There is a day and night difference between the FC Barcelona of the last and the current season. This difference is particularly prominent in regards to the defense, as the same team that won the league title on the back of its defensive astuteness last season is being punished for its defensive errors this term.
While the causes of this defensive fragility are complex and varied, one of the more clear factors responsible for this is the absence of Pablo Gavi.
The midfielder was able to put out a lot of fires with his energy and passion in the middle of the field, and his unavailability for the most part of this season has a clear and drastic impact on the team.
Gavi is currently recovering from an ACL tear that he suffered last year, and which is expected to keep him out for the rest of the season. However, the player has not stopped defending Barcelona even when he is unable to play on the pitch.
This time his defense has come on social media. As Mundo Deportivo has reported, the midfielder was quick to jump into his teammate, Pau Cubarsi’s, aid when the journalist Paco Gonzalez criticized the defender for his actions in the last night’s match against Granada.
Cubarsi went to the ground after a contact with the Granada goalkeeper. One can argue that the contact was not too serious, and Gonzalez certainly took this line as he commented on the action:
“Pathetic Cubarsí. He doesn’t touch him in the face, he complains about his foot, and he doesn’t touch him down either. With the acting career at 17. Let his dad grab him and tell him, look son, with the career you have ahead, don’t earn the reputation of being an actor.”
Reacting to these comments, Gavi criticized the journalist, and wrote on his Instagram: “You are pathetic, wake up Paco.”
Gavi’s comments were widely circulated on social media, showing how much his words meant to the Barcelona fans, and also showing the camaraderie that exists between the youngsters playing for the club.
