15 days later, after the international break, football and La Liga return. Xavi Hernández appeared in the Joan Gamper press room with a smile, despite the difficulties. Despite having up to eight injured in the infirmary 48 hours before facing Valverde’s Athletic Club in Montjuïc and a week before the classic against Real Madrid with the Champions League and Shaktar Donetsk as a prelude. “We are going step by step. First Athletic. Many things can happen. More downs, ups… but none of that is an excuse. We play at home and we need our people,” asked Xavi, who faces this period as a challenge to reconnect with the game, winning and resisting.
Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Koundé, Sergi Roberto, Pedri and Raphinha did not train. They continue doing rehabilitation. Along with Lewandowski, Pedri and Raphinha are the closest to being medically cleared for the classic. Xavi emphasized the character of the Polish striker. “I hope Lewandowski is there for the classic. He has good feelings, he is an example and he wants to play. In that aspect he is also a great leader. It can hurt him but he shoots because he wants to be there and it hurts less every day. He shoots alone. But it’s good that the goals are distributed”.
As for Pedri, who hasn’t played for two months, he could even try out for Shakthar Donestsk on Wednesday in the Champions League. “It’s the calendar and bad luck. Two ankles, a player (Gavi) who falls on Koundé’s knee… they are fortuitous plays. The calendar is very demanding,” explained Xavi.
But there are good news. After the national team break, goalkeeper Ter Stegen, center back Ronald Araújo and midfielder Ilkay Gündogan were the last three players to join training. Ter Stegen carried out field work, but not the Uruguayan and the German who trained in the gym as a precaution.
Alejandro Balde and Lamine Yamal also participated in the session, both with minor injuries. They are already training normally “The four will be there on Sunday, they are at 100%. Those who have traveled have done recovery work, but they are fine,” said Xavi of the two youth players and Gündogan and Araújo. The youngsters from the Astralaga subsidiary, Marc Guiu, Unai Hernández, Mbacke and Héctor Fort, also trained with the team.
Beyond football, the coach answered all the questions related to president Joan Laporta’s statements on Catalunya Ràdio in which he pointed out that Barcelona is a victim of “sociological Madridismo.” A movement that, according to the president, has also been reflected in the Negreira case with his accusation of an alleged crime of bribery. “I am with the president 100%. His accusation is the result of sociological Real Madridism. It is always like this, with Villarato, which was invented by a Madrid newspaper… During my time there was talk of doping. We suffer from it. It is to destabilize,” Xavi explained.
Finally, the coach also expressed his surprise with the game that was taken away from Nacho due to Portu’s entry after the appeal presented by Real Madrid. “It’s surprising. Lewandowski was dropped for three games for touching his nose. We appealed and nothing happened. That he was reduced from three to two games for a tackle on a teammate, speaking clearly, surprises me,” he said.