Xavi admitted to being concerned over Barca’s form

Xavi asks Ousmane Dembele to be more consistent — Bildbyran

Xavi tells Dembele to be consistent with his performances.

The Barcelona manager earlier mentioned that the French international has the potential to become the world’s best winger if he puts in consistent performances.

He has provided two goals and four assists in 10 games and has been regular under Xavi this season.

Barcelona plays Celta Vigo at Camp Nou on Sunday and will visit Inter Milan on Wednesday night.

Dembele had a disappointing game in Barca’s 1-0 loss to Inter Milan earlier this week.

“We are very happy with his professionalism since we arrived, we gave him some love and confidence and he’s given it back,” Xavi told a press conference on Saturday.

“He needs to make the difference in every match, he can do it, and he needs to believe in himself more. To score more, assist more, and in each game he should give us more.

“He’s been making the difference but needs to do it even more so, in every game, in every moment.”

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Miralem Pjanic explains the difference between Koeman and Xavi

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Oct 8, 2022

Miralem Pjanic explains the difference between Koeman and Xavi — Bildbyran

Miralem Pjanic left for Emirati side Sharjah FC this summer.

The departed midfielder has taken a jibe at former Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman with some brutal comments.

Xavi took over Ronald Koeman back in November last year as his lack of clear footballing identity led to his demise at the club.

Miralem Pjanic who moved to Sharjah FC this summer explains the difference betweem Koeman and Xavi.

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A post shared by Miralem Pjanić (@miralem_pjanic)

“I was very surprised in training with Koeman,” Pjanic said. “There was no intensity, no tactics, no ideas. We did not prepare for the games.

“Preparation and training was good under Xavi, similar to what I was used to at Juventus, for example, where we won everything.

“Now the sessions at Barca have a lot of intensity. Xavi and his staff were very clear with us at the start of the season. They told us this year we would have to run and go 2000 miles per hour.”

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David Alaba unsurprised by Lewandowski’s adaptation to La Liga

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Oct 7, 2022

David Alaba unsurprised by Lewandowski’s adaptation to La Liga — Bildbyrån

David Alaba will likely face Lewandowski in El Clasico this month.

Before Lewandowski’s move to Camp Nou, some people thought that Poland forward may struggle to translate his goalscoring numbers to Spain.

After seven games in La Liga, Lewandowski leads the Pichichi race with nine goals.

Speaking to Real Total, Real Madrid’s David Alaba explained that he was expecting nothing less from his former teammate.

“I am not surprised with Lewy. I know him very well from my time in Munich. What he is doing in Spain I was able to experience first-hand for years in Munich. He is one of the best forwards in the world and he has demonstrated it time and again over the years, and he is showing that again this year.”

Alaba will likely face Lewandowski in El Clasico this month. Some hope that Real Madrid can shut him down comes from the Champions League, where Lewandowski has so far failed to score in Barcelona’s two biggest games of the season against Inter and Bayern Munich.

Despite how impressed he was with Lewandowski, he is backing teammate Karim Benzema for the Ballon d’Or. Sport carried his comments.

“I don’t even think that it is a question. If you look at last season, what he did is really incredible. I am genuinely grateful to have experienced it and to have been part of it, and to see him work every day.”

Barcelona wanted to land Arsenal defender William Saliba

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Oct 6, 2022

Saliba is just 21 and he has still got a lot of room to grow as a footballer.

The renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that Barcelona wanted to land Arsenal defender William Saliba recently. It is understood that the Spanish giants were showing interest in recruiting the 21-year-old centre-half earlier this year.

Arsenal have been really inflexible on William Saliba: untouchable despite OM intention to make an official bid. 🔴🔒 #AFC

Saliba was also in Barcelona list after priority target Jules Koundé.

…and he’s really loving his life at Arsenal, now. More: https://t.co/swMi32LMVz pic.twitter.com/QpcU0ZJ9yx

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 3, 2022

Saliba has made an excellent start to this Premier League season and doing great for Mikel Arteta. Arsenal are fighting for the top spot now. Saliba has featured in eight matches for the club this season, scoring two goals and providing one assist across all competitions.

His current contract at the Emirates is set to run out in the summer of 2024. Hence, Barca might have a shot at recruiting him for a cut-price fee at the end of this season if the player refuses to pen a new contract by then.

The France international is proficient at playing his way out from the back but is still quite inexperienced at the highest level.

Saliba is just 21 and he has still got a lot of room to grow as a footballer. The centre-half would be a good option for Xavi to consider at the end of season 2022/23.

Barca should focus on going back in for the Frenchman if the player declines to pen a new contract at the Emirates Stadium.

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Xavi left frustrated after Inter Milan defeat

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Oct 5, 2022

Xavi left frustrated after Inter Milan defeat — Bildbyran

Barcelona manager Xavi was not happy with VAR last night.

The Blaugrana travelled to San Siro for their group-stage against Inter Milan last night.

They lost 1-0 to the home team as a single goal from Hakan Çalhanoğlu was enough to hand the hosts victory.

There were some decisions in the game that went against the Catalan giants and manager Xavi was frustrated with that.

“I am pissed off by the situation we have had to live in. It is an injustice. I already said yesterday that the referees must explain themselves,” Xavi said.

“We do not understand anything. The referee would have to speak. I should not speak for a decision that I have not made. For me it is very clear the hand. The referee should give explanations.”

Xavi also agreed that his team wasn’t their best last night.

“We woke up late. We bottled them up at the end but the chances didn’t come. We knew that the shot from outside the area was one of their virtues. We have three finals left,” he added.

“I am worried about the defeat. Bayern have nine points, Inter have six and we have three. The situation is complex.”

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Barcelona manager Xavi on Messi’s return to Camp Nou

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Oct 4, 2022

Barcelona manager Xavi on Messi's return to Camp Nou — Bildbyran

Xavi on future prospect of Lionel Messi returning to Barcelona.

The Argentine forward will be out of contract next summer with PSG and Barcelona vice-president believes club could bring him back to Camp Nou.

The 35-year-old was linked with a return to Barcelona this summer but that move couldn’t materialise due to Barca’s financial constraints.

Messi endured a difficult debut season with PSG scoring just 11 goals and providing 15 assists for the Parisians.

In his last 12 games, he has bagged seven goals and eight assists for the Ligue 1 giants.

Barcelona manager Xavi plays down the possibility of Messi’s return to the Camp Nou.

“With Leo, let’s see, but it’s not the moment to talk about it right now,” Xavi said in a news conference.

“You know the love I have for him. He is a friend and I will always wish him the best. Barca is his home, but we’re not doing him any favours speaking about [his future], either.

“Let’s leave him in peace to enjoy his time in Paris and wish him all the best.”

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Xavi angered by international duty injuries for Barcelona stars

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Oct 1, 2022

Xavi angered by international duty injuries for Barcelona stars

Xavi is short of options in defence ahead of Mallorca game.

Barcelona head coach Xavi has hit out at the international break after a host of his first team stars returned to Catalonia injured.

Catalan giants return to the day job of domestic action away at Mallorca this weekend and Xavi will be forced into changes to his starting side in Palma.

Dutch pair Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay are both expected to miss at least two weeks of action. The defensive duo Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo are also ruled out.

Araujo is not expected to be back in action until after the World Cup. Koude is out until the end of October, and Xavi is short of options in defence.

“It frustrates me but I have to think about the positives. We haven’t found an explanation, it’s multifactorial, and each player is different”, as per reports from Marca.

“There needs to be more caution and prevention, so we’ll talk to the national teams.

“We don’t know if the trips are a problem, the game overload, but no blame is being sought. But, it’s still a disgrace, as there’s a small plague of injuries.”

Xavi’s injury concerns will force a change in central defence, with veteran centre back Gerard Pique set to be handed a rare start, and La Masia starlet Marc Casado a possible starter at right back.

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Xavi frustrated with Barcelona’s injury crisis

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Oct 1, 2022

Xavi frustrated with Barcelona's injury crisis — Bildbyran

Xavi’s squad has been hit by several injuries after the international break.

The Barcelona manager is frustrated with the number of injured players returned after the international break.

His side has to play 12 matches between now and the break for World Cup in mid-November.

Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Depay, Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo all suffered injuries while on international duty

“It frustrates me but I have to think about the positive,” Xavi said as he faced the media.

“We haven’t found an explanation, it’s multifactorial and each player is different. It’s happened. We’ll try not to let it happen to us. More caution, prevention… we’ll talk to the national teams.

“We don’t know if they’re the trips, the load of games, the methodology… no blame is being sought. It’s a disgrace, but there is a small plague of injuries. Time to show that we have a great squad.”

The boss continued: “We have time to recover many, with the exception of Ronald, in two or three games. He has had to have an operation. It’s the one that gives me the most sorrow, for the player and for the team. But we have to accept it. It will be an opportunity for others.”

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Barcelona predicted line up vs Mallorca: Starting 11 for Barcelona!

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Sep 30, 2022