in the league and at the same time we are going to start the Champions League in a few weeks. It’s true it is a burden as [Clásico fixtures] are played with great intensity. But at the same time they are attractive to fans and to us. It’s a great semi-final. Let's see if we are capable of going to the final.”
Do you expect a very different El Clásico from the one in the league? What’s each team’s chances of winning?: "The chances are the same. We see it as even, I don’t know, it's absurd to speak of percentages. At that time in the league [in October], they came [to the Camp Nou] in a difficult state of mind, but now it’s different. They are confident, they are better and that means a lot. We've possibly caught Madrid at their best moment of the season."
Honest feelings about the tie: "Drawing Madrid was always a possibility. Clásico fixtures cause a special kind of fatigue, but we have to play it. We put a lot of focus on it in the short term, but also you look a bit further down the line. I have to see how players are and how they’re progressing. You also have to look at the medium term. The schedule is very hard, but we already knew that a few weeks ago and fatigue can be an important factor."
Three Clásicos in one season: "They are great matches to watch and are exciting for the fans. We will try to go through and nothing else. The calendar is inevitable."
On Dembélé being fit: "We'll see how he is Monday or Tuesday."
