Xavi spoke about the Right Back options, Kounde’s recovery, the game against Mallorca, injuries of Barca players during the international break, the World Cup’s effect on the season, Dembele’s fitness, media criticizing Luis Enrique, Balde’s role, the Clasico, Busquet’s statement and Ansu Fati’s fitness in his pre-match press conference ahead of Barca’s game against Mallorca.
Xavi on Barca’s injury crisis:
“I’m disappointed but we have to stay positive. Every injured player is important to us but what happened, happened. Now the next stop is for the World Cup. We have to be careful, and pay attention to every detail.”
Xavi on the match against Mallorca:
“The Mallorca match will be difficult, they have started the season well, and they are a strong team. They have a great midfield, good defense, and play in a direct way. I think it will be a game where we need to have the ball.”
Xavi on Barca’s right back options:
“We have some options, like Sergi Roberto or Marc Casado from the second team, or maybe we could use a left-back there.”
Xavi on the FIFA World Cup:
“FIFA plans to play the World Cup every two years. Today we have the World Cup in Qatar during the winter season. I think it would be better if the tournament wasn’t in the middle of the season. Then the other time is allocated to the clubs.”
Xavi on Dembele:
“Dembele is fine and he’s ready to play.”
Xavi on the media criticizing Luis Enrique:
“Everyone knows my wonderful relationship with Luis Enrique, he trained me here at Barca. We always communicate and always talk. I always talk to him about the players in the team, explaining to him the details of each Spaniard and how tired or ready he is.”
“I think the coach of the Spanish national team is always criticized. Media is sometimes unfair… even the media in Barcelona. But that’s the journalist’s job, and, as coaches, we have to accept that.”
Xavi on Kounde’s progress:
“Our goal is for him to be back on the pitch, once he has fully recovered.”
Xavi on who to blame for injuries:
“Injuries are nobody’s fault, not even the national teams’ fault. Bellerín has also been injured with us… It’s not about blaming anyone. I told the squad that everyone was going to be needed.”
Xavi on Balde and the Youth team:
“Balde is 18 years old and he is ready to play. I always communicate with Marquez, who is doing well, and I also watched the training of the second team players. Anyone who can help us from the second team can play with us.”
Xavi on El Clasico:
“We still have time before the game, and we have to see who comes back from our players first. We try to cover all the mistakes, but sometimes misfortune happens.”
Xavi on Busquets‘s statements:
“Busquets has spoken publicly about his future and said he will decide at the end of the season. For me, he is a very important player, and for Luis Enrique too.”
Xavi on the available defenders:
“The defenders we have are of high quality. What we ask from them is acquisition and physical superiority. We also rotate between them, with many matches. I could play with midfielders in the back, like Frenkie de Jong or Gavi but these are just ideas.”
Xavi on Ansu Fati not being called for the Spanish NT:
“Ansu Fati has been training very well for the last two weeks. He took it as motivation for him to work more.”
That concluded Xavi’s press conference.