Xavi says Barcelona "following a plan" with Ansu Fati after Spain snub

Xavi assured that Barcelona's handling of Ansu Fati this season is just a case of taking precautions with the young forward after a tough two years with injuries.

"He's fine," Xavi said after Ansu was left out of the Spain squad on Friday. "We're following a plan with him but we're being very cautious. It is going well.

"Against Real Sociedad, he came on and made the difference and he will play more and more. He will be important. It's a different situation, it's difficult to manage because he went a long time without playing. Getting that rhythm and intensity back needs time. We have to be cautious.

"Last season, maybe we moved too quickly with him and he had a relapse (...) It is not a mental or a physical issue. It's just that we have a specific plan for him. He's going to come in little by little. For now, we have decided to manage his participation, but it's not a mental issue."  

Xavi said Ansu is handling it "well" adding: "I speak with him regularly, the last time a week ago, we discussed where we are at and encouraged him to speak.

"We regularly speak with the players, we're close to them, but especially with Ansu because it's a special case. The injury is forgotten, he is 100%, now it depends on how we see the situation and the competition."  

On Ansu's chances of making the Spain squad for the World Cup, Xavi said: "That is not up to me, that depends on (Spain coach) Luis Enrique. I have a good relationship with Luis Enrique, as players, then as a coach. We speak about the situation, nothing else (...) don't give all this too much importance, Ansu is going to play."