“It’s a special match. We have to win so that the ranking remains dependent on ourselves. The team is able to face this moment “. The premise is clear and, therefore, Sergi Barjuan is considering jumping on the grass of the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (9 pm, Movistar LaLiga) an eleven with the top figures of Barça after the team has recovered Dembélé, Araujo, Ansu Fati and Frenkie de Jong. “Everyone who is called up has options to play. It is true that those who have been injured for a long time do not have the same pace of play, but the game is very important for the team and also for the club “, confessed the Catalan coach, who will live his first duel of Champions League from the bench: “It’s an honor.”
Of the four patums that the team has recovered to face a game turned into a final, with whom one must be more careful is with the French winger, who has not stepped on a pitch since June, when injured with his selection. “He hasn’t played for a long time, but we have to be grateful that he made the effort to be with us for this match,” said Sergi, who, without Kun Agüero, could have come out with a forward formed by Ansu Fati, Memphis Depay and Sergiño Dest.
He is less likely to bet on Philippe Coutinho from the start. In his debut on the bench of the first team, the coach of Les Franqueses del Vallès already opted for an eleven without the Brazilian, although he resorted to it when Kun needed the change. The former Liverpool player still does not fit in at Barça and, despite the fact that there was not even half a ticket at the Camp Nou on Saturday, he did not give up receiving a few whistles. “I talked to all the players and also to Coutinho. I told him that I too had been whistled at the stadium. The only way to be strong right now is to be yourself, make it easy, and find the time to be different. When you have difficulties and want to prove more and do your part on your own, it’s worse. If he is mentally strong, makes things easy and helps the team, I hope we can find Liverpool’s Coutinho again “, explained Sergi, trying to encourage a player who is too insignificant despite being one of the highest paid in the squad. .
“I had moments of uncertainty”
In defense, the absence of Gerard Piqué, injured against Alabès, also raises doubts. It remains to be seen whether the chosen to accompany Eric Garcia will be Ronald Araujo, who reappears after three weeks injured, or a Clément Lenglet who has had very little prominence this beginning of the course. “The beginning was complicated, but lately I feel good. I am happy and grateful for the trust and minutes I am having. It is true that I have experienced moments of uncertainty, but I am becoming more and more comfortable. I don’t regret returning to Barça “, said Lenglet.
There is less doubt in the middle of the field, where the return of a blurred Frenkie de Jong is expected next to Busquets and, surely, Gavi. Nico has been one of Barça’s best in the last two games, but on Saturday he ended up visibly out and could not start due to the return of De Jong. Whatever the chosen ones, Sergi explained the recipe for facing a key match against Dinamo before the arrival of Xavi Hernández on the Barça bench: “We must not be anxious. The best time we do it is when we have the peace of mind of having the ball, of finding the spaces and doing things right. This is the way to regain joy. It’s an ideal match to punch the table. “
With good play, the bulk of the dressing room – which ended a little annoying after the interim coach also used the already recurring formula “it’s what it is” after the draw against Alabès – hopes to regain joy: ” These are tricky times, and that makes it harder to find a smile in the locker room, but even though I have little time left to be a person in front of them and not just a coach, I will try to help them get the most out of them so that they are well ”. Eric Garcia added another element: “We all have to help each other.”
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