Luis de la Fuente summoned Pau Cubarsí for the Denmark (Saturday) and Serbia (Tuesday) matches after a summer where the FC Barcelona centre-back won Olympic gold with La Roja in Paris. In the run-up to the duel against the Danes, the 17-year-old defender spoke with 'SPORT' about his characteristics as a footballer, referring to his calmness when playing from the back as his main virtue. Furthermore, he valued the potential of the current Barça squad.
"We are a very young team, we use our energy to give our best and try to play. I don't feel like a veteran, but I don't feel like I'm one of the youngest either," explained the defender. Likewise, the '5' culé had some nice words of gratitude to Xavi Hernández, with whom he managed to make the jump to the first team last season.
"I will always see Xavi as the coach who gave me my debut. A coach who helped me a lot. A ten person both inside and outside the team. He has always been by my side and I am very happy with what he has done for me," he commented when referring to the Egarense. In that sense, he avoided the always uncomfortable comparisons between the two coaches that, for the moment, he has had in the culé first team, although he valued the work of each one. "They are two different coaches. We also trained with Xavi, but due to life circumstances, it didn't go well and now we are very happy to have Flick," explained the youth player.
Cubarsí gets 'wet' about his references and Barça's objectives in 2025
Regarding his example to follow, Pau did not hesitate to mention his main reference. "My goal would be to have Puyol's character and leadership. Both on and off the field. He is a leader, who tries to help his teammate. If things don't go well, encourage his teammate, if things go well, take the team forward. ". And, regarding his teammates in the Barça squad, he highlighted who, this season, has become his best partner at the back, Iñigo Martínez. "He is a person who helps you on the field and off. Having him by your side gives you confidence and security."
On the other hand, Cubarsí also referred to Barça's objectives this season and what the team can aspire to in 2025. "I think that we have a very good squad, with a very good staff. We all go together and I think that if we play well and we have the ambition, we can win a title," said the culé youth player in an interview prior to Spain-Denmark, a match where he will return to the senior team after being left out of the final list for the Euro Cup.