Xavi, coach of the Barcelona football team, confirmed that there is no problem with referee Gil Manzano taking charge of the team’s match against Real Sociedad on Wednesday in the quarter-finals of the King’s Cup.
And it was Manzano who managed the Barcelona-Osasuna match in the league in November and famously red-carded Robert Lewandowski before he mentioned in his report that the Polish striker made a gesture while leaving the stadium, because of which Lewandowski received a 3-match ban.
Speaking about the match against Sociedad, Xavi expressed his satisfaction about the participation of the team’s top scorer in the match managed by Manzano.
He told reporters on Tuesday: There is no problem. We’ll let it pass without noticing. We hope it will be an interesting match. Robert is a professional player and knows what the game is, that we can control it, I always tell the players to forget the referee. It is a situation that we cannot control. This will not disturb us.”
After the 1-0 win over Getafe on Sunday, Barcelona conceded only 6 goals in 17 league matches, and Xavi praised Marc-Andre ter Stegen for his role in making the team look so good defensively. “Marc is at an amazing level, in his best period, and he is “He reminds me of Ter Stegen in his first year. He gives us a lot and makes the difference for us. We attach importance to our defense and train a lot, and this pays off in the league in this case.”
With one week remaining until the end of the winter transfer window, Xavi appears to have ruled out the departure of Frank Casey, who has been linked to a loan move outside the Camp Nou.
The former Milan player participated in two basic matches with Barcelona this season, but he made a good performance in Barcelona’s previous match in the King’s Cup against Quetta, where he scored a goal and assisted two goals.
Xavi explained: I never considered Casey’s departure. He is a player who gives us a lot of alternatives in the way we play.
On the team’s general intentions regarding the transfer market, Xavi confirmed: “I expected him to be calm. I am happy with the team, and there is nothing new, although I do not rule anything out.”
