Barcelona will be eager to end their three-game winless streak across all competitions when they lock horns with UD Almeria on Wednesday night.

It will be the Blaugrana’s final official game before the Christmas break and they will be intent on bagging all three points before flying off to Dallas to play a friendly match against Club America.

The defeats to Girona and Royal Antwerp, and the draw against Valencia last weekend have seen Xavi come under pressure, especially with the gap at the top of the La Liga table widening.

That was one of the several topics that the Barcelona manager addressed during his customary pre-match press conference today.

Earlier this week, Barcelona president Joan Laporta confirmed that the club will try to sign a new midfielder in January. Reaffirming those plans, Xavi said:

“We are always looking to strengthen the squad. With Gavi’s injury, we need such a profile but it is difficult. We will see the fair play. We are working with Deco and the president.”

A fresh face that Barça will certainly see in January is that of Vitor Roque, who will be making the jump from Athletico Paranaense. Discussing the 18-year-old’s arrival and whether that could address the club’s problems in the final third, the manager said:

“We can’t put pressure on Vitor Roque or young people like Lamine. They have to take it one step at a time.

“We have to take a step forward as a team. We’re lacking in the penalty area. Our lack of effectiveness has weighed us down in many games. We have to redirect the situation in La Liga, it’s possible to get back on track.”

Further talking about the teen, he added: “If everything goes well, he will join us after the festive season. We are in contact with him so that he arrives in good condition.

“He is a hope for the team. He’s a very good signing and I think he can bring us a lot.”

When asked about the possible duel between Vitor Roque and Real Madrid’s Endrick, Xavi said: “They are players with very high expectations. We will see. It’s too early to say, but hopefully. Hopefully the signing of Vitor Roque will be at the level of Messi or Cristiano.”

Staying on the matter, Xavi also discussed the misfiring form of ace goalscorer Robert Lewandowski, saying: “Lewandowski is not an exception in the lack of effectiveness, but we all fail here. We have nine points less than last season and I’m sure we’ve done things wrong.

“There is a lack of effectiveness and consistency. In the game, I think we’ve improved and we’ve dominated, but the lack of effectiveness in the penalty area is weighing us down.”

As was reported earlier today, the conversations between the referees and the VAR will be made audible moving forward, a move that was welcomed by Xavi, as he said:

“It’s a step forward in football. It is very positive for people to see what is happening. We have to humanise referees and help them. It’s great news for football, I’m happy.”

On being drawn against Napoli in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, he added: “We are playing against the Italian champions. They are in a similar situation to us. It’s a 50-50 tie. They have changed coach and now there is Mazzarri, who is a bit more defensive. It will be a complicated tie.”

Praising Girona for their dream run in La Liga, Xavi termed them as a direct rival for the title, saying: “I said they were a direct rival and that they were going to fight for La Liga. The coach has put together a very good approach and they have players of a very high level. They are a direct rival to win La Liga.”

On Barcelona’s title chances after recent results: “I think it’s possible to come back. We have to make sure we don’t fail. Our mistakes are taking their toll on us.”

On what is not clicking for his team this term, he added: “When we suffer, we have to defend well. We kept a clean sheet in a lot of games last year and this year it’s costing us. We have to fix the forcefulness in the areas to be competitive in all the titles.”

If there is a lack of optimism within the team due to recent results, Xavi defiantly said: “We’ve failed, but we’re going to fight for everything. We can plug in and we’ll have our moment. If we fail more it’s going to be very complicated, but we’re going to fight for all the titles.”

“I believe a lot in what I do. I am stubborn and positive. I’m the man in charge and I’m positive and excited. I think we can have a great season. Sometimes it can be unpleasant to be a Barça coach, but if you want to be an elite coach you have to put up with it. I believe a lot in what we are doing,” he added.

Oriol Romeu has come under a lot of fire after his performance against Royal Antwerp. But Xavi once again showed his support to the 32-year-old star, saying: “Calm and tranquillity. Oriol is a very strong guy and he will get his chances again. He will help us.”

With Frenkie de Jong out of the game due to a suspension, Xavi named two academy talents as possible replacements, as he said: “Casado and Fermín can be alternatives to cover the absence of Frenkie.”

Amid growing speculations regarding the future of winger Raphinha, the Barcelona manager insisted that the Brazilian remains a key cog in the side, saying:

“I would highlight his heart. He always gives everything and sacrifices himself for the team. He is one of the people who suffers the most when things don’t work out.

“The players are the first to be angry. In the dressing room in Valencia, he had a hard time, but this is about insisting over and over again.”

When asked to pick his best and worst moments of the year so far, Xavi said: “The two titles. The Super Cup was very important because we believed we could do important things and then La Liga.

“The negatives were the titles we didn’t win, the elimination from the Champions League and Europa League.”

On whether the speculation about his future concerns him, Xavi replied: “If you ask yourselves… I see it as normal. If you ask me if I am suffering because of the position, I have to answer. I am calm and I am confident. That’s all there is to it.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo