Barça Manager Jordi Roura fully focused on Granada

Barcelona (ACN).- After two weeks with no midweek fixture, Barça go to Granada on Saturday for the first in a marathon series of five games in 14 days, including massive matches with AC Milan in the European Champions League and Real Madrid in the Spanish Cup. However Jordi Roura insisted in his Friday press conference that all attention is currently focused on the forthcoming Spanish League fixture with Granada. “We are fully focused on Granada because the league is a basic target for us. A positive result is always an important step forward … We are in comfortable position in the league but that should be no excuse for any kind of relaxation”.

Asked whether he might rest players ahead of AC Milan, the manager explained that “we have a lot of options as far as putting a team together is concerned. We’re not playing Milan until Wednesday, which gives us plenty of time to recover … We’re into the nice part of the season when in a few days there are lots of things at stake. In terms of fitness and morale this is a good moment for us”.

Granada and Lucas Alcaraz

Barça go to Granada after failing to win either of their last two away games at Real Sociedad and Valencia. So Roura believes it is very important to win at Los Cármenes, but knows that under Lucas Alcaraz “they have managed to turn things around.” Since the arrival of their new manager, the Andalusians have won at Madrid and Deportivo la Coruña. “They’re moving up. And we know all about Lucas Alcaraz’s teams, they’re always very solid, difficult, strong … They’re doing well now and will want to impose their style”. Asked about former FC Barcelona man Nolito, the coach said “we know him and all about his danger”.

All eyes on Xavi

Xavi Hernández was able to train again with the squad on Friday and Jordi Roura explained that they are still assessing whether or not he’ll be fit to play against Milan. “We’re hoping he’ll be OK, but we’re watching his development closely.” As for David Villa, the coach said that his attack of renal colic “was a setback for him and broken his rhythm somewhat”. Villa quit the hospital on Friday morning.