FC Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez says no one is safe from being sidelined, including star striker Robert Lewandowski.
The Polish veteran has faced a lot of criticism this season, both in terms of his build-up play and his performance in front of goal. Although he remains FC Barcelona’s top scorer, he has only scored three goals since September. After Xavi apparently called out Lewandowski at halftime of their final game of the year, he was asked if he would be willing to drop the 35-year-old to start new signing Vitor Roque.
“It’s happened before…I’ve done it before.” I can’t treat one footballer differently from another, otherwise the group won’t work well. If the players are on the pitch, it’s because I think they can help. We’re not talking about anything new here.”
Xavi also confirmed that Roque could also play with Lewandowski, and played down his half-time outburst. “Vitor can adapt to all positions of the attack, he can play wide, as a nine. » Xavi made it clear that he would take it easy with Roque and his adaptation, given his age.
However, there is no doubt that the pressure to play the Brazilian will continue to grow if Lewandowski does not improve. Likewise, voices were raised to demand the exclusion of Joao Felix, after a drop in his performances. FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has always been a big fan of Felix, publicly.
