It often takes a little time apart to make you realise how much you need someone. Andres Iniesta has never been underappreciated -- far from it -- but Barcelona have been given a stark reminder of just how important he is to their success during the past few weeks. Getting him back for this weekend's Clasico, then, has gone down well in Catalunya.
Iniesta injured his knee ligaments in the win against Valencia on Oct. 22. Initial fears were that he would wave goodbye to the calendar year, but Barcelona estimated that he would be out for six to eight weeks, suggesting he would play again in 2016. Featuring against Real Madrid on Dec. 3, though? That looked difficult.
Yet here we are on the eve of the Clasico, exactly six weeks since Iniesta fell at the Mestalla, and Barca's captain is fighting fit and ready to feature.
"The biggest news is that we're getting Iniesta back," said Barca boss Luis Enrique in Friday's news conference at the Ciutat Esportiva training ground. "It has extra importance since he's our captain. If there's one player who helps most with our style, it's him."
It's not just Enrique who is excited to have the 32-year-old back, either. Both Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernandez have spoken of the significance of his return.
"We are talking about one of the best players in the world and he's very important for Barcelona's style," Puyol said. "It's not just what Andres does, either, but how things move around him. I'm delighted he's back."
Of his former midfield partner, Xavi added: "Iniesta is an important player for Barcelona. They say the team lacks control and pausa without him. He will give them that."
Basically, he's been missed by everyone. Given his status across Spain -- he receives standing ovations at nearly every stadium he goes to due to his role in La Roja's success -- even Madrid fans will begrudgingly accept that he could be key to Saturday's game.
But why has there been such a huge gap in his absence? Why have Barca won just three of the seven games he's missed during the past month? Why have nearly all of their dropped points in the league -- the exception being a draw against Atletico Madrid -- come when he has not started?
Diario Sport editor Luis Mascaro highlighted Iniesta's absence as one of the biggest problems in the draw against Real Sociedad last weekend. Without him in midfield, he argued, Barca "waived" their style. It's a comment that grows in weight when you analyse what Enrique, Puyol and Xavi have said this week.
Source: Espn Uk
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