Xavi expects tight battle with Villarreal

There is a big Liga game to come tomorrow, but Xavi Hernández preferred to open his pre-match press conference with a statement regarding the biggest talking point in Spanish football right now. "I want to give my unconditional support to Jennifer Hermoso and the players" he said in reference to the outrage that has shaken the women's game at its most triumphal moment in Spain. "I condemn the behaviour of the president of the Spanish Football Federation. And I regret that people aren't talking about the historic achievement of winning the World Cup."

Similar ideas

Having made his opinion clear, the manager then insisted on concentrating the remainder of his comments on matters in relation to his own team's upcoming fixture away to Villarreal, a game that he expects to be very closely fought, where "the key will be control of the ball, and they have a very strong team in midfield."

Pedri out

Xavi is frustrated to be without "a key part of the organigram" in Pedri, who has suffered a similar injury to the one that troubled him last season, adding that "Pedri looks after himself a lot and has worked hard all summer to build up muscle in that area of his body, so it's especially unfortunate."

But he also insists that experienced players like Gundogan and younger names like Fermín, Gavi and Casadó are all excellent alternative options for that position.

Up front

He also had plenty to say about his frontline, where Lewandowski might not have scored in the first two outings "but I'm not worried because he also generates a lot of other things. He hasn't got any goals yet but I am very happy with his performances."

"As for Abde" he continued, "he may not be starting games but it shouldn't matter whether he starts or comes on as a substitute. In fact, we won the last game because the five players who came on from the bench made such an impact. Abde can stir things up late in the game and I'm very happy with the way he does that. I like him a lot as a person and as a professional. He is part of my plans."

Ferran Torres, who he describes as a 'shark', "was important when he came on for the last ten minutes the other day and he has set a fine example. He works so hard in training. Whether he starts, is a sub or doesn't play, he is always ready to serve the team."