Ronald Koeman was suspended and had to watch on from the stands, but he will be pleased by the return of Ansu Fati, who also got his name on the scoresheet.
The energy on the Camp Nou was great
Barcelona assistant coach Alfred Schreuder was happy with how the Catalan side performed in their 3-0 win over Levante at the Camp Nou on Sunday afternoon. Ronald Koeman was suspended and had to watch on from the stands, but he will be pleased by the return of Ansu Fati, who also got his name on the scoresheet. Barcelona pressed Levante high up the pitch, and Schreuder was happy with the team’s work rate. “We’ve played a lot of games like this, not just this one,” Schreuder told the press. “It worked well today. The energy in the stadium was great, and it was a great day for everyone involved.” Ansu Fati made his return after 11 months out with a knee injury, and Schreuder stressed how happy everyone is to see him back. “We know he’s a great player,” he said.
Barcelona played some great football against Levante
“He’s got individual talent that we need, and we know what he’s capable of. We’re delighted to have him available to play again.” Ansu Fati wasn’t the only positive of the afternoon, with the whole side putting in a strong performance. “We played some great football today,” Schreuder commented. “The players really applied themselves. It’s great that Ansu is back, but we can’t forget about the other players. People like Gavi and Nico Gonzalez had a great game, and the fans were delighted.” Schreuder believes that there’s a lot of potential in this Barcelona team if they can keep their players fit. “I think that if everyone is fit, we’ll have a fantastic side with good options,” the Barcelona assistant noted. “Right now, we have to make sure that those who are playing give everything they can.”
Pedri will be back soon
“Pedri will be back soon, and we’ll have a really dangerous team when everyone is available.” Gavi and Nico are two youngsters who have come into the side and impressed. “Without doubt, if they show that they’re capable, we’ll consider them,” he assured. “The same happened last year with Ilaix Moriba. It’s what we do and who we are. If a player is good, he’ll play. We’ve played with a lot of young players. This is the future of Barcelona, and players like this grow in these games.” Schreuder also commented on the defence ahead of the Champions League game against Benfica. “We know the game against Benfica is very important,” said the Dutchman. “We’ll need to start with a strong defence and be aggressive and disciplined. We’ll concentrate on this match and then focus on Atletico.” Despite some difficulties this season, Schreuder insists the squad are happy.
“Everyone is happy,” he insisted. “They’re happy with how we’ve played. We passed the game well as a team and had a lot of possession. I think the team are satisfied. The return of Ansu has helped, and the connection with the fans has been great.”