Barcelona coach talks Dynamo Kyiv win, Gavi, Dembele and Aguero

Sergi Barjuan got his first win as the interim manager of Barcelona on Tuesday night as they beat Dynamo Kyiv 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League.

A second-half strike from Ansu Fati, who was making a return from injury, made the difference for the Catalan giants on the night in Ukraine. What it also did is keep Barca’s hopes of making it through to the Round of 16 alive.

Barcelona have now moved to the second spot in Group E following the victory and Barjuan believes that this could be the turning point in the season for the team. “In the pre-match talk, I told them this was a very important match for the club,” he said.

“Today it was very important to win. Seeing the players you could tell that there was tension before the game and now I see relieve in their faces. This gives confidence for the next match. This can be an important turning point. This frees you, gives you confidence.”

The 49-year-old then said that the win was dedicated to Sergio Aguero, who has been sidelined for the next three months due to a heart condition. “This victory is dedicated to Kun. We are with him,” Barjuan stated.

The interim manager then opened up on the decision of starting Gavi out on the right flank instead of his preferred position in midfield. “It was a last minute change due to Dest’s injury to put him on the right. In midfield we had what we wanted with Busquets, Frenkie and Nico. With Gavi we gained intensity in the middle, although we lost depth, but it went well to go out like this,” he said.

The game in Kyiv also saw Ousmane Dembele make his first appearance of the season, coming on as a substitute in the second half. Speaking of the Frenchman, he said: “Dembélé is a differential player. He has depth, he has a good vision of the game.”

Appointed on an interim basis, Barjuan is expected to remain at the helm only until a permanent manager is appointed. And with rumours of Xavi’s imminent arrival picking up speed, the 49-year-old also addressed his immediate future with the Barcelona first-team.

“I’m living this as if it were my team. If I showed doubts, the players would not believe in me. The only way for us all to move forward is to show my serenity, convince them and move on. I love this club and I love what I do. We’ll see where I am tomorrow but I don’t want the players to see doubts in me,” he said.

Barjuan also seemed to hint that he would stay in charge of the weekend La Liga clash against Celta Vigo, saying: “I don’t know, I just know that I have to start preparing for the match tomorrow.”

Source: BarcaTV+