Xavi couldn't believe it. He left Old Trafford, the theater of dreams, saying goodbye to his. Sad. Baffled with the result. Of course, prouder than last year. He was close to Barcelona, much more solid and reliable in the first part than in the second. But the goal that Manchester United scored at the beginning of the second half took too much toll on him.
"That goal hurt us. From that moment on the duels have cost us. But I think the tie has been equalized both at the Camp Nou and here", acknowledged Xavi. "It is a very big disappointment because we were excited to continue in the Europa League. I really believe that we have shown our faces in both games. But we had a great rival in front of us," he added.
The technician remembered the casualties. Especially two. "We have lacked patience, calm, to have the tempo of the game. I don't want to make excuses. But I think that with Pedri or with Gavi things would have been different. Frenkie has done very well, Sergi Roberto and Kessié too but Pedri and Gavi are Capital players for us. We would have improved our inner game", he pointed out.
Barcelona says goodbye to Europe for the second time in the same season. The blaugrana have conceded 16 goals in the 8 European games played to date. "But the feeling is that we have been better than last season. Last year we couldn't compete in any of the European competitions. This year we have competed against very important rivals such as Inter, Bayern and Manchester United. And We haven't been able to but we've tried. And we'll try again. Now we have to focus on the competitions we have left. The Cup and the League", said the Blaugrana coach.
Asked if the fall in Europe could affect the team for the remainder of the season, Xavi stressed that "precisely the best thing about all this is that there will be a game again on Sunday. Tomorrow we will train, on Saturday we will go to Almería and on Sunday we will play" .
There will be Araújo. The Uruguayan left with muscular discomfort. "But he has nothing. I have seen that he was playing and I preferred to be cautious but he will be on Sunday against Almería", said Xavi who also pointed out that "it is too early to talk about signings in summer".
The players paraded behind the coach but before they approached the Blaugrana corner to thank the more than 2,000 fans for their support at Old Trafford. “We lost control in the second half. But you have to give credit to the rival. It has been difficult for us but we have fought. We must thank the fans for their support. It is disappointing for them and also for us because we are saying goodbye to the Europa League”, said Koundé in the Movistar microphones.
“We have had enough casualties in the Champions League and here. In Europe the teams that have touched us are very powerful. Bayern in the Champions League and today Manchester. You have to go one step further. We will continue to grow and I am sure that next year we will do better”, stated the French central defender.
