Xavi: “Gavi is excited; don’t stop, you have no roof”

Xavi spoke at a press conference after Barça’s victory against Elche.

What do you want from a nine? Jutglà has played with great depth …

What we were looking for at the tactical level was to attack spaces. It was clear to us that they were playing 4-4-2 and the center-backs had to make progress, Alba from the inside and Gavi from the midfielder. Ferran is a forward who is more extreme than nine but attacks space well and leaves room. This week we have prepared automatisms for that. The positional game is not working and that surprises me. And we have gone back to not being necessary in his first goal. It is a shame because at the moment there is a lack of trade. We need more time. Then in the second half we tried to do it with Gavi, but he has a midfielder profile. his party has been hat.

To what extent has Gavi been decisive?

Having Gavi is a show. How he competes with 17 years. What it generates. It is spectacular. It is the future of the club. Him, Nico, Gavi, Abde. We have a spectacular generation of players. They are kids who are young and it is difficult. They have a personality … I have played when I was 18 years old and I was scared. Gavi thrills. How he competes, has ramps and competes. Priceless for a coach.

Jutglà, Gavi and Nico have scored. Do you think that the most veteran players should take a step?

I am not sending a message to veterans. The work the veterans are doing is spectacular. What is surprising is that they pass and score goals, but that is not a criticism of others. How they play, how they train. We have to go back to the game model, we had lost it and it surprises me a lot. And that is the future of the club. We played a brilliant game until Elche scored and then we rebuilt ourselves.

What happens to Frenkie de Jong, is it a soul issue?

It has given us things. He may not have been as fluent as Gavi and Nico but he is making a spectacular effort. He has given us a good defensive job, recovery of second balls. But it does a good dark job. It is also a matter of fatigue. He has played a lot and that ends up taking its toll.

Is it possible that he plays more expensive?

If it is what we are looking for. In the end, the player with the back has to play easy. He is a third man. Sometimes there is a play like Gavi’s, but what we want is for him to attack spaces and receive heads up. It’s a matter of insisting and growing, because he does an extraordinary job for the team even though it was less showy.

Are you surprised by how much Gavi can do?

The age is surprising, because he is 17 years old. He is not of legal age. How you are competing, making a difference. He has scored a goal and has given an assist. You do not have to compare him with anyone. Don’t stop because you don’t have a roof. The second-line players also have to help us. Today we have had to sentence before, we have complicated ourselves.

Who has been responsible for the loss of the game model?

I do not know. I haven’t been here six years and there are things to surprise at the tactical, third-man level …

Can this generation be compared to that of Pedri and Busquets?

Today we have the line-up and we have to have seven chips from the first team. I wish we had been able to put more of the subsidiary in the starting eleven. It depends on the player, but there is a great majority who do not understand it. Since I was eleven years old, I used to do these automatisms to understand the position game. But it costs us.

Would you vote yes to Espai Barça?

Yes. It is a step forward.