Barcelona’s defeat in the Montjuïc classic fell like a jug of cold water on the shoulders of Xavi Hernández. However, despite the result and the losses – he was only able to recover Lewandowski and Raphinha, Koundé remained on the bench – the coach liked what he saw. For the first time in a long time, he felt that his team had met the expected slate. “From my point of view, I think we dominated at least the first 60 minutes. Football is this. We need five or six chances to score and with three they make you two. Bellingham’s first goal, who is a player who makes a difference, is our mistake. The second is a blow,” reflected the coach who, for a change, did not stop interacting with his players throughout the game. Leading the ship. Raising his fist in anger when Gündogan scored. And putting his hands in his face with Bellingham’s two goals. “I insist. Maybe I’m exaggerating, I think they made us suffer in the end, but I sincerely think that if anyone deserved to win the game it would be us,” he insisted.
Xavi played his cards. He gave the squad list in the morning a few hours before the game. Of the six injured, half recovered. Raphinha, Lewandowski and Koundé. The latter did not play. It was too early. Yes, he counted on the other two as triggers. “They have been good,” said Xavi. Yes, he dedicated more words of praise to Gavi, who played his ninth classic. “He is the soul of the team. He has played at the base of the square, he has not lost balls and he has recovered them. He gives intensity and is aggressive to space. “He has controlled Real Madrid very well,” he noted.
Unlike in other games, Xavi made it his personal goal not to talk about the referee’s performance led by referee Gil Manzano. And he got it. He responded with a brief “I haven’t seen it” to Tchouaméni’s grab on Araújo in the first half. “But I do want to say that we did not lose because of the referee. We have lost it because we have not been effective,” he stressed.
True to his attitude of explaining and revealing conversations that can spark controversy, the coach did want to explain his conversation with Vinícius on the sideline that ended with a friendly caress on the player’s cheek. “I told him that it wasn’t Araújo’s fault. That he had turned his back on her. But I told you with respect. “I admire him as a footballer,” he ruled. He did not want to leave the press room without sending a last message. “We are going to think about Real Sociedad and that we are going to compete in this League until the end.”
