In Xavi's 111 games on the Barcelona bench, only two teams have scored four goals against him: Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey last season (0-4) and Girona this Sunday (2-4) in the League. The Blaugrana coach appeared and called things by his name. “It is a hard blow because we had high hopes of placing ourselves 1 behind Girona and 2 behind Madrid. And we are seven behind the lead,” he explained the delicate situation in which his team is left.
For Xavi, on the field we did not see a large team and a more modest one, but rather we saw a ready-made team and another that is on the way. “This is our reality. This is a Barça under construction. I have said it many times and I have been criticized for it. We must continue working, now there is no need to doubt or tremble. It wasn't a bad game but we got a very bad result. Last year we also took a blow at the beginning (with the elimination of the Champions League) and we won two titles,” he said, trying to react.
The Egarense clung to the details to explain the defeat. “I think the match was even and the details were decisive. I think we have shot 30 or 31 times (There were 31, 11 on goal). We have had them. We have been good in the game but thick in the definition,” he reasoned. “In the first half we had to take the lead,” he lamented, before praising Girona.
“What Girona is doing has a lot of merit. Míchel works well and has a great team and is a sure candidate for the title. He is very deserving, I congratulate you.” To the point that he did not hesitate to classify him as the best rival he has had this season. “By proposal, without a doubt. It is very similar to ours. They don't throw the ball, they don't raffle it,” he noted. With that spirit they forced Barça to run backwards. “And we don't have players to go back and forth. We have to be together. But Girona has not left us.”
In that sense, Xavi considered that his team did not have defensive strength and that did not allow him to have control of the match. "We haven't controlled the transitions and the high pressure well." And he gave the example of 0-1. “The first goal is a transition in which we did not adjust the high pressure on Yan Couto well and they caught our back,” he analyzed.
