FC Barcelona manager, Xavi: “If you want to lose time, do it playing football”

The coach of FC Barcelona, Xavi Hernandezsaid this Saturday that “playing at wasting time is cheating”, in the preview of the League match that will face the Barça team with the Valencia this Sunday in Mestalla.

“If you want to lose time do it playing football. I think we would go better, in almost all sports there is effective time. But he didn’t talk about ValenciaHe wasn’t pointing at anyone. (Jose) Bordalás (coach of the Mestalla team) seems like a fantastic coach to me”, he insisted at a press conference on a subject that he already referred to on Thursday after the match against Naples (1-1) of the Europa League.

To beat Valencia, the Barça coach believes that his team will have to “impose a lot of rhythm, a high circulation and that there are not many interruptions”, and said that “Bordalás works very well even though it is a very different style” to that of Barça.

One of the novelties for the match at Mestalla will probably be Ronald Araujogood news for Xavi considering that he only has another natural central defender from the first team available, Eric García, due to the suspension of Gerard Piqué and casualties due to injury Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti.

“We are optimistic with Araujo, today he will train and test himself. He wants to be there, it depends on the sensations that he will have in training this afternoon. If there is nothing strange, he will be there”, reported Xavi about the Uruguayan soccer player.

Fernando Torres He will return to Mestalla after not being entirely successful in front of goal on Thursday against Napoli. “We talked to Ferran and I have absolute confidence in him, hence the signing. He is going to make a difference for us, he already did it in Valencia, the Manchester City and in the national team and he will also do so at Barça”, assured Xavi.

Another footballer who played a leading role in the Europa League match was Ousmane Dembelewho was greeted with whistles by his own fans because of his refusal to renew or seek a move to another club in the winter market.

“Dembélé is one more, it is no longer news. It may be that he starts tomorrow or he will do it on Thursday against Napoli”, stated Xavi.

Asked about the future Sergio Robertwho is still injured, Xavi was forceful: “For me, Sergi is a player who has to continue at the club., at a football level it is clear that it has to be important for the future of Barça. But it will depend on what he wants, on his representative and on the financial situation of the club”. (D)