Xavi denies defensive crisis at Barca

TEAMtalk Media | 20 September, 2012 14:500 Comments

FC Barcelona v FC Spartak Moscow - UEFA Champions League

Lionel Messi (L) of Barcelona lines up a free kick with his teammate Xavi Hernandez during the Champions League match against Spartak Moscow at the Camp Nou stadium on September 19, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain
Image by: Jasper Juinen / Getty Images

Barcelona playmaker Xavi has played down talk of a defensive crisis in the camp ahead of the first El Clasico meeting on October 7.

Gerard Pique is Barca's latest casualty, limping off in the 3-2 win over Spartak Moscow on Wednesday night after just 12 minutes.

Pique was immediately assessed and it was concluded that he will miss up to three weeks of competitive football, meaning he faces a race against time to be fit for the first meeting with Real Madrid.

The Spanish centre-back follows his defensive partner Carles Puyol into the treatment room.

And despite the Catalan giants having their first-choice centre-back pairing sidelined, their midfield talisman Xavi believes the squad is strong enough to cope.

He told the club's official website: "All of the players that have picked up injuries are important. Puyol and Pique without a doubt are very important, but the team is big enough to cope with their absences.

"We're focusing on Saturday's match (against Granada). Before the Clasico there are two more league games and another Champions League fixture.

"It's clear that it would be good to get them (Puyol and Pique) back before the Clasico, but we have a good team.

"(Sergio) Busquets, (Alex) Song, who played a good game (against Spartak), (Javier) Mascherano... all of them can play in the centre-back position."