Ronald Koeman does not rule out the possibility that Pablo Paez Gavira, better known as Gavi, will also appear in the starting eleven of Barcelona on Sunday. The midfielder, who turned seventeen in August, was given a basic place against Cádiz (0-0) on Thursday evening and Koeman hinted at the press conference on Saturday afternoon that the teenager may also start against Levante. “We have young footballers who are very good have a great future ahead of them.”
“Gavi will probably play tomorrow, because we only have seventeen field players”, emphasized Koeman the day before the home game. “We have too many players in some positions and almost none in others. We have a limited roster at the moment and Gavi has shown in a very short time that he deserves a place in this team.” Gavi made his debut at the end of August as a substitute against Getafe (2-1 win) and more than two weeks later also made his first minutes in the Champions League, against Bayern Munich (0-3 loss). In the home game against Granada (1-1), he was good for an assist.
Only five Barcelona footballers have scored this season: Gerard Pique, Martin Braithwaite, Sergi Roberto, Memphis Depay and Ronald Araújo. “There are players who are efficient at their game. In the last game, Depay felt responsible that we didn’t win,” he referred to the goalless draw in southern Spain. “And that shouldn’t be an obsession. He shouldn’t do that. He has to play the way he plays now and try to score. We had four to five big chances. We need players who can score more goals, that’s for sure.”
“We struggle to create chances. In recent times, Barcelona has lost football players who were efficient, let’s not forget that,” emphasized Koeman, who has to miss the necessary players due to injuries and suspensions. That influences the mediocre results, says the Dutchman. “We’re talking about players who have speed, in one-on-one situations. And that is difficult for the opponent to defend. Without wingers we have more trouble getting into the game. And that’s why we have to use the fullbacks. We are looking for the best solution.”
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