The Catalans host the table leaders Real Sociedad on Wednesday. In the pre-match conference, Ronald Koeman spoke about the current league situation and also about the upcoming Champions League fixture.
Real Sociedad
“I like the way they play, we have to be very good, very confident in ourselves, have the ball, and try to create scoring chances. We are two teams that want to have the ball and we want to press. I hope for an open and beautiful game.”
Current league scenario
“In general we cannot be happy about our performance in the league because we have lost games that we should not have lost but the work and attitude against Levante were very good and we hope that these three points will give us peace of mind for tomorrow’s game.”
Pjanic’s complaints
“We have talked about his situation and the things he needs to improve. I like this attitude, having someone who doesn’t like to stay on the bench, it’s good. They have to work to get opportunities to play.”
Knockout fixture against PSG
“In principle, it is always complicated because the games are played in February and March and we don’t know how we are going to be. Hopefully, we will have all the players available because we will be stronger than we are now, and the rival has its ups and downs. We hope we will be better than we are now.”
Media noise about Riqui Puig
“I don’t know, there is interest from the press because he is a La Masia player, but there are also other players who do not play and seek the support of the coach and the press. We are a strong squad where they can only play 11 and the coach decides based on a player’s attitude.”
Dembélé’s situation
“He is training individually, I don’t want to give a date, hopefully it will be soon because we need him due to his qualities.”
Spirit of the squad
“I see a good atmosphere in the squad, I don’t see any problems between them, yesterday they had a pre-Christmas party and there was a lot of noise. The atmosphere is good.”
Real Sociedad as potential title winners
“At the moment, yes. They are on top due to the work they have done. They also have a very tight schedule for the Cup and the Europa League, how they will play will depend on their players.”
De Jong’s version against Levante
“Frenkie has always been a player to carry the weight of building the game from behind, as he has done in Ajax and the national team, but he can break lines because he is very fast.”
Situation of Mingueza after the return of Araujo and Umtiti
“Today Óscar is a player for the first team, he had some discomfort a week ago. He comes to give competition. He is a part of the four central defenders, a young man with a future.”
Messi one goal away from matching Pelé
“They are impressive numbers, we will not find another player who gives so much to this club. That is why he is number 1. Once again, everything he has done for this club is incredible.”
The win against Levante as a turning point
“We know about our situation, we have to win every game until the end of the year. We are facing a good team, but we have to have personality. The three points have given us a little more confidence, but we have to show it tomorrow.”
Update on Ansu Fati
“With this type of injury, it is difficult to know when he can return. Hopefully he will be there when we play against PSG, but we must not take risks with him.”
Change in the current system
“The pressure is very strong here. Everyone demands to win everything. The situation is different at the club now and you have to accept that you cannot win everything. You can understand the critics if you lose four or five games, but the other day I was criticized for putting in a center-back in the last minutes, and I didn’t understand that because we wanted to win.”
