Barcelona’s Xavi fears ‘lengthy’ damage absences for Frenkie de Jong and Pedri

Barcelona’s Xavi fears ‘long’ injury absences for Frenkie de Jong and Pedri

Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez fears midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Pedri may face lengthy spells on the sidelines.

Each gamers departed injured through the first half of Barca’s scoreless draw at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night in La Liga.

De Jong, 26, was stretchered off after showing to maintain an ankle damage from touchdown awkwardly following an aerial duel, earlier than Pedri additionally needed to make means — in tears — after sustaining a muscular damage following an tried move.

“The accidents to Pedri and Frenkie don’t look good,” Xavi informed reporters after the sport. “It is rather unlucky. They seem like they’ll miss a number of video games and might be out for a very long time. Between right now and tomorrow we’ll know extra.

“These are two essential gamers for us, and it looks like they’ll now be out for a number of matches, maybe a very long time. We now have to hope it’s lower than we concern, however it’s super misfortune for us.”

A tearful Pedri was forced off through injury in Bilbao (Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images))

A tearful Pedri was pressured off via damage in Bilbao (Jose Breton/Pics Motion/NurPhoto by way of Getty Pictures))

Barcelona are subsequent in motion at residence to Mallorca in La Liga on Friday evening earlier than internet hosting Napoli within the second leg of their Champions League spherical of 16 tie 4 days later. The primary leg was drawn 1-1 in Naples final month.

Barca stay third in La Liga, one level behind Girona and eight behind league leaders Actual Madrid. Having been eradicated from the Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercopa, Europe is their one remaining hope of cup glory this season.

Pedri, 21, has seen muscular issues severely curtail his availability for Barcelona in current seasons.

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“We now have to provide him a whole lot of love and assist for him to return,” Xavi added of the midfielder. “We might be by his facet. We now have to assist him come again stronger.”

Talking of the efficiency and outcome, Xavi added: “We didn’t play a very good match. It’s a missed alternative. We may have carried out higher.”

Barcelona are already with out Gavi for the rest of the marketing campaign after the midfielder tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his proper knee in November.