Xavi Praises Frenkie de Jong After Osasuna Win: “Extraordinary Player Who Makes A Difference”
Barcelona now have one hand firmly on the La Liga title following their narrow 1-0 win over CA Osasuna at Spotify Camp Nou on Tuesday night.
A late goal from substitute Jordi Alba settled matters in favour of the Blaugrana, taking them 14 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, who would go on to lose to Real Sociedad later in the night.
Now, Barcelona can be confirmed as the league champions when they take on local rivals Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium in less than two weeks’ time.
While it was not a vintage performance from the Blaugrana on the night, Frenkie de Jong was one of the players who stood out head and shoulder above the rest with his all-round display in midfield. The Dutchman even got the assist for the match winner.
And, speaking after the match, manager Xavi Hernandez hailed De Jong, saying: “We have found the perfect position for Frenkie de Jong. He played a great game today, he’s at an extraordinary level. He has always said he wants to stay.
“Frenkie is an extraordinary player who makes a difference when he is at the base of the midfield with Busquets.”
Xavi also claimed that Barcelona were now one step closer to winning the league title, but lamented the number of chances that his team missed on the night, as he said:
“It’s a very important step, I think we suffered too much. We have missed very clear chances, and seeing the minutes go by… But hey, Jordi Alba’s goal came.
“La Liga is almost won. These six points were very important to us after the defeat in Vallecas… Now we’re waiting for what happens in San Sebastián. These six points are a giant step.”
While the win was a positive, Barcelona lost two players, Raphinha and Gavi, to knocks during the game, with the duo having to be subbed off. Xavi provided an update on their condition, saying:
“Raphinha had a knee problem and at the start of the second half, he said he couldn’t continue. That’s why we accelerated and Ousmane came on. We believe that Raphinha’s thing is just a blow and that Gavi’s is nothing important either.”
The manager also had words of praise for match-winner Alba, who continues to make vital contributions despite not being a regular in the side.
“Alba is being an example for the team. I’m particularly happy because I know it’s a complicated situation because he’s always been a starter and suddenly he’s not,” he said.
“Jordi Alba is an extraordinary passer, he could be a midfielder because he sees the last pass very well, he decides very well in the final third,” he added.#
The chat then moved to Ansu Fati, who had come on to replace Gavi in the first half, and the chance he missed late in the game, on which Xavi commented:
“Ansu Fati has been very good, only the goal was missing… In training you see that he scores, but not today.”
“I’ve seen Ansu well, but it doesn’t help that the media say he’s for sale. There are headlines today that he’s for sale for €70 million. If you want to help a player, that doesn’t add up,” he added.
Talking about the exit operations that the club will have to undertake in the summer, Xavi said: “I have to make decisions. I have to decide who will continue and who will not be in the team next season.”
At the same time, he refused to comment on Lionel Messi’s two-week suspension at PSG, saying: “I can’t comment on Messi’s situation with his club. I don’t know the situation.”
