Barcelona's defeat in the Montjuïc classic has fallen like a bucket of cold water on Xavi Hernández's back. However, despite the result and the losses – he was only able to recover Lewandowski and Raphinha, Koundé remained on the bench – the manager liked what he saw. For the first time in a long time, he felt that his team had followed the script laid out on the board. "From my point of view, I think we dominated at least the first 60 minutes. Football is that. We need five or six chances to score and they get two with three. The first goal for Bellingham, who is a difference maker, is a pipe. The second is our mistake. He is angry because he scores from the second line and we had worked on it", reflected the coach who, as always, 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 both Bellingham goals. "Maybe I'm exaggerating, I think they made us suffer in the end, but I think if anyone deserved to win the game it was us. It is an undeserved defeat", he emphasized.
Xavi played his cards. He gave the list of players in the morning a few hours before the game. Of the six injured Xavi recovered half. Raphinha, Lewandowski and Koundé. The latter did not play. It was too early. He did count the other two as repulsive. "They have been good", pointed out Xavi, who dedicated more words and all praise to Gavi in his ninth classic. "He is the soul of the team. He has not lost balls and has recovered them", he pointed out.
Unlike in other matches, Xavi made it his personal goal not to talk about the performance of the referee, Gil Manzano. And he succeeded. He responded with a scathing "I haven't seen it" to Tchouaméni's tackle on Araújo in the first half. He took a breath and continued. "Yes, I want to say that we did not lose because of the referee, but because we were not effective", he said.
Xavi wanted to explain the conversation he had with Vinícius on the sidelines. "I told him it wasn't Araújo's fault. That he had won his back. But I said it with respect. I admire him as a footballer", declared the coach, who ended his conversation with Vinícius with a caress on the player's cheek.
The passionate (and culer) character of Xavi contrasts with the calmness of Carlo Ancelotti. The Real Madrid coach who, if nothing goes wrong, will occupy the bench of the Brazilian national team next year, is the living image of tranquility. "The first half was forgettable. But we changed our attitude after the break and that was the key", he analyzed. The other key was, without a doubt, their star player. “ Bellingham looks like a veteran. He has a very good attitude. The goal was not to draw, but to win, and his goal changes the dynamic. It gives more strength to us and more weakness to Barça, which until that moment had played better", he pointed out. Unlike Xavi, he did talk about Gil Manzano's performance. "He did very well in an intense match. They must always be like this", he considered. The Italian left with a last message for Vinícius and Rodrygo. "I told Vinícius not to stop in front of Araújo. Only if the referee whistled. It's good that Bellingham scores, but we also expect his goals and Rodrygo's," he warned.
Minutes before, Xavi did not want to leave the press room without also sending a warning. "We will think about Real Sociedad and that we will compete until the end to win this League."
