Barcelona director backs underfire forward to come good: “We all know how talented he is”

Barcelona’s sporting director, Jordi Cruyff, has assured that the team is going to be patient with Ansu Fati as the 20-year-old continues to recover from his knee injury.

It must be remembered that Ansu featured for Barcelona in their UEFA Europa League second-leg tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford, making a 15-minute cameo towards the end.

A day after the elimination, Barcelona confirmed that the 20-year-old has suffered a left knee contusion during an afternoon training session. However, as reported before, the youngster’s injury is not that serious this time and he is expected to be sidelined for just about a week.

Speaking about Barcelona’s handling of Fati, who has struggled to perform this season, Jordi Cruyff said that the team is doing everything in its power to take the pressure off the youngster.

“The most important thing for young players is peace of mind. Ansu comes from a tough injury, for a long time and the only way is planning and timing,” said Cruyff while speaking on Movistar+ and Barça TV (h/t Diario SPORT)

“We all know how talented he is, that’s why we gave him the #10 shirt, but you have to take the pressure off,” he added.

Meanwhile, the 49-year-old also assured the fans that the team will bounce back following their Europa League exit at the hands of Manchester United.

Assessing Barcelona’s position after the elimination, he said that now is the time to react and take advantage of the situation in the league.

“Staying out of one of the objectives hurts, but if we win La Liga it will be a sign that things are going well. When you fall in Europe you have to change your mind and compete. In the face of disappointment, you have to react,” said the sporting director.

Real Madrid’s recent 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid put Barcelona in a very promising situation. If the team from Catalonia manages to sustain the current run of form, the title is certainly theirs to lose.

“At Barça there is always an obligation to win every game. After Madrid’s draw we have the opportunity to extend the gap. That’s extra motivation. It’s not definitive, but it generates confidence.

Lastly, Cruyff also spoke about the influence of a certain Sergi Roberto, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season. He said that the veteran Spaniard has helped the team in many positions this season and has proved to be quite an effective asset for the team.

“Sergi Roberto is helping us in many positions and he is a very useful footballer in the squad,” he concluded.