To face Espanyol: Xavi Hernández’s first call-up as FC Barcelona coach

Hoping to change the complicated situation of the club. Xavi Hernández is ready to sit on the Barcelona bench to face his first game against Espanyol at the Camp Nou. The Catalan coach announced his summoned and among them Gerard Piqué, Sergi Roberto, Eric Garcia and Nico González stand out, who received the medical discharge.

On the other hand, Sergiño Dest has not recovered in time from his low back pain. In addition, it was learned that Pedri has relapsed into his quadriceps injury in his left leg and that, as a result, he may be out for another month.

The rest of the casualties are Ansu Fati, Sergio Agüero and Martin Braithwaite. To make up for these absences, Xavi has summoned two attackers from the subsidiary, Ez Abde and Ilias Akhomach.

The list of 23 called up: Ter Stegen, Piqué, Araujo, Sergio Busquets, Riqui Puig, Memphis, Demir, Neto, Coutinho, Lenglet, Luuk de Jong, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto, Frenkie de Jong, Mingueza, Umtiti, Eric Garcia, Iñaki Peña, Nico González, Gavi, Balde, Ez Abde and Ilias Akhomach.

In the run-up to the Catalan derby, Xavi Hernández assured that the positivism generated by his arrival must be transformed into good results. “We have to control the emotional issue, because we play a derby and we cannot fail. There will be tension, nerves, but I trust my players “he commented at a press conference.

“I am very excited about what I have seen in training, with good intensity and very good pace. I really like what I see, because the team has a very good attitude. We are a pineapple, a family and that’s what it’s all about. But now this positivism that has been generated we must return it with a good result “added the technician.

Barcelona is 9th in LaLiga before the derby on Saturday at the Camp Nou, where a great entrance is expected to welcome the 41-year-old coach, who thus returns to the club where he played 767 games, being considered one of the greats legends of the Barça team.