Persecuted by the Negreira case that has crossed borders and threatens to shake its foundations, Barça arrives at Old Trafford with the desire that, for at least 90 or 120 minutes, football will take center stage. Embarrassed by a matter that could plague him for months, the Blaugrana team landed in one of the main football cathedrals in the world with the intention that his image, with the ball at his feet, be better than the one he is offering from the offices.
In the midst of all this monumental mess, Xavi Hernández tries to deal with the sporting aspect while facing sensitive issues, as the club's daily spokesperson. This Wednesday it was the honorary president of Bayern, Karl Heinz Rummenige, who in a more or less humorous way extended his shadow of suspicion about what was happening in Spain with the referees.
Addressed directly by the words of the former German striker, the Blaugrana coach blurted out: "I have never felt that they have helped me win titles in Europe or in Spain, you can be sure."
With the memory of the controversial arbitrations suffered by Barcelona this season in Munich, Milan and last week against United, with a series of clear penalties not indicated, the Barcelona coach did not want to elaborate further on the subject. He prefers to focus on football, on the game, on something tangible that he can more than ever come to the rescue of an entity that he has more troubles to solve every day. A club that not so many years ago was the envy of Europe and that is currently going from trouble to trouble.
In the Old Trafford band, the president Joan Laporta and his senior staff (Rafael Yuste, Enric Masip and Mateu Alemany) observed the training session prior to the match with apparent calm. They were looking for relief more than ever in the spotlights offered by the grass and in the good sporting moment of a team that is leading and that will try to win at Old Trafford to redeem itself in Europe.
It will not be an easy task against a Manchester United team that will also arrive this Thursday launched, that left very good impressions at the Camp Nou and that wants to make a good 2-2 of the first leg sheltered from a hobby that will hang the sign of no there are tickets. “We have to match their level of passion and intensity. We cannot say that we have returned to Europe until we win in venues like Manchester United's field, which is currently one of the best teams in Europe”, Xavi reasoned.
Barcelona disembarked with the notable absences of Gavi and Pedri, iron and silk from its engine room, although Busquets is recovered, once his ankle sprain has been overcome. Xavi has to squeeze his brain. He has on his board the formula with four midfielders, embedding Sergi Roberto on the left, as an interior and false winger. But Xavi can also return to the system with two conventional wingers, resorting to the relieved Ferran Torres, or pull a surprise out of his hat (left wing joining Alba and Balde). More control or more vertigo. That is the dilemma.
“I already know how we will play but deep down our idea is the same, to attack and occupy spaces with personality. With more forwards there is more one against one. And with more midfielders there is more neatness. We lack Pedri's order, Gavi's passion and Dembélé's overflow but we have to find these things with the alternatives we have", analyzed the Barcelona coach.
The field factor favors the English, who are eager for success after a long journey through the desert, but Barça and Barcelona fans look to the grass as a refuge. Even if it's only while the ball is rolling.
