Xavi Speaks On Busquets And Torre Futures, Plus Hunt For More Silverware Ahead Of FC Barcelona-Sevilla Clash

FC Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has spoken on his team’s new four man midfield, the futures of midfielders Sergio Busquets and Pablo Torre, plus the hunt for more silverware ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Sevilla in La Liga.

“Tomorrow’s opponent is difficult. Despite their position [in La Liga], they have a great team,” said at his pre-match press conference on Saturday.

“[Jorge] Sampaoli has recovered a strong and competitive Sevilla. He is a great coach, he works very well on the defensive aspect. Sevilla will be a physically tough opponent who will complicate things. They have players with a lot of experience. We arrived in a very good moment of form, but we will need the fans to take the three points”.

On the new four-midfielder formation which is yielding great results and has Barca top of La Liga, Xavi claimed: “We feel comfortable in any system. We’ve also had good games with two wingers. Only the names change.”

“Perhaps with four midfielders we have more responsibility with the ball and we lose it less, but things don’t change much. Frenkie [de Jong], Busi [Sergio Busquets], Pedri and Gavi – they rarely lose the ball and that reduces the transitions of the rivals. I think we are more mature than last season”.

Probed on Busquets’ future, with the captain reportedly ready to lower his salary and renew his contract which expires on June 30, Xavi noted that “the decision will be his”.

“We are waiting. He is a very important person for the club, both on and off the field. He has earned the fact that he can decide his future. If he decides to continue, I will be delighted”.

Less clear is if Xavi counts on Pablo Torre, the youngster who joined in the summer but has only made one league appearance – a 13-minute cameo – this term.

“He’s already had games without playing. We’ve been talking to him, he needs rhythm and games. At his age he can’t go three or four games without competing. The competitiveness that playing with the reserves will give him will help him when he goes up to the first team,” Xavi insisted.

Moving forward, Xavi is clear that there is a hunger for more silverware in the squad after winning the Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid in Riyadh last month.

“We have won the Super Cup, but this is about winning the league, the Cup [Copa del Rey], the Europa League…,” Xavi said.

“Barca has to compete for all the titles. We must be ambitious. The atmosphere in the dressing room is very good, one of the best I’ve never seen. We’re in a great moment, but we mustn’t lower our guard.”