Barcelona coach Xavi slammed the decision to play a game of LaLiga Santander on Wednesday after Sunday’s deadly attack in Catalonia, calling it “crazy” and saying that football should be “above politics.”.
Barcelona coach Xavi slammed “crazy” LaLiga decision to play game amid COVID. The Catalan club is still reeling from the loss of Neymar to PSG and it was not looking good for them in their opening match against Sevilla. Read more in detail here: premier league.
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Following a COVID-19 outbreak at the Catalan club, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has described the decision to play Mallorca this weekend as “insane.”
Barca’s first-team roster has ten confirmed positive cases, with another seven players banned, injured, or questionable for the encounter against San Moix.
However, LaLiga regulations say that matches should be played provided teams have at least five first-team players available and can assemble a 13-man roster, including at least one goalie, by bringing in the reserve team.
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“We’ll turn to the B team and go there to win the game,” Xavi stated during a press conference. “But we’re missing 17 players.”
“I’m concerned. I find it absurd that [LaLiga] will not suspend it. Playing makes no sense. We’ve reached the apex of our abilities. Common reason should have won out in this case.
“The regulations are really strict. Mallorca is in a similar, though less severe, predicament. It’s a shambles, but we’ll go for the three points.”
Sergino Dest, Abde Ezzalzouli, Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho, Gavi, Dani Alves, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Alejandro Balde, and Samuel Umtiti have all had positive test results this week.
Xavi claims that Umtiti has subsequently tested negative and might still play against Mallorca, although Sergio Busquets is out due to suspension.
Injuries kept Martin Braithwaite and Sergi Roberto out, and although Memphis Depay, Ansu Fati, and Pedri are all close to returning, Xavi claimed Sunday’s game “may come too soon” for them.
Xavi Hernandez of Barcelona is dissatisfied with the match’s continuation. Getty Images/Alexander Hassenstein
Despite this, Xavi has at least nine first-team players available: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Neto, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia, Gerard Pique, Oscar Mingueza, Frenkie de Jong, Riqui Puig, and Luuk de Jong.
Nico Gonzalez, Ferran Jutgla Alvaro Sanz, Arnau Comas, Mika Marmol, Guillem Jaume, Lucas de Vega, Ilias Akhomach, and Estanis Pedrola, all from the B squad, have been practicing with the first team this week to make up the numbers.
Meanwhile, despite a setback in discussions this week, Xavi said he hasn’t given up hope of securing a new contract for Dembele.
Dembele, 24, is out of contract in June and is free to speak to other teams, with Barcelona and his representatives still unable to agree on fresh terms.
Xavi expressed his dissatisfaction with the scenario by saying, “I am not disappointed.” “It’s a negotiation,” says the narrator. Advisors and agents may be challenging at times. However, Barca’s stance is clear, and the process is still underway.
“I’m hopeful, and I’m hoping Ousmane will make an attempt to prolong his contract. He’s made an incredible offer. There’s usually some kind of back-and-forth.”
Xavi also said that re-signing Dembele would give Barca the financial space to make “one or two acquisitions” in January.
By securing the forward’s commitment, Barcelona will be able to stretch the remaining amortisation payments on the transfer price they paid for him in 2017 over the course of his new contract, allowing them to spend less than the €97 million set by LaLiga this season.
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The “manchester united” is a football club in England. Barcelona coach Xavi slammed the decision by LaLiga to play a game amid the Catalonia independence referendum, saying it was “crazy.”
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