Ferran Jutglà and Ez Abde will find it difficult to be included in the squad for the derby against Espanyol. According to the SPORT both return to Barça B this weekend. Barça’s winter signings mean the two youngsters’ chances of many more minutes of action are not good.
Ferran Jutglà and Ez Abde will not be in FC Barcelona’s squad for the city derby against Espanyol Barcelona on Sunday evening (9:00 p.m., live on Barçawelt Ticker). That reports the SPORT. Instead, both attacking players will line up for Barça B late Saturday afternoon. The second team of the Catalans, which is currently only 13th in the two-tier third division, welcomes the fifteenth Linares at the Estadi Johan Cruyff.
Job security for Barjuan instead of being in the first team
Jutglà and Abde are expected to help clinch the first win for Barça’s reserve side since December 12, helping coach Sergi Barjuan stay on after recent criticism.
Abde made his first-team debut against Alavés in late October and featured in every league game for Barça’s pros until he contracted the coronavirus at the turn of the year. In December, he scored his first goal for the Catalans against Osasuna. Jutglà made his debut in that game and scored his first first-team goal in the following encounter with FC Elche. The 23-year-old also scored once in the Copa del Rey. Of all things against Linares.
In the first game after the international break and after the end of the transfer window, the two were in the squad for Xavi, but there were not enough minutes. Now it’s probably Barça B instead of the professional team for the two at the weekend. Jutglà also misses the opportunity to play against his former club; the striker enjoyed part of his football training at Espanyol before moving to Barça B in the summer. Choosing to let Jutglà and Abde play for the second team this weekend could be a pointer. It’s hard to imagine that the Jutglà and Abde will be able to play the same number of minutes over the next few months as they did at the end of the previous calendar year.
Barça’s newcomers complicate things for Jutglà and Abde
Finally, FC Barcelona strengthened its offensive department enormously in the winter. With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who joined Barça from Arsenal, Ferran Torres, who moved to the Mediterranean metropolis from Manchester City, and Adama Traoré, who came back to Catalonia on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, three offensive players made the switch from the Premier League Barcelona FC.
After a promising performance in the debut against Atlético Madrid, Traoré will have a very good chance of further appearances on the right wing, which does not increase Ez Abde’s chances of minutes. What’s more, Ousmane Dembélé is still in the Catalans’ squad; and Gavi also convinced on the left. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will soon have more chances to show his skills as a winger or central striker and Ferran Torres has already shown his versatility in attack. Luuk de Jong’s form earlier in the year and Martin Braithwaite’s return to the pitch mean Jutglà’s season prospects are not looking too rosy at the moment. Memphis Depay, who continues to only do light individual training due to his Achilles tendon problems, should also be available to Xavi soon.
So there is a tight squeeze in the fight for the regular places on the offensive, Xavi is spoiled for choice in attack – especially if the injured Ansu Fati is then also going to return. Much to the chagrin of high-flyers Ferran Jutglà and Ez Abde, who will increasingly have to put their skills to the service of the second team in the future. In all probability it will be the first time on Saturday.
