Barça start 2022 with “madness”

BarcelonaBarça will make their debut in 2022 with an unrecognizable eleven. Covid has hit the Catalan squad hard following the Christmas break and, as a result, Xavi Hernández will have a lot of trouble making a team of guarantees this Sunday (9 pm, Movistar LaLiga) in Mallorca, the venue for a commitment that, according to his point of view, should have been postponed. “It was a good time to suspend the game. Playing it is a lack of common sense and adulterates all competition. Mallorca has also complained that it has many cases. We are very few and we will have to pull the branch. We will play and we will not complain, but it doesn’t seem crazy to me that the match is not postponed “, said the coach from Egara, who has a total of 16 casualties between sanctioned, confined and sanctioned.

In defense, Xavi does not have any healthy side and will have to be smart with six central players with a professional record, among them Samuel Umtiti and Clément Lenglet, who tested negative in the last test, trained Cap d ‘Year and they can travel to Mallorca. In the middle of the field, the sanctions of Busquets and Gavi already conditioned the preparation of the eleven before the omicron wreaked havoc following parties, so all indications are that De Jong, Nico and Riqui Puig will form the trio in the marrow to Son Moix. Pedri, who is already training normally, does not yet have the medical approval to compete once more. Undoubtedly, the line most affected by the avalanche of casualties is the forward, who has only one representative of the first team, Luuk de Jong, whom the club wants to place this winter market to release too much salary. The Dutch striker will be accompanied in attack by Barça B players, such as Ferran Jutglà and Ilias Akhomach.

Six dwarfs from the branch who have not played official minutes with the first team complete the list of available: Mika Mármol, Estanis Pedrola, Arnau Comas, Guillem Jaime, Lucas de Vega and Álvaro Sanz. For its part, Mallorca faces the game with several affected by covid, although it might recover cash at the last minute in case of negative tests. League regulations state that if teams have seven or more effective first-team players, they must all play. Therefore, Xavi will have to rebalance when announcing the lineup and making the changes. A good selection of entries might be made up of Ter Stegen; Araujo, Piqué, Eric Garcia, Mingueza; Frenkie de Jong, Nico, Riqui Puig; Ilias, Luuk de Jong and Jutglà. This eleven would have three B cards, with one margin in case in the second half the coach has to put younger. Neto, Umtiti and Lenglet, from the first team, would not have a very revulsive profile.

Last soap to Dembélé

Among the many casualties that Barça have to play in the Balearic Islands, is that of Dembélé, whom Xavi praised once more despite the attitude of his representative in the negotiations to renew him. “Everything is in a normal process and I continue to be positive with the continuity of the Ousmane. I have spoken to him once more and he says he will make an effort. I hope you can stay. Because well-prepared and well-trained, he can be one of the best in the world, if not the best, in his position. The offer we have made is good in terms of sports and economy. A good opportunity for him “, said the Barça coach. The position of the entity remains the same: if it does not renew, it will be tried to sell in the short term.

On the other hand, Xavi celebrated the signing of Ferran Torres, who is waiting for the departures – and the solution of the soap opera Dembélé – to be registered in the salary margins of the League. “He is recovering from a serious injury and is eager to play. He will help us a lot and he can adapt to the three positions in front of him. “The main virtue of Ferran Torres is his personality. We hope we can have him available soon. He is a very complete player”, explained the Barça coach regarding the Valencian winger. which will be presented to the public this Monday, the day when Barça fans will be able to enjoy an open training session at the Camp Nou.

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