Sergi Barjuan ready to 'put joy back in the team'

Sergi Barjuan has given his first press conference since taking on the role of caretaker manager at FC Barcelona. "I want to thank the club” he said at an event where he was joined by president Joan Laporta. “But I’d also like to wish all the very best to Ronald Koeman, who I have been working with very closely until now.”

"I want to put some joy back into the team and get them enjoying their football again” he said. “I need all the players to be plugged into turning this situation around. It is important for them to be united.”

He has only had two days between the appointment and his first game against Alavés. “When you play Wednesday-Saturday-Wednesday you get no margin” he admits. “I haven’t even had 24 hours, but I need to deal with the stress and get a grip on things as quickly as possible.”

“The players are the same but the concepts might change. The real challenge is for the players and they have shown what they are capable of doing. They need to believe in what we want.”

Ansu Fati out against Alavés

As for Alavés, “they’re a team that have been improving. They have changed their system and it’s brought two wins on the trot. Luis Rioja in particular is going to cause us problems with his speed.”

He was also able to confirm that Ansu Fati will not be in the side but is not counting out Ousmane Dembélé as an option. The Frenchman was able to train as normal on Friday.