Xavi Hernandez reassures Barcelona about injuries after key player exits during Alaves win – “No cause for concern”
Introduction to the article: Barcelona’s Win Over Alaves Sees Them Move Up to Third in La Liga
Barcelona Defeats Alaves 3-1
Barcelona secured their fifth win in six La Liga matches by defeating Alaves 3-1. This victory propelled the Catalan giants to third place in the league table, surpassing Atletico Madrid. Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan, and Vitor Roque all contributed goals to the win, with standout performances from players like Andreas Christensen, who impressed as an auxiliary pivot.
Xavi Discusses Christensen’s Role
Head coach Xavi Hernandez praised Andreas Christensen’s performance as an auxiliary pivot after the match. Xavi explained that Christensen’s comfort on the ball, aggression, and ability to avoid transitions were key contributions to the team’s success. Xavi’s decision to utilize Christensen in this role paid off, bringing more order to Barcelona’s play.
Injury Concerns Addressed by Xavi
Xavi also addressed injury concerns following the match, reassuring fans that neither Ilkay Gundogan nor Pedri sustained injuries. He explained that Gundogan’s substitution was due to a back issue that affected his ability to run comfortably, while Pedri was taken off due to fatigue.
Barcelona’s Continuing Success
Barcelona has won both matches since Xavi announced his decision to step down at the end of the season, and they will look to extend this winning streak in their upcoming fixture against Granada at Montjuic. The team’s recent performances have shown promise under Xavi’s leadership, and they hope to maintain this momentum in future matches.