Barcelona’s head coach, Xavi Hernandez, has urged his squad to fortify their defensive prowess in the year 2024 following a somewhat turbulent kickoff to the season.
Ahead of their Thursday fixture against Las Palmas, the reigning Spanish champions are in fourth place, trailing the league leaders Real Madrid and Girona by seven points.
Barca secured La Liga triumph in the last season, showcasing an exceptional defense that conceded only 20 goals in 38 league matches. However, the current campaign has witnessed them conceding 21 goals in just 18 games.
‘I’m more worried about the defensive area (than the attack),’ Xavi told a news conference Wednesday.
‘Last year we were extraordinary in defence and this year we are giving too much away.’
Leading up to the winter break, Xavi expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s performance, criticizing them not just for missed opportunities but also for susceptibility in defense. This susceptibility was seen in a 4-2 defeat to Girona and 2-2 draws against Mallorca and Granada.
‘It’s true that we’re lacking efficiency (up front), but even scoring two or three goals sometimes we aren’t winning, against Granada, Mallorca, Girona,’ continued Xavi.
The coach is banking on the timely registration of Vitor Roque, the latest addition to the team, with aspirations for his inclusion in the match against Las Palmas.
Barcelona inked an agreement in July to bring aboard the 18-year-old Brazilian striker from Athletic Paranaense, and his arrival was orchestrated during the winter transfer window.
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‘He will be in the squad list, we hope he’s available, it’s a question of hours,’ said Xavi.
The registration of signings for match eligibility in La Liga is contingent upon clubs meeting the league’s exacting financial fair play standards.
‘(Roque) is well, he’s got a lot of desire and he has adapted quickly to the group and the training sessions, but we’ll go carefully,’ added Xavi.
Having once coached Barcelona’s reserve side, Las Palmas coach Francisco Garcia Pimienta described the impending reunion with the Catalans as a particularly “special” moment for him.
‘It’s a special game, I was there for many years,’ he told reporters.
‘I don’t know how I will feel, but we are preparing for it in exactly the same way we prepare for the rest of the games.’
Barcelona president Joan Laporta terminated Garcia Pimienta from his previous role in June 2021, and the coach remained diplomatic when addressing inquiries about their relationship.
‘I have not had contact with him since, but I thank him because I am here because of his decision,’ said the coach.