Barcelona coach Xavi admits he expects a testing affair against Espanyol.
Xavi has warned his players to expect ‘provocation’ from their Espanyol opponents – which he did last season ahead of his first derby as Barca coach.
Covered by a new documentary, he said: “Control emotions. It’s 90 minutes with eleven footballers. They are going to provoke us, the referee … Espanyol, we already know them.
“You have to run like animals, you have to bite, it is Espanyol, it is a derby. The public is with us and people are excited. The first few minutes at full speed and try things.
“The pressure is for me and the staff. We have very young people, soccer is trying, trying, again, again … the pressure is on me. I have already told you that I am going to defend you to death at the press conferences. Play calmly.”
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