The image is repeated game after game. Xavi dancing a slow dance with the fourth referee, speaking close to his ear. This image is followed or preceded, or both, by gesticulations, protests and fussing. It is the daily bread in Barcelona's technical area, always on the verge of a nervous breakdown, always with high heart rate. Not a second of calm. Neither in Montjuïc, nor at home. Neither losing nor winning. That was the case when the Barcelona coach was sent off by Sánchez Martínez in the blink of an eye at the Metropolitano. In the 39th minute he showed him the yellow card. In the 42nd minute he sent him to the stands without hesitation, much to the coach's anger.
An anger that turned into joy from the stands, where the coach watched the magnificent gift from his players. They achieved a sensational victory in a true fortress. Where no one had won, his Barça did so with solvency. He completed the best week of the season as he had just beaten Naples in Europe. “We played an ideal match. We have known how to find the spaces and be effective. We have found the free man. An almost perfect match within our philosophy,” Xavi analyzed.
Without a doubt, the victory was a relief for the coach, always fighting with the world. With the referees, sure. They have been fighting for months and there is no way for the waters to go down calmly.
The Blaugrana coach's lack of survival began with a grab for Gündogan that was not sanctioned with a card (it was very clear). Xavi sent the referee away, but he was not cautioned there. Yes it would be when he asked for a card for a attack from behind on Lewandowski (he didn't seem to deserve it) and the next protest, for an offside that was signaled late, he already had to leave the game. It had been a short time since Barça had scored 0-1.
It is his second expulsion this season after the one he suffered on the opening day in Getafe, a night in which he launched a resounding tirade against LaLiga and the referees. In fact, he has already been expelled on as many occasions as a coach (132 games) than in his career as a footballer (767 games). He has also seen 24 yellow cards as a coach. A constant bleeding. He promised to control himself and said that he would not talk about the referees anymore. Although asked about it a few weeks ago he stated: “You won't tell me that I am not involved, with 4 yellow cards, one in the Cup and an expulsion in Getafe. "Sometimes I make mistakes, I'm human."
After the red card at the Coliseum he received a two-game ban and against Mallorca at the beginning of the month he was also in the stands due to an accumulation of cautions. Now the match against Las Palmas will be missed at a minimum.
Yesterday, after the game, Xavi did not want to cause much bloodshed, although everything was understood. “I guess they throw me out for my gestures because I haven't said anything at all, I always try to be respectful. I am passionate and I defend the interests of my team. For me the expulsion is unfair but it must be accepted. Let's see what the minutes say. The important thing is the team,” said the coach. What the referee put in the minutes is the following: “Make technical observations out loud, making inconsiderate gestures and after having been warned.”
After adding his fifth victory in five games against Simeone Xavi promised that he will “put more pressure on the players than ever. We are going to fight for everything. It is a time to dream.”
