Oriol Romeu is one of the signings made by FC Barcelona this summer who has a lower profile than some other signings that came to the Catalan club, but still has the skill set to play an effective part in the squad this season.
As SPORT has reported, the midfielder appeared in a program at Catalunya Radio on Wednesday, in which he touched upon a number of different matters related to the club and his role in the squad.
Start to the season and role in the team
One of the topics that Romeu talked about in this interview was the start that the team had to the league season. On this subject, the midfielder commented:
“The start is positive in terms of points because we had tough away games, but we have struggled and managed to get through them as we should, although there are things to improve and work on.”
Before Romeu, the Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets used to play in the pivot position. However, Romeu expressed that his role is different to that of Sergio Busquets:
“Busi is the best defensive midfielder who has ever played for Barça, and I try to do my best. So far, I’m handling it well.”
Furthermore, he mentioned:
“I don’t do exactly what Busi did, but Xavi looks for what I can provide based on my abilities. In Pamplona, for example, he said that those of us with more physical presence should step up to prevent us from being pinned down in the box. I try to contribute in a way that can help the team the most.”
The midfielder also gave insights on the game system that Xavi has implemented at the club:
“It’s about attacking in the opponent’s half, having possession, being progressive, looking for the wings, and recovering after losing the ball… The philosophy is the same as always, but it varies depending on the available players and the opponent.”
Romeu talks de Jong, Girona departure, season aims
Frenkie de Jong is having a great start to the new season, and Romeu also talked about his fellow midfielder in this interview:
“In his dribbling, he makes the team progress; he must feel comfortable on the field, play his style of football; he’s at an incredibly high level.”
Romeu, who developed at Barcelona before playing with a host of other clubs across Europe, also talked about his departure from Girona this summer:
“I knew that among the options for Barcelona, I could be one, and if they signed me, I was very clear that I had to have a great year and enjoy it to the fullest. I believe that Girona understood my decision. They valued my year and respected my choice.”
Lastly, the midfielder also talked about the club’s main aim this season, i.e., the Champions League:
“We will fight for it” because “the team needs to take a step forward in Europe. The squad is of a high standard, but we’ll see. Nevertheless, the Champions League has to be an objective.”
