Barcelona head coach Xavi has this afternoon provided an insight into a personnel ‘scare’ stemming from the club’s morning training session.
For those who may have missed it, a photo doing the rounds online early on Friday set alarm bells ringing across the Barcelona fanbase.
As much came amid fears over the wellbeing of star goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen.
Ter Stegen, for his part, is fresh off a return to base in Catalunya, after linking up with the German national team squad last week.
A little over 24 hours out from Barcelona’s scheduled return to action against Las Palmas, it therefore came as a major concern upon the 31-year-old being spotted grounded in Barca’s latest training session, being tended to by the club’s medical team.
Ter Stegen’s availability to face Las Palmas was in turn immediately thrown into question.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, the subject of his no.1’s fitness was therefore inevitably put to boss Xavi.
And the Blaugrana’s headmaster went on to confirm that, though Ter Stegen did indeed suffer a training ground ‘scare’, he is nevertheless available for selection for Saturday:
“What happened with Ter Stegen in training was a scare, but he is fine.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
