Barcelona director of football Andoni Zubizarreta says the most important weeks of this season will be in May next year.
The former goalkeeper was speaking before the Barca party embarked on their trip to Portugal for Tuesday’s Champions League game against Benfica, with the small matter of El Clasico to follow at the weekend.
“The next seven days will be very important because there is a Champions League match and a La Liga game but the biggest weeks, when you have to around, are next May,” Zubizarreta told assembled media, while warning of the danger of relaxing with one eye on the Real Madrid game.
He also referred to the injury suffered by midfielder Thiago, who will be sidelined for eight weeks after suffering knee ligament damage in the 3-2 victory over Sevilla at the weekend.
“It was a disaster for Thiago but the important thing is that he recovers because he is a player who gives us a lot of options.”
On some controversial refereeing decisions over the weekend Zubizarreta came out in defence of the officials, who he believes have a difficult enough job as it is.
“I don’t want to discuss errors or refereeing favours because it is a tough job. They have to make instant decisions over things that happen in a second,” he explained.
