Another draw away from home and it's now four in a row. Xavi's Barça does not go through a delicate moment when important moments of the season arrive. The Blaugrana did not go beyond a draw in Vallecas and could move even further away from the lead. The coach pointed out “mentality” as a problem for the team, which must “improve a lot” to be able to “win titles this year.”
“In the first half we dominated but we didn't go for the game and the second half is what we wanted. Dominate, have the chances, we scored a goal but we were able to do much more,” said the coach in Dazn. “We dominated practically the entire game against Rayo at home but we must win these games if we want to win LaLiga, we have to be self-critical and improve a lot. Get very close to what we have been in the second half,” he noted.
Already in a press conference, Xavi pointed out the mentality of his players and repeated that they must be self-critical and work more. “In the first half, despite the dominance, we lacked the mentality to go for the game. We only generated two or three chances, we have to change our mentality if we want to win titles this season. In the second we are already aggressive, we have been able to come back,” he noted.
And he insisted that “the mentality in the second half is good, but you already have emergencies, we have to have it from the first minute. That is what we cannot allow. We have to be self-critical, me first, we have to improve many things, especially the mentality of going for the game.”
Next, Hernández pointed to the titles achieved last year as a reason for this lack of ambition. “After having won the League and the Super Cup last year you unconsciously lower your mentality and this is what cannot be allowed. We have to give more if we want to win titles this season. The second part has to be done in the first,” he conceded.
Asked about the possible penalty on Raphinha, Xavi was forceful. “Then you tell me that I'm looking for excuses, but it's a clear penalty. We are not having any luck in these decisions. We got tails in Getafe and Granada too. It is not an excuse because we have not been good, but if you ask me about the penalty, it is a clear penalty,” he assured.
The coach acknowledged that given the recent poor results “it is normal that there is criticism. I understand it perfectly, but I think we have time to turn this around,” he reflected.
