Photo: LLUIS GENE / Getty Images
By: EFE
Monday, October 21
The problems begin: Xavi directed his first training session with FC Barcelona, but with a desolate field
After being presented this Monday as Barcelona’s new coach , Xavi Hernández led his first training session this morning at the Ciudad Deportiva Joan Gamper , practically in family.
And it is that the squad has eleven players with physical problems ( Neto, Dest, Eric García, Piqué, Sergi Roberto, Nico, Pedri, Ansu Fati, Dembélé, Agüero and Braithwaite ) and another nine summoned with their national teams ( Ter Stegen, Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Demir, Coutinho, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Gavi ).
So, Xavi has only been able to count in this first session with six players from the first team: Iñaki Peña, Lenglet, Umititi, Mingueza, Riqui Puig and Luuk de Jon g . So he had to complete training with seven Barça B players: Comas, Mika Mármol, Álvaro Sanz, Ez Abde, Jutglà, Aranda and Akhomach.
The president, Joan Laporta , has been in the facilities of Sant Joan Despí to personally introduce the players to the new technical team before the start of the session.
Also present were sports vice president Rafa Yuste; the football director, Mateu Alemany; the director of the international area, Jordi Cruyff; and the head of the technical secretariat, Ramon Planes.
Subsequently, the team took to the pitch to carry out the first session with Xavi at the head of the club. Thus, the Terrassa coach has been able to have a first contact with some of his new players and start working with the league derby against Espanyol next 20 November on the horizon.
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