Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez on Monday urged fans to not jeer winger Ousmane Dembele after the France international was greeted with a chorus of boos on his return to the squad in Sunday’s victory over defending champions Atletico Madrid in La Liga.
Barcelona bounced back from a goal down to beat Atletico 4-2 as they clinically saw off the champions by scoring four goals from only four shots on target.
Dembele was an unused substitute in Sunday’s high-octane encounter but he was booed as he entered Camp Nou on Sunday.
Dembele has not played for Barcelona since Jan. 12 after failing to renew his contract, which is set to expire at the end of the season. Barcelona asked him to leave before the January transfer window closed, but the 24-year-old was unable to find another club and will stay at the Catalan club until the end of the campaign.
“The fans were 10 of 10 and the support was brilliant throughout the game,” Xavi told a news conference.
“But I would like them to support Ousmane, too. I’d ask them to stop booing him.
“The idea was for him to come on, but I decided on other things because of the red card and the way the game went,” Xavi said, referring to Dani Alves’ sending-off in the 69th minute.
Barcelona jumped to the 4th spot with 38 points from 22 matches but are 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid who have a game in hand.