Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez called on French winger Ousmane Dembele to believe in himself more and consistently help the team to win, as the Catalans gear up for the clash against Celta de Vigo on Sunday.Despite having an excellent start to the season, for which he was universally praised, the French winger is enduring a dip in form and has reached the point where he has to prove himself all over again. At a club so popular, having back to back poor games is unacceptable – as Dembele has found out in the past. 😬 Ousmane Dembele lost possession on 38 occasions and made 19 inaccurate crosses in Barcelona’s defeat to Inter last night, both record amounts in a #UCL match since March 2020 pic.twitter.com/z8mCAuHEml— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) October 5, 2022 The Frenchman had a disappointing game against Inter Milan as Barcelona fell to a 1-0 defeat in the Champions League on Tuesday. However, the former Barca captain Xavi, who previously said Dembele had the potential to be the world’s best winger, could become more decisive for the club.”We are very happy with his professionalism since we arrived, we gave him some love and confidence, and he’s given it back. He needs to make a difference in every match, he can do it, and he needs to believe in himself more. To score more, assist more, and in each game, he should give us more. He’s been making the difference but needs to do it even more so, in every game, in every moment.”Dembele has become a key player for Barcelona under Xavi and has enjoyed a good season, although he struggled with his final ball in Milan. Barcelona could not break through in Italy and will be on the verge of Champions League elimination in the group stage for a second season running unless they can beat the Italians at Camp Nou on Wednesday.”We need to shoot more from outside the box, provoke defenders to step up and leave space in behind. Our crossing and decision-making in the final third needs to be better.” ##NAJAVA_MECA_6706260##Barcelona host Celta Vigo on Sunday in La Liga, as they aim to hold on to the top spot before next weekend’s Clasico. Frenkie de Jong has returned to the squad after injury, but Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Memphis Depay, Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie and Hector Bellerin are still out.Dembele aware of his mistakes: I wasted five years of my life…Despite the injuries and problems, Xavi demands a victory against the Galician team. Nothing but maximum effort will suffice if his team wants to head into the huge clash against Real madrid as La Liga’s leader.”Celta is a team a lot different to Mallorca and Inter. They seek to dictate the tempo and use the ball wisely. Whenever they win possession, they form a deadly trident formation in the middle of the park and attack with clinical precision. If anyone thinks it’s going to be easy – they’re wrong.”🎙️ Xavi on #MallorcaBarça:”Dembele is fully fit and ready to play.” pic.twitter.com/XgFTg26lFx— Let’s Barca! (@Lets_Barca) October 1, 2022 Once again, the former Liverpool misfit Iago Aspas will be the main attacking threat for Celta. However, Barca’s tactician won’t pick him out for special treatment.”No matter how good a player – we won’t mark him specifically. I like him a lot because he’s a player who can make a difference. Celta rely heavily on him.”LA LIGA – MATCHDAY 8FridayOsasuna – Valencia 0-2 (0-1)/Brasanac 90+3 – Kluivert 27, Diakhaby 53/SaturdayAlmeria – Rayo Vallecano 3-1 (3-0)/Robertone 8, Babic 17, Toure 39 – Catena 81/17.15: (1.53) Atl.Madrid (4.10) Girona (7.00)19.30: (2.85) Sevilla (3.15) Ath.Bilbao (2.55)22.00: (7.75) Getafe (4.30) Real Madrid (1.53)Sunday15.00: (3.05) Valladolid (3.25) Betis (2.60)17.15: (3.05) Cadiz (3.05) Espanyol (2.75)19.30: (2.65) Sociedad (3.20) Villareal (3.00)22.00: (1.34) Barcelona (5.50) Celta (10.0)Monday22.00: (3.25) Elche (3.00) Mallorca (2.65)***odds are subject to change
