Valverde: Dembele the difference

Ernesto Valverde has backed Ousmane Dembele to “make a difference” for Barcelona after his return and confirms Yerry Mina is ‘ready’ to face Getafe.

Dembele is back in Barca’s squad after a month out with a hamstring injury, while Mina is likely to replace Gerard Pique in central defence, despite the stalwart’s inclusion in Barca’s squad for the visit of Getafe, who pose a ‘dangerous’ threat, according to Valverde.

“Getafe are a team who score very few goals away from home, defend well and are having a great season after their promotion,” the Coach said at a Press conference.

“For us, it’s a dangerous match, given our opponents and the situation. We come into it from playing a game on Thursday night, when we qualified for a Final.

“We found it difficult against them in the first game. We need the fans because we’re entering a decisive run of matches and the time has come, when everything will be decided.

“I like it when all the players train the day before the game. If Pique hasn’t then it’s obviously for a reason.

“He played on Thursday because it was a decisive match. Tomorrow is also an important match, but we must assess him.

“Yerry Mina is ready to play, just like the others. The other night he took his first step, which was to make his debut, even it was only for a short time.

“We’re in the thick of some important competitions and he has to get used to that. Dembele? I have faith that he’ll make a difference in this part of the season.

“Dembele has different characteristics to the others and is a player we have high hopes for. He can give us things, especially in this phase of the season.

“Treble? It’s good that the fans are excited, but for us it’s a mathematical sequence. As yet, we haven’t won any trophies.

“To get one, we have to win at Getafe tomorrow. Our job was to qualify for the Final. As for where it’ll played, that’s for others to decide.

“If I’m honest, it’s not one of my main concerns.”

Tags Ernesto Valverde Ousmane Dembele
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