Barcelona pre-Napoli Champions League press conference: what Xavi and Frenkie de Jong said

FC Barcelona take on Napoli in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday 21 February (KO 3 p.m. ET/ noon PT.).

Ahead of the game, both Xavi and Frenkie de Jong sat down in front of the press to speak about the tie as well as the complicated situation in which the club find themselves.

First, it was the turn of the Dutch midfielder, who quickly made everyone present aware that he was not in the mood for fun and games...

His future at the club: I am irritated and angry with what the press writes in general, many things come out that are lies. Some of you make things up and you are not ashamed.

His angry mood: You are talking a lot about my contract, my salary, and there are a lot of lies and smoke. They say I’m getting paid €40 million. It’s far from what I really earn. They have invented a story. I’m happy at Barça. I hope I can continue for many years.

Is the club considering selling him: I hope not. I know there are many things that are made up. There are many things that are not true with players, coaches.... I have the feeling that it’s not going to change. You are making things up...

How he feels mentally: I’m doing great. The press says that if I don’t have the level, it doesn’t matter. You have to change the lies.

On playing Napoli: Napoli have a team with players of the highest level. There are players of great quality. They are in the last 16 of the Champions League. The match will be difficult.

Kvaratskhelia: He is a top-level player who makes a difference in the team and must be taken into account for tomorrow.

Preparation for the match: Champions League matches are special. The staff shows us videos of the opponent and let’s see if it goes well tomorrow.

After the displeased Dutchman it was the turn of Xavi Hernández who, since the start of the season, has raised eyebrows with his performances in front of the media.

Is you future at stake tomorrow? I don’t feel that my future is at stake now. I have immense excitement and motivation.

Would a draw be a good result? It depends on how the match goes. We will go out to win, as always. We go out to win; we are Barça, a draw for Barça is not a good result. We will go out like that, then depending on the circumstances we will see if it is a good result or not. But we have to keep in mind that we have a home game and that they will have to visit Montjuïc.

On who are the favourites to win: It will be very close. We are going to compete, I think it will be 50-50.

The criticism of Frenkie de Jong: We don’t blame the press for the results, but it’s true that sometimes you feel injustice when they say things that aren’t true. In this sense, the players carry it inside themselves. But we have to play better, compete better. We understand that, but there are other things that are unfair.

How is the squad coping mentally? The main objective is to be in the quarter-finals, and to not think beyond that. The team has become more united, the reaction has been very good, from the President, from Deco.... I’m happy with the way we are in the dressing room.

Does the approach to the game change given it is a two-legged tie? We have to be a little more cautious, prepare the match in the best possible way knowing that there are 90 more minutes left in Montjuïc. But we will continue with our identity. It will be complicated.

On Barcelona’s defensive worries this season: For us they are a very strong opponent, especially with the three strikers. For us it’s essential to defend well, to keep a watchful eye on them, to make sure they don’t generate counter-attacks... it’s difficult to stop those players.

This is the first knockout game since you announced you would be leaving. Is there more pressure now? I will experience it in the same way as if I had not announced anything. I’m very motivated, it doesn’t change anything. I’ll prepare for it in the best possible way. The pressure is the same, the pressure of being at Barça.

Is this game ‘a moment of truth’? It was the same at Porto’s ground, and against Shakhtar. If we go through to the quarter-finals it will be too. Tomorrow that will be the objective. Tomorrow we have to compete and enjoy ourselves. Perhaps the Champions League has been the club’s unfinished business in recent years, we’ll see if we can compete well.

On what this tie means for Barcelona: For us it means hope and motivation to get to the quarter-finals. I think it is the biggest competition at club level. It is the ideal and perfect stage to show what we know. Napoli have surprisingly changed their coach, but he’s a coach who knows the club. It’s not easy for us because we won’t know how the match will turn out with the change of coach. We are facing the Scudetto champions. We have to be wary of their forward line.