For Xavi Hernández, Barcelona won their first final of the remaining eight against Atlético de Madrid. A victory that puts the blaugrana 11 points ahead of Real Madrid and moves Atlético de Madrid, the blaugrana’s last rival, to 16. “We have won a great team. We have taken another step towards the title. The panorama is exciting, but nothing has been done”, insisted the Barca coach. Not even Simeone’s words congratulating Barcelona and assuring that they deserve to win this League mislead him.
In addition to the triumph, Barcelona had the good news of the returns of Frenkie de Jong and Pedri. “Without detracting from the others, it is evidence that they are differential and capital footballers. They improve what comes to them. They understand our game model and that is why they are so crucial. I have the feeling of more calm when the ball reaches Pedri or Frenkie” Xavi analyzed.
The Barça coach, however, once again complained about his team’s lack of effectiveness: “We have generated less in the first half. In the second half we have had very clear chances to make it 2-0 and 3-0. It is a tonic that is happening to us this season. In the end you end up suffering in a game that you could have won more comfortably”.
In this sense, he had some heartfelt words for Ferran Torres. With the goal of the Valencian striker in Elche the scoring drought began. And with Ferran and his target against Atlético de Madrid it ended. It has been exactly 5 hours and 34 minutes of Barcelona football without scoring in all competitions. “How they train is very important. And I have chosen Ferran Torres and it has worked out for me. Today I am the best coach in the world. I move by sensations, I have always worked like that. Ferran Torres understands our game. That is why he has played very well. Goal apart, I think he has done an important job”, insisted Xavi.
Although Xavi is a coach who approves of 1-0, he did not breathe easy until Sánchez MartÃnez whistled the end of the match. True to his impulses, the Barcelona coach did not stop sharing his opinions contrary to the referee’s decisions with the fourth official. He was especially critical when the latter did not point out a free kick on Gavi but he did point out an equal one against. He then went to Sánchez MartÃnez to ask the coach to calm down.
Once again, Marc-André Ter Stegen was decisive in getting the three points by defeating Antoine Griezmann’s clear chances. “Marc is among the three best goalkeepers in the world and for the type of game we want to play we are the best in the world. He has been decisive in many moments of the season”, sentenced the Barcelona coach.
