Barça are not afraid of this Galatasaray, which has been coached by Domènec Torrent since January. The Catalan coach replaced Fatih Terim and since then he has been able to straighten out the course of the historic Turkish team. But everything ends up depending on the raw material, and the players that Dome has are not comparable to those of Barça. Although one of them, goalkeeper Iñaki Peña, arrived on loan, also in January, from Barça. A footballer who is expected to return to the Camp Nou in the summer to stay as his second goalkeeper.
Politically correct, Xavi spoke with respect and professionalism of Galatasaray, a team that will “complicate” things at Barça and that, with Dome on the bench, has the “ability” to straighten the flight. However, as Frenkie de Jong admits, “Galatasaray is a good team, but it is clear that Barça is the favorite”. The midfielder, in charge of speaking at the preview of this match, is most likely one of those who will have a break.
“Some players are tired, others are upset … there will be changes. The good thing is that we have a range of possibilities from the middle of the field upwards, people with fresh legs who deserve to play ”. Neither Dani Alves – who is not registered – nor Gavi, sanctioned, will be there. And it is said that both Piqué and Busquets will start the match from the bench. Dest, Eric, Nico and Memphis, on the other hand, have plenty of options to get started.
The meeting with Haaland
Beyond the match, the preview was used to talk about one of the most fashionable names, the Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, from Borussia Dortmund, whom Barça want to sign this summer. Xavi, with Jordi Cruyff, met a few days ago in Germany. Without revealing the player’s answers, he limited himself to assuring that: “There is no footballer who has said no to signing for Barça, at least since I became coach”. The coach clarified that, in these meetings with players, he is not talking about numbers, but about football. “I tell them that they will enjoy the game model, that they will touch the ball more often and have more chances to score. That if in a club they participate 20 times in the game, here they will be 40. And then, the history of Barça, of the city … ”.
