On August 16, Barcelona manager Xavi spoke at a press conference ahead of the team’s first La Liga match against Valencia. He said, “Newly signed Olmo is not ready to play, and Pedri may appear in the second half.”
Looking ahead to the match against Valencia, Xavi said, “Valencia play well, and for my team it’s a great game to start the La Liga season against them. We are looking forward to our first match in Valencia. We know that they will look for space and will press their goalkeeper.”
Regarding the team lineup and registration, Xavi mentioned, “We have registered 22-23 players. We will activate the list tomorrow. Although Olmo has been registered, he is not ready for tomorrow’s match. He joined too late. All the players who take the field must be at their best.” Regarding Pedri’s situation, Xavi said, “He is a special player and I am happy he is back. He may be an option in the second half.”
When asked about the status of Yamal, Xavi confirmed, “Yes, he can play.”
Regarding the return of Frenkie de Jong and Ansu Fati, Xavi expressed optimism, “I am optimistic, but I don’t think it will be soon. We have other players we can use, and I hope they come back, but there’s no definite date. They are moving in the right direction. They are training well, they are great players.”
Regarding the completeness of the team’s lineup, Xavi said, “I am satisfied with the roster I have now. Everything else is unknown. I have a lot of faith in the club. I have to say I am very happy with the team’s performance, and when the injured players return, we will be very strong.”
Regarding the positional arrangement of defender Christensen, Xavi responded, “I don’t usually talk about my tactics. I have no opinion about midfielders.”
Regarding the competition with Real Madrid, Xavi said, “I’ve already answered that question. They are a very good and powerful team. They are very good both with and without the ball, and that helps them win. My idea is to be prepared, starting with the match against Valencia.”
When asked about the team captaincy, Xavi revealed, “We will communicate with the referee and tell him who will be the communicator on the field. For now, Marc (Ter Stegen) is still the first captain.”
Regarding young player Gavi, Xavi said, “We have to take care of him, he’s going to play for another 10 or 15 years. The coaching staff is working hard to help him. I’m proud of the team we have. We have to be calm.”
Mentioning the contributions of Thiago, he said, “We have had a good relationship for a long time, and I gave him the opportunity to come here. He helped us a lot. His contribution to us has been incredible. He is a great person.”
Finally, regarding the complex situation with signings and registrations, Xavi summarized, “For me, there is nothing that can’t be changed. There are no excuses. This is the situation. I accepted this situation when I arrived here. I accept it, and I’m focused on tomorrow.”
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