Freshly shaved, and after congratulating the media on the year, Xavi proclaimed to all possible winds that the Mallorca-Barça today (9:00 p.m.) should not be played. The azulgranas have assaulted to the beast the COVID on the return from Christmas: Alves, Abde, Coutinho, Gavi, Dest, Dembélé, Alba and Balde have been positive. In addition, Ansu, Memphis, Pedri, Braithwaite and Sergi Roberto are injured; Busquets, sanctioned; Demir cannot play or Barça will have to pay ten million to Rapid Vienna; Y Ferran Torres is not enrolled. The car of casualties, sixteen, is so large that the Barça coach has felt legitimized to remind him of Thebes What if he asks the RFEF postponements for the qualifying matches for the World Cup in the American zone by three footballers, it does not have the same sense of justice in this scenario.
But you are are the rules that the clubs and the Mallorca-Barça will be played (follow the game live on AS.com). Luis Garcia He says that he “freaks out” with the one he has mounted around the Barça outbreak, but he hides his cards, because he has four players confined and does not reveal their names. It is a certainty that the game will not be decaffeinated no matter how much Xavi says, because the blaugrana by against the clock to get into the Champions area. However, there is a certain air of optimism in Barcelona. Nico’s goal against Elche and the draw in Sevilla have been received as a sign of rebirth. Perhaps it is not so bad, but Barça suspects that everything will go better in the second round when he recovers stars (Ansu, Pedri) and incorporates, if he can register them, exciting signings such as Ferran or Morata.
But today will be a separate chapter. Xavi will have to manage without sides and with six centrals (Araújo, Piqué, Eric, Lenglet, Umtiti and Mingueza) and a lead that, surely, will never be seen again at Barça: Ilias, Jutglà and Luuk de Jong, which is one foot and three quarters away from Barcelona.
Of Mallorca, apart from the secrecy of his casualties, it is known that he has competed well throughout the first round and that his talent is oriental. Kang-in Lee move the Balearic Islands and Kubo He is an irregular footballer, but he is always expected for things like the one he did at Wanda. Raised at Barça, like Mboula, they will take it as the party of the year.
Is one of those parties in which Xavi hopes that players like Frenkie de Jong raise your hand. Orphan of captains and stars, the Dutchman is forced to put the equipment on his back and accompany Nico and Riqui. The one from Matadepera is also obliged, at 22, to give a step forward If you want to be part of Xavi’s new project, which today starts a year in which Laporta has promised the end of the degradation of a club that tries to get back on its feet but does not forgive anything. Not the economy, not viruses.