Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has defended Catalan star Ilkay Gundogan and his recent statements, stressing that he has only criticized his teammates for his different German culture and mentality.
After the 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid in El Clasico, Gundogan attacked the Barcelona stars and said that he was waiting for more anger and disappointment in the dressing room, and that he did not come to Barcelona to lose such major encounters.
Xavi was asked at the Real Sociedad press conference: "Gundogan's culture is different from ours and we can learn from it".
"A few days ago Bayern Munich lost and Muller came out and said that his team did not play well and that they have to improve, this is the mentality of the Germans."
"We are all here to win and we all support what he said, we are Barcelona and we know what it means to be here."
"We have a dressing room with a very healthy atmosphere, I am very happy that the players understand each other and with me, I have never had any problem with them."
As for the injured, Xavi announced that Pedri is available for the game against Real Sociedad, while Frenkie de Jong will need more time to return to the team.
"We decided before not to risk him, but now all the feelings are great for him, he is ready to return."
"People always ask about injuries, De Jong is not ready and when he is ready he will return to work immediately," he concluded by responding to De Jong's condition.
It remains to be noted that Barcelona enters the match against Real Sociedad in fourth place in the Spanish league standings with 24 points, compared to 19 points for the Basque club in fifth place.
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