Barcelona legend and current manager Xavi has urged fans of the Catalan club not to “crucify” struggling forward Ferran Torres after the Spain international missed a penalty in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Valencia.
The 21-year-old, who joined Barcelona from Valencia in the summer of 2021. He has struggled for form since his arrival at the Camp Nou. Just scoring just one goal in his first 13 appearances for the club.
Despite his lack of goals, Torres has shown flashes of the talent that saw him attract interest from some of Europe’s top clubs before his move to Barcelona, and Xavi believes that he is capable of turning his fortunes around.
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“I think Ferran is a fantastic player, and he has a lot of quality,” Xavi said in a recent interview. “I think he is going through a difficult moment right now, but he is still a young player, and he needs the support of the fans and the club to help him get through this period.”
Speaking after the game, Barcelona manager admitted that he was disappointed to see Torres miss the penalty but praised the young forward for his overall performance.
What did Xavi said about Ferran Torres?
“Ferran played well today, and he deserved to score a goal,” Koeman said. “Unfortunately, he missed the penalty, but that’s part of football. We have to keep supporting him and helping him to improve.”
Torres’ struggles in front of goal have been a source of frustration for Barcelona fans, who had high hopes for the young forward after his impressive performances for Valencia and the Spanish national team.
However, Xavi believes that it is important for fans to be patient with Torres and not to put too much pressure on him to succeed immediately.
“I think it’s important for fans to understand that Ferran is still a young player who is adapting to a new team and a new league,” Xavi said. “He needs time to settle in and find his feet, and the last thing he needs is to be crucified by the fans every time he makes a mistake.”
