FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has discussed who is to blame for star player Gavi's season ending injury ahead of Saturday's La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano, stating: "It's a problem from [playing] too many matches".

Gavi pulled up with a knock in Spain's Euro 2024 qualifying clash with Georgia last weekend, with exams later revealing that he had torn the ACL in his right knee.

Many Barca fans have pointed the finger at La Roja manager Luis De La Fuente for fielding Gavi when others were rotated, but Xavi refuses to do likewise after losing his midfielder for anything between six and eight months.

Xavi stressed that he has a "good relationship with De la Fuente" and instead sees the hammer blow being derivative of a "scheduling problem" with Gavi having played a lot for a 19-year-old.

"It's not a coach management issue," Xavi said. "It was misfortune".

Furthermore, Xavi revealed that there has thus far been no news about signing a replacement for the irreplaceable number 6.

On Barca's packed schedule ahead of Christmas, Xavi noted that there is "always a lot at stake" for the Blaugrana.

"We are Barca. We have seven important games for the two championships," Xavi said, regarding La Liga and the Champions League.

"We have to get our [good] feelings back and if we play well, we'll get results."

Xavi confirmed that his goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen won't make the trip to Rayo Vallecano, and will be replaced by Inaki Pena in whom he has "absolute confidence".

Frenkie de Jong should return, however, after being out of the squad since leaving the Montjuic Stadium turf before half time unable to continue in the comeback win.

"We have noticed his absence a lot, as well as Pedri's," Xavi confessed. "He's a very important player and he's 100 per cent ready to play everything."

After Barca's last game before the international break, a 2-1 win over Alaves, Xavi exploded with the press by claiming that their negative coverage and had an affect on his players.

Xavi made no apologies for this when offered the chance.

"I spoke my mind. At half-time, I realized that many were affected by the criticism. I told them to break free, but at no point was it an excuse.

"We played badly in the first half because of [ourselves]. My job is for them to be freed and their talent to be exploited. And in the second half, we had a good first half hour and managed to come back," the manager concluded, on another successful remontada.