Barcelona starlet Pau Cubarsí has moved to credit head coach Xavi Hernández, for his role in keeping Napoli hitman Victor Osimhen quiet.
Stopper Cubarsí, of course, is fresh off a night which will live long in the memory of the breakthrough Barca talent.
This comes after the Spaniard, still just 17 years of age, was afforded his first-ever appearance on the continent, in the pressure cooker environment of a Champions League Last-16 2nd leg showdown with Italian champions Napoli.
To say that Cubarsí took the occasion in his stride, though, would be something of an understatement.
Looking completely unfussed across the 90 minutes at Montjuïc, the youngster shone on both sides of the ball, on his way to Man of the Match honours.
All of this came despite Cubarsí having been afforded the unenviable task of keeping tabs on one of European football’s standout frontmen, in Victor Osimhen.
Speaking to the media post-match, the subject of his excellence in the face of such an elite attacking threat was therefore put to the teen himself.
And Cubarsí went on to give the credit for as much to his manager, in explaining:
“Xavi gave me the details to try and stop Osimhen.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
