Speaking to 'TVE', Fermin Lopez pulled no punches when asked about the noise coming from the capital: "We steer clear of refereeing controversies. We are doing things the right way, winning matches, and upholding the values that define Barca. We must focus on our own path, and if they want to lean into that narrative, it is only because fueling the debate suits them. Their rhetoric is becoming tiresome, and we are proving our quality on the pitch."

Jose Mourinho addressed those comments ahead of 'El Clasico', hardly biting his tongue before firing back: "What can I say? We are tired of many other things that keep happening, and Fermin is tired of our words. That is just how it is."

Fermin also played down suggestions that FC Barcelona head into the showdown as favourites against Real Madrid: "Form counts for nothing going into this match. We are two massive clubs; we have to focus on our game and take care of the details. Hopefully we win. Courtois wins them a lot of points with crucial saves, and Mbappe is a match-winner. If it were up to me, I would take both of them out of the side. As a collective, we must keep every single one of them under wraps."