Ernesto Valverde has been boosted by the return of midfielder Arthur ahead of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Madrid. The Brazilian and Jasper Cillessen have recovered from respective injuries ahead of schedule to make the squad for Wednesday’s game. Nevertheless, it is considered unlikely that either of the two will be able to start the match.
The pair had been on the sidelines up until last week but have accelerated their respective recoveries and are now seemingly at the disposal of Ernesto Valverde. The Barcelona coach did not appear keen to rush them back in the pre-match press conference but, at the same time, he did not rule anything out.
Before the squad was released, Valverde didn’t ruled out including him in the squad Wednesday’s game at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
“He is better and did part of the training yesterday, now we must evaluate [his condition],” he noted. “It’s not this game that I thought he would be ready for, but we’ll see what happens, as it’s possible [he can play]. “He is a player who is different to the others, a great player, who offers us many things. “He has been in some games that the team played well and missed others that the team also played well.” “We have others to replace him and we don’t make excuses.”
Valverde has also expressed his wish to celebrate his 100th game as a Barcelona coach with a win against their fierce rivals.
“It’s a notable game because it’s one that can send you to the final and it’s also a Clasico,” he continued. “It will be complicated because we don’t go to the match with the aggregate we would like to have and the game is open. “We know the importance of the opponent and we hope we can qualify, as I think they hope as well for them.”
The Barcelona squad list for the second leg is: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Jasper Cillessen, Inaki Pena, Nelson Semedo, Gerard Pique, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Philippe Coutinho, Arthur, Luis Suarez, Leo Messi, Ousmane Dembele, Malcom, Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto, Carles Alena, Arturo Vidal and Samuel Umtiti.
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