Barcelona take on Real Sociedad on Thursday (April 21) in a crucial La Liga clash, but fans are unhappy with Xavi Hernandez's team selection.
The Blaugrana are aiming to bounce back following a shock 1-0 home defeat to relegation-threatened Cadiz last time out. The loss left Xavi's team 18 points off leaders Real Madrid.
Barca currently lie fourth in the table, three points clear of Real Betis with two games in hand, as they look to secure another season of Champions League football.
Xavi made four changes to the starting lineup from the Camp Nou defeat on Monday. However, he has decided to keep faith with Ferran Torres, much to the annoyance of Barcelona fans.
Torres joined the Catalonian club in January following a transfer from Manchester City, in a deal that Transfermarkt claims was worth around €60 million.
The Spanish international has since scored four goals and provided three assists in his 11 Liga appearances so far, but fans have been less than impressed with their new winger.
Here are some of the best reactions to the news that the 22-year-old Spaniard is starting at the Reale Arena:
Barcelona aiming to bounce back from humilating defeat
Following their crushing Europa League quarter-final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, the expectation was that Barca would steamroll over Cadiz in their next game. The expectations were not unfounded, given the opposition was in the bottom three before kickoff.
However, Xavi's team put in a lackluster performance, in which their attack looked completely toothless, and did not manage to find the net despite taking 18 shots.
The hosts were hit with a sucker punch early in the second-half when former Arsenal forward Lucas Perez buried a chance to condemn Barca to their first top-flight defeat in 16 games.
They will however be confident of a victory over Sociedad, having not lost to tonight's opponents in 14 games. This includes a 4-2 win in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign.
BISHOP0091
508
I said it already. Thank God I’m not the only one seeing it. Bench him and he’ll buckle up. He’s so useless there
Womabcdnpr
376
It’s true. But the guy is good he only needs to work on his finishing. Fati has not recovered yet and with the players on the bench I don’t see any player who would do a better job than Ferran in that position right now. Every player has a job his job is different from dembele and Adama. They usually create space and set up a goal for their team mates but ferran receives the ball and try to find a space to shoot. He is good in moving forward and finding spaces but the finishing is bad. Maybe we rotate him with Ansu when he is back. Just don’t insult him yet he is still learning when he finds his form he will be very important for us. And also most of these players are sacrificing for us taking very low salary to play for the club they could have gone to another team and receive a much higher salary and a chance to really battle for European trophy but they are still here. We got to appreciate them and support them because right now the motivation is not there enough so if we criticize them they tend to break down completely. Let’s relax and give them our 💯 as fans. If we do our jobs well as fans the team will find it’s feet again 👊
mabcdlmn
319
yes yes yes we said it Farren is not good enough for the team and for the fan please Xavi bunch this guy for sometimes, no wander sometimes ago I was asking you guys here that is this comments what we are commenting on this platform is it for the all football apps or even some Barcelona board and then fans seen it? No one who was answering me, but see God who hear our
faubeilo
276
xaxi, pls don't betray the love the blaugrana faithfuls have for you, ferran Torres is not worthy to play for Barcelona. We know u recommended him, we forgive your unintentional mistake, U must keep him on the bench and bring him in 10,15 minutes to the end of the match, XAVI pls listen to the voice of the fans.
AyukElad
180
When fati starts playing regularly his playing time will reduce
BillyDedon
108
They are many players still playing in this team because they are Spanish international and I hate it, this is why I don't like Barcelona buying Spanish players, Pique, Alba, Pusquet and this Ferran of agoy won't be in this team if they weren't Spanish and I hate this nonsense.