Barcelona president Joan Laporta has today moved to reveal his appreciation for head coach Xavi.
As much comes after the Spanish tactician afforded a Barcelona first-team debut to another of the club’s promising young talents, this past weekend.
The player in question? Marc Casadó.
Midfielder Casadó, for his part, boasts a name well known to those of a Blaugrana persuasion.
As much comes with the 20-year-old having been afforded a spot in the club’s matchday setup on a whole host of occasions across the season to date.
And yet, prior to last weekend, Casadó had never once taken to the pitch in La Liga.
With frustration no doubt beginning to build on the part of the Spaniard, amid the breakout seasons being enjoyed by the likes of Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí, it therefore brought a collective smile to the faces of Barcelona supporters the world over when, at long last, Casadó was introduced late in the club’s 3-0 win over Atlético Madrid.
And though some may have considered it ‘about time’ for the Barca Atlètic captain, one individual adamant that Xavi will have gotten the timing just right, comes in the form of the aforementioned Joan Laporta.
Speaking in an interview with Mundo Deportivo in the early hours of Friday, Laporta provided a glimpse into his admiration for the Blaugrana’s departing headmaster, making use of the Casadó example to highlight Xavi’s often unappreciated nous.
“The other day Xavi gave a debut in the league to Casadó, who had already been called up for many games. Xavi has to be recognised, because nothing is improvised. Xavi told us that he would make Casadó play at the right time. He had played in Antwerp. It didn’t go well, but not because the lad didn’t play well, because he came on for a while and did very well. And against Atlético, Casadó came on for a few minutes and gave the level that was expected of him. Xavi has studied and planned everything very carefully. It comes from his personal experience to decide when a player should come on.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
About Author
