Ansu Fati says Barcelona are aiming to triumph in LaLiga and the Champions League this season after making a goalscoring return to action against Levante on Sunday.
Fati, on as a late substitute, put the icing on the cake in his comeback following 10 months out with a knee injury, finishing superbly in stoppage time as Barça ended a run of three games without victory.
Luuk de Jong had earlier doubled Barça’s lead in his fourth appearance for the club following his move from Sevilla after his Netherlands team-mate Memphis Depay opened the scoring from the penalty spot.
FC Barcelona v Granada CF – La Liga SantanderBARCELONA, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 20: Ansu Fati of FC Barcelona looks on during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Granada CF at Camp Nou on September 20, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
David Ramos (Getty Images)
It was the first time since March 2009 that two different Dutch players had scored in the same LaLiga game, Arjen Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar last doing so for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao.
It has been a difficult start to the season for Barca following the shock departure of club icon Lionel Messi, with coach Ronald Koeman’s position the subject of intense scrutiny.
Fati, though, is expecting big things from the Catalan giants this season.
“We are Barcelona, we are going for LaLiga and the Champions League and all the competitions we are in,” he told Movistar.
“All the teams want to win everything, but we are Barça and we have to fight for it.”
Fati only returned to training last month after undergoing three operations following his knee injury in November 2020.
Despite inheriting Messi’s number 10 shirt in that period, Fati says he feels no pressure following in the Argentinian’s footsteps.
Proud to wear the No. 10 shirt
“I am proud to be able to wear it after Leo,” he added. “I want to thank the club and the captains for giving me the opportunity to wear it.
“It is not a pressure but I am grateful for wearing this number that has given a lot to this club.”
Barça’s assistant coach Alfred Schreuder oversaw matters on the pitch on Sunday with Koeman suspended from the touchline, and the Dutchman was delighted with the reception afforded to Fati by the Camp Nou faithful.
“The reaction of the stadium was evident, we know that he is a player who generates chances out of nowhere,” he said.
“We knew he could play for 15 minutes and this is the first step. We know that he is an excellent player, but also that he has been absent for a long time.”
Barça are next in action against Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday.
