“It was a deserved victory, we have had clearer chances than them.” Xavi was euphoric. It is not for less. He had just experienced his third consecutive victory over Madrid. First, in Riyadh; then, at the Bernabéu. And now, at the Camp Nou. In October, he lost Barcelona to Madrid (3-1), which was in the lead with a three-point advantage. Now, on the other hand, the white team is 12 points behind the Catalans, who have completed a spectacular reaction. “It’s been a perfect script for us, in the end.”
“The team has emptied itself, both in defense and in attack because, in addition, Madrid has shown its power”, commented Xavi, stressing that “it is a very, very important victory for us because we have been very good”.
“We can’t relax”
Barça knew how to get around Madrid’s initial goal. Araujo’s own goal. He did it in the purest Madrid style, avoiding Marco Asensio’s 1-2, well canceled by the VAR. Just as the game expired, the final explosion of Xavi’s team emerged. “That canceled goal came from our mistake, we didn’t close inside,” said the Barcelona coach in a self-critical tone, indicating that it was “well canceled because it was offside and if you talk about the VAR it’s firecracker.
“Minimize losses”
Xavi had admitted, yes, that he had doubts about whether to put Sergi Roberto or Franck”” in the starting eleven. He bet on the captain and returned it with a goal. He later bet on the former Milan player in the second half and rewarded him with another goal, already in added time, which is worth almost an entire League.
“It’s not definitive. We don’t feel like champions. I’m very happy with this result, we are a family in the dressing room”
Xavi, coach of Barça
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«One of the keys is that we have greatly minimized losses, the objective was not to give away transitions and counterattacks. The team has been very mature, very responsible, we have dominated in many phases,” said the Barça coach. “Madrid is very powerful, very good at high pressure. We have suffered because we did not close passing lanes. We must be very happy. We have been better than Madrid, honestly.”
But he has not wanted to feel like the owner of the League. “It’s not definitive. We don’t feel like champions. I am very happy with this result, we are a family in the dressing room. What these players are doing must be valued. What they are doing has been valued very little. We are making an extraordinary League, they have been highly criticized. And I’m very happy for them. It was offside yes or yes. Now, you don’t have to relax, “claimed the coach. “I’m surprised by Ancelotti.”