Xavi Simons echoed Robert De Zerbi’s sentiments when he declared: “I’m really happy the coach is here.”
The playmaker told us ‘I want to help the team to score and assist’ after doing just that in what turned out to be a gut-wrenching 2-2 draw against Brighton on Saturday.
Xavi was at his electric best, dictating play from his ’10’ role. He delivered the cross for Pedro Porro to open the scoring after 39 minutes and then drilled home one of the goals of the season from 20 yards to make it 2-1 on 77 minutes.
That sparked scenes of joy in the stadium but, alas, it wasn’t to be – after levelling for 1-1 in first half added time, Brighton left it even later to grab a draw, this time Georfinio Rutter firing into the roof of the net in the 95th minute.
That left Xavi and his team-mates crestfallen – the rollercoaster range of emotions on display in N17.
Here’s what Xavi made of it all…
Try to sum that up for us Xavi – how did you see it today?
Xavi: “Yeah, we started really good, the game, really aggressive as well. We wanted to play football, as the coach said, and enjoy the game, I would say.”
You can see the team wants to play, that you want to try and play the football that Roberto wants…
Xavi: “Yeah, of course. New coach coming in, new idea of playing football. It’s a coach that really wants the ball, especially for me, it’s something I really like and I think I can put my best game on it. Improving day by day with the ball is most important. Today we tried, and obviously, having that late goal in the last minute, yeah, it hurts.”
In Focus: Xavi’s Player of the Match-winning display against Brighton
Your goal Xavi – you really want goals like that to win games – you went through all of the emotions today…
Xavi: “You know, it’s so much hard work that maybe the people don’t see. We’re really working hard as a team. Me as well, as an individual player. What I said a couple of times to you guys, season didn’t go as we wanted, but you know, this is life. You have to embrace it, you have to take it, and you have to work every day. So, that was kind of the moment in the last minutes, I had like… we worked so hard in the last minute, we conceded a goal, and it’s just a shame.”
Tell us about your goal and the celebrations. You could see how much you meant to everyone in the stadium…
Xavi: “Yeah, I’ve been through a difficult journey, I would say, this season. It’s life. I have to take it. I’m still young, I have to learn things. I’m really happy that the coach is here, for me especially. I want to play football, I want to help the team to score and assist. I want to help the team to go through this situation, together as a team is the most important thing, but yeah, these are the kind of games that I want to be on the pitch, and I want to show everyone that I can help the team.”
Roberto said he wanted to see goals and assists from you – anything different for you over this last couple of weeks, or is this just a case of you finding rhythm, finding confidence, getting the opportunities?
Xavi: “It’s been tough for me. I’m not going to lie, it’s been tough, mentally, but I’m lucky that I have a really good family that’s always with me and we stay together. In these times as well, I know the people that are around me and the people that really support me day by day. I’m just putting the work into it, morning, afternoon, night, and I want to really help the team. That’s the most important thing, especially today. I think the fans were fantastic, and we have to keep working because we have to get through this.”
Can you explain to the fans how you see the team moving forward? It feels like the team is moving in the right direction. Does it feel that way in and amongst the group?
Xavi: “You could see the atmosphere in the stadium from the first minute. We, as players, we feel that as well. What I can say is that we are really working hard to go through this situation. New manager has come in, so we have to adapt on things, but what I can say, we’re going in the right direction and we’re going to work hard for sure.”
Finally, give us some good news – the injury isn’t serious?
Xavi: “No, no, just cramp.”
‘Late goal hurts, but we’re improving day by day’ – Xavi on Brighton draw