Scott Clark
Jul 30, 2023 - 03:05

"FC Barcelona Coach Xavi: Insights on Fermin Lopez, Dembele Future & El Clasico Thrashing vs. Real Madrid"

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez praises Ousmane Dembele's performance and expresses confidence in his future at the club.

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez recently discussed various topics, including Ousmane Dembele's future, a standout performance from Fermin Lopez, and his team's impressive victory over Real Madrid in El Clasico.

Following a 5-3 loss to Arsenal earlier in the week, Barcelona continued their preseason tour in Arlington, Texas, where they faced their eternal rivals, Real Madrid. The match drew a record attendance of 82,026 fans, making it the largest crowd for an El Clasico match in the United States.

The fans didn't have to wait long for a goal, as Barcelona midfielder Pedri made a brilliant decision in the 15th minute. Instead of going for a break with the ball on the edge of the box, he cleverly passed it to Dembele, who then skillfully drilled it past Thibaut Courtois into the bottom corner of the net. When asked about Dembele's future amid rumors of a potential transfer to PSG, Xavi expressed that he sees the winger as "happy" at Barcelona, but ultimately the decision lies with the player.

While Dembele had a successful performance, another player who stood out was Fermin Lopez. The 20-year-old La Masia graduate, who hasn't cost Barcelona any transfer fees, had an impressive 24-minute cameo. He scored a brilliant goal to double Barcelona's lead and then assisted Ferran Torres in scoring the third goal. Xavi praised Lopez's performance and emphasized that the coaching staff has faith in young players who prove themselves in training.

Xavi also commended new recruit Oriol Romeu, who started in defensive midfield. He jokingly mentioned that the press and fans' opinions of the team can change drastically from one match to another, highlighting the passionate nature of Barcelona's supporters.

While Xavi acknowledged that there were both positive aspects and mistakes in the match, he emphasized that the result is secondary at this stage of the preseason. The focus now is on improvement, as Barcelona prepares to face AC Milan in Las Vegas before returning to Catalonia for the Joan Gamper Trophy and their La Liga title defense against Getafe on August 13.