Xavi is not happy with LaLiga’s decision to let the match between RCD Mallorca and Barcelona go on ‘normally’. The Catalans have to miss seventeen to eighteen players, according to the coach. Xavi speaks at the press conference in the run-up to the game about competition distortion due to the large number of absentees at Barcelona.
“We are in an extreme situation”, various Spanish media say from the mouth of Xavi. “We have seventeen or eighteen absentees, that depends on Umtiti. I worry. Now is the time to postpone a match because this is competition distortion. Earlier, a match of ours (against Sevilla, ed.) was postponed due to international matches in South America and then we only missed a few players. Mallorca has also asked for the match to be postponed. You have to act with common sense, this is the reality. We will play if LaLiga forces us to play. But it’s a chaotic situation. We will try to win.”
“I don’t know why this match will be played,” emphasizes Xavi. No fewer than eight Barcelona players tested positive for corona last week: Sergiño Dest, Philippe Coutinho, Ez Abde, Jordi Alba, Clément Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti, Alex Balde and Dani Alves. Umtiti has now tested negative again and can therefore be used against Mallorca. Pedri, Ansu Fati, Memphis Depay, Martin Braithwaite (injured), Sergio Busquets and Gavi (suspended) are not. Partly because of this, according to Spanish media, Xavi only had ten fit players for the duel with RCD Mallorca, including two goalkeepers: Marc-André Ter Stegen and Neto.
“Memphis, Ansu and Pedri are close to their return, but in principle I can’t rely on them,” says Xavi. “We try to follow the rules, but we have so many absentees. A large part of whom because of corona. There may be even more absentees, as testing is still ongoing. I do not get it.” Opponent Mallorca also struggles with personnel problems. “Only they are lighter. But all in all, it makes no sense to play on Sunday. If there’s one situation where a game has to be postponed, this is it.”