The diagnosis is made. The blank season has made Barcelona react. “With me, losing will have consequences,” said president Joan Laporta at the time. And the club will act. It was confirmed by Xavi Hernández, who came to announce a major restructuring of the squad. “The objective is to change, to bring new players to improve,” he said for next season. “This year we have played better and we have competed worse. We have to play better but above all compete better,” he put it as his duties.
The problem now is being able to act and intervene. It is not easy because the price is not low. The club’s cash and then LaLiga’s financial fair play to register will condition the planning. “We have to see the film of the economic situation and fair play. The president is always positive and so is Deco, but the economic situation will mark us. We all know that.”
So Xavi considers that until the transfer market ends in September, there is no point in talking about objectives. “First we have to plan, strengthen ourselves and when we have the photo of the squad for next season we will talk about objectives.”
In that sense, the Barça coach wanted to make the culé fans aware that they must be aware of the change in the size of the club. “We will try. But I think that the Barcelona fan must understand that the situation is very difficult. He has nothing to do with 25 years ago, when the coach came and said I want this one, this one and this one,” he compared about the signings and the economic prosperity of other times. “I understand it. That doesn’t mean we don’t want to compete and fight for titles. But we need stability and time,” he asked for calm.
This crude x-ray contrasts with the arrival in the winter market of Vitor Roque for 30 million. “The intention was not for Vitor to come in January. The idea is that he would become a player there in Brazil. But a possibility opened up when Gavi and Balde were injured and we decided that he should get to know the club and compete. He is a player who is developing. I don’t understand the debate. There is competition and he plays less because there are players who are ahead of him. He has spent his entire life and more with young players,” he reasoned about the few minutes of the 19-year-old Brazilian forward.
That same competition is what is leaving João Félix out of the eleven. “João has helped us a lot but he has competition. The three who are playing are at a very good level. Valid for Ferran and Vitor. João has been important and he has to be important until the end of the season,” he said, without clarifying the club’s future plans with the Portuguese.
Xavi only spoke about the continuity of Araújo, whom he wants on his team. “I talk to Ronald very often. He knows perfectly well what I think of him. He knows what I want from his future. From my side it is very clear,” he highlighted.
After Girona’s defeat against Villarreal, Barça depends on itself to be second in the League, something they will achieve by beating Almería this Thursday and Rayo on Sunday. “If we score six points we are in second position. Being second means a lot, for prestige and for economic reasons,” he stated.