BARCELONA.- The Barcelona coach, Xavi Hernandezregretted this Friday the “significant loss” of Gavi due to his serious knee injury, pointing to the heavy load of games on the calendar as the main culprit.
“It is a significant loss, a disgraceis an irreplaceable player because of the passion, the desire and the courage that he puts into it,” he said. Xavi at the press conference prior to the League match against Vallecano Ray of Saturday.
“He is irreplaceable for the heart, the desire, the courage that he puts into it… Tomorrow is a game in which we would need Gavia match against a vertical, direct rival, a difficult match,” added the Barça coach.
Xavi He refused to blame the injury on the management of the Spanish coach, Luis de la Fuenteand pointed to the calendar.
“I have a very good relationship with De la Fuente, it is not a problem of the coach’s management, It’s a calendar problem At his age he has played many games,” he considered. Xavi.
“It’s a calendar issue, of excess matches“said the Barça coach, who claimed to have spoken with Gavi after his injury.
The young midfielder tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last Sunday in the qualifying match for the Euro 2024 against Georgia (3-1) and will miss the rest of the season.
“I have spoken with him, I had personal experience and I think that made me a better footballer, more mature.“, he claimed Xavi, asking Gavi that “don’t skip any recovery days. It is very important to recover well.”
Possible solution, according to Xavi:
Asked about solutions to the current tight schedule, Xavi He believes that it could be “eight or nine months at the club and then the players go to the national team.”
“Nine months in the club and two months in the national team and from there, a month of vacations“, he said, before adding that “I think it would be a good solution that also seems to me that the FIFA is being considered.”
Without Gavi, Xavi He also announced that he will not be able to count on the goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegenwho has back discomfort, although the midfielder recovers Frenkie de Jongrecovered from an injury to his right ankle.
“We have noticed Frenkie’s loss a lot. It’s very important. “He has trained very well and is available,” he stated.
FOUNTAIN: AFP
