Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi dismissed suggestions that he and his teammates were exploited by re-elected president Joan Laporta during his campaign. Laporta was observed celebrating his victory with several players.
While Barcelona players didn’t explicitly endorse Laporta, many alluded to a strong rapport with him. Cubarsi, among other teammates, joined in the post-election celebrations, following reports that opponent Victor Font’s remarks had not been well-received by the squad. Asked if Laporta “used” his player relationships, Cubarsi responded:
“As a player and a club member, everyone has the right to express themselves freely. I’m keeping my vote private, but Laporta has been elected, and we congratulate him. Our focus is now on tomorrow’s game.”
He added, “He visited us, and we congratulated him. He encouraged us to stay true to ourselves, acknowledged our spectacular form, and reminded us to remain a united family, which is essential for winning titles.”
Revamped Defensive Strategy Paying Off
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick had previously noted his team’s fatigue after the first Champions League leg against Newcastle United, where they faced relentless pressure.
Cubarsi commented, “We’ve had time to recuperate and are in good shape. Playing every three days is demanding, but we find moments for mental preparation. Tomorrow, we’ll give it our all, as always.”
Despite conceding two goals against Sevilla recently, there’s a general consensus that Barcelona’s defense has significantly improved. Since suffering consecutive defeats to Girona and Atletico Madrid, the team has only conceded four goals in their subsequent six matches.
“We’ve made some adjustments to our defensive line, and now we’re performing at a high level,” Cubarsi explained. “Every available player is contributing spectacularly, which benefits the entire team. If we trust the coaching staff’s philosophy, success will follow.”
Key Players Stepping Up in Defense
Personnel changes have played a role in this defensive resurgence. With Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde injured, Xavi Espart and Eric Garcia have filled in at right-back, while Joao Cancelo has secured the left-back position.
Regarding Cancelo, Cubarsi shared, “We’re very pleased with his second spell here. Upon his arrival, he greatly helped me integrate into the locker room. It’s fantastic to have such a versatile player who can assist us. He’s one of us, and he’s thrilled.”
Alongside Cubarsi, Gerard Martin has been a frequent choice in central defense recently.
“Gerard Martin is having an exceptional season, playing more at centre-back and looking very comfortable,” Cubarsi stated. “It’s been a magnificent season for him. Gerard, Ronald, Eric, and Andreas are all capable of performing at their peak.”
Mentality Over Experience Against Newcastle
Cubarsi admitted that Barcelona struggled with Newcastle’s tempo in the initial leg and emphasized the importance of attitude over experience, noting Newcastle’s higher average age.
“Their intensity at home was remarkable. We were aware of this from our league phase encounter. We lacked a bit of rhythm, but it will be different on our home turf,” he said.
“The most crucial factor isn’t experience; it’s how you approach and enter the game. This is a knockout stage, and even though we reached the semi-finals last year, it doesn’t guarantee a win this time.”
Barcelona is set to host Newcastle at 18:45 CEST on Wednesday, following a 1-1 draw in the first leg. The Blaugrana aim to extend their impressive run of 11 consecutive home victories since returning to Camp Nou.
