Barcelona coach Xavi confirmed goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will miss the Spanish champions' LaLiga clash with Rayo Vallecano on Saturday due to back pain.
🔊 𝐗𝐚𝐯𝐢 : "Gavi has played a lot of games. The schedule is very demanding and is the main reason for his injury, but it was also accidental." pic.twitter.com/Fyv9WWNXpk
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 24, 2023
"Tomorrow Marc can't make it and we have full confidence in Inaki Pena, who is 100 per cent ready," Xavi told a news conference Friday.
Pena, 24, is a product of the club's youth academy and has played for the Barcelona first team five times.
❝Iñaki Peña will play against Rayo. He is very well prepared and we have 100% confidence in him.❞
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 24, 2023
- Xavi on #RayoBarça pic.twitter.com/fVhddzs7UU
Barcelona have been beaten in their last two visits to face Rayo at Vallecas and trail surprise LaLiga leaders Girona by four points.
🎙 Xavi: “The trip to Vallecas is difficult for us because it is an intense ground. Francisco is doing a good job, exploiting the wings and making good use of second chances.” #RayoBarça pic.twitter.com/ZLwJvjurYW
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 24, 2023
Frenkie de Jong is available after injury but Barca will also be without tireless midfielder Gavi for the rest of the season after he suffered a cruciate ligament injury while playing for Spain last week.
In Spanish media some have looked to blame national team coach Luis de la Fuente but Xavi said the injury was not his fault.
"I have no problem with De la Fuente, it's a problem with the calendar and too many games," explained Xavi.
🔊 𝐗𝐚𝐯𝐢 : "Gavi has played a lot of games. The schedule is very demanding and is the main reason for his injury, but it was also accidental." pic.twitter.com/Fyv9WWNXpk
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 24, 2023
"With the age (Gavi) is, he's played a lot of games and the calendar is full of matches, and that's the reason for the injury, along with bad luck."
He continued: "He's an irreplacable player for the passion, desire and courage that he puts out there."
💬 Xavi: "We will miss Gavi because of his courage and his winning character. He transmits a lot to the team. We have to take Gavi’s spirit and move forward." pic.twitter.com/BCz1WvIMs1
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 24, 2023
Xavi has suggested changes to football's calendar in the past to stop players leaving for international duty throughout the season, and brought it up again.
"A small solution is to play eight or nine months with the club and then have a period for European qualifiers and the Euros," he said.
"It's not easy that each month there's so much travel – nine months with the club and two with the national team."