Barcelona veteran ‘prepared for whatever Xavi needs’ amid injury crisis in midfield

Midfielder Oriol Romeu was brought by Barcelona as a desperate signing over the previous summer. While the 32-year-old arrived for less than €5 million, expectations were high since he was roped in as a replacement for the departing Sergio Busquets.

For what it is worth, the former Chelsea and Southampton midfielder has fallen short of expectations and as the season progressed, he has lost prominence so much so that each of his last seven appearances have come as a substitute.

In fact, the 32-year-old has made just one start in his last 10 outings across all competitions, which came in a 3-1 win against Unionistas de Salamanca in Copa del Rey.

Now, even though he has lost his place, the midfielder has assured that he is willing to give everything to the club and is prepared for whatever Xavi needs.

“I am prepared for whatever Xavi needs,” said the midfielder in an interview with MARCA.

Aware of the difficulties

As mentioned, Romeu made a good start to his Barcelona tenure, but his performance dipped as the season progressed and the midfielder is well and truly aware of that.

“It’s true that my start was good, I enjoyed several games and my performance dropped. I looked for solutions, and answers, trying to guess. 

“Sometimes it was said that there were mental problems and there haven’t been, it hasn’t gone any further. Sometimes you just don’t enjoy yourself in the field as you would like. 

“Football is very constant and very changing, I try to recover sensations with the minutes. The worst thing is not being able to help my teammates. Each time the sensations are better and I hope to enjoy these last three months,” he explained.

Recent games and injuries

Barcelona have endured a difficult season this time around, especially in La Liga where they recently played a disappointing 0-0 draw against Athletic Club. Speaking about the game, the 32-year-old said,

“The game in San Mames was furious. It was an opportunity and it was not taken advantage of.”

Barcelona are preparing to face Napoli in their second leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie but Romeu said that the team is primarily focused on the game on Friday, against Mallorca.

“First Friday and then Tuesday. It is still a game that marks the season. We have a result that is not ideal but is good, we have a good chance of qualifying.”

Lastly, he admitted that injuries to key players have affected Barcelona big time. “The injuries to Pedri and [Frenkie] De Jong have been two hard blows.

“If I have learned anything this year it is to avoid myself more. A player is already aware of what mistakes he makes or what he does well. You don’t have to go on social networks to know how you have done it, neither for better nor for worse. 

“To the young people, I would tell them to ignore everything. You have to surround yourself with people who love you and give you their most honest opinion,” he explained.