Memphis Depay has decided the LaLiga game between Elche and Barcelona (1-2) on Sunday. The attacker came in for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fifteen minutes before the end and ensured the winning goal in the 84th minute of play with a devastating penalty kick. At the press conference after the game, Xavi praised the Dutchman’s attitude and the way in which he used the penalty.
Last week, as a substitute, Depay was accurate in his return against Athletic Club (4-0), and the club’s top scorer from Barcelona again found the net against Elche. “I am very happy with the result and we must continue on this path,” Depay concluded afterwards. “There have been games that we had to win, but which we eventually gave up in the final phase. Now we are winning, and the next step is to get more comfortable victories. It’s good that we had a lot of opportunities, but we have to finish those opportunities. We’ve made it a bit difficult for ourselves now.”
Memphis from the dot ??
After Barragan’s hands, Memphis can moor from 11 meters and shoot the ball fantastically into the intersection ?? Barca at 2-1 ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #ElcheBarca pic.twitter.com/UH3rxDSNiZ
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) March 6, 2022
With ten goals from eighteen appearances, Depay is club top scorer at Barcelona, but for now he seems to have to tolerate Aubameyang in Xavi’s pecking order. The trainer explains why. “It’s hard not to field players who do deserve it. I just have to make decisions and I just have a lot of choices to make. The players who came in today made the difference. It’s great to have all these attackers at my disposal.”
“He needs time because he is coming back from an injury and we will give it to him,” continues Xavi, who has enjoyed his pupil’s penalty that was used. “The penalty was really unstoppable, he shot it in perfectly. In any case, he shows himself; he trains well and is the top scorer of the team. A real professional,” said the Catalan trainer.