Xavi's request to Barca debutant Aleix Garrido
The coach asked one thing of the youngster, whom he put on to face Elche
FC Barcelona's win away to Elche had some good news beyond the four goals and the 15-point gap over Real Madrid: the debut of Aleix Garrido. The young home-grown player played his first minutes with the first team after coming on for Ansu Fati, and he showed some flashes of his quality.
Xavi Hernández, who gave him the opportunity to make his debut, asked the young midfielder to "not lose the ball", as the player himself confessed at the final whistle. Garrido came on in the 84th minute of the match and played in the final stages of the game, with Elche having already given up.
After the final whistle, the 19 year old player spoke to the media to digest all the excitement of his debut. "A lot of emotions, it's the best day of my life. It's eleven years at this club. It's an incredible feeling, I'll never forget this day. I'm very happy for the minutes and I hope to play more," he said.
"Xavi told me not to lose the ball, it added a bit of pressure," joked Garrido.
It's no coincidence that Xavi is betting on him and that today he has given him the opportunity to make his debut. "He's got a Barça profile, for sure. He has a great last pass and is a very technically superior player. He has time, but I love him," admitted the coach.
