“I don’t think it’s a failure, we’ve tried”
BARCELONA, 27 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of FC Barcelona, ??Xavi Hernández, recognized that the elimination from the Champions League “has affected a lot” the Barça team in the 0-3 defeat against Bayern Munich, the leaders of the group who “have been much better”.
“The elimination has affected us a lot. They have been a better team than us. It is the first time that I have the feeling that we have not competed well. Today we have not been better footballingly. It has affected us emotionally, we knew it could happen”, explained Xavi in Press conference.
The triumph of Inter Milan confirmed the exile of the Catalan team to the ‘Europa League’ before the duel against Bayern. “They played something and we practically nothing. This competition has been cruel, but we are out due to our mistakes,” added the man from Terrassa.
“I don’t think it’s a failure. We’ve tried and we were better than them in Munich, then the referee’s decision in Milan, but we haven’t lived up to this competition. We have to improve, with all humility,” said Xavi, who he highlighted the support of the fans, who have been “out of ten”.
Asked about the ‘culé’ mood, the coach acknowledged “having had it in his hands”. A “disappointment”, although there are “other competitions”, so they have to be recomposed. “It is a team under construction and based on chestnuts we will recompose ourselves,” he said.
“There is still enthusiasm to win titles this season. I don’t want to deceive people, it’s also true that we haven’t been up to the task. Seeing the team last year, they didn’t give us enough to compete. Except for today, Barça has competed”, he clarified about the course of the team in the maximum continental competition.
Another setback that this time has not affected the coach. “I’m fine, I was touched after Milan. After that unfavorable result I was screwed, I encouraged the group, but there are more competitions left. We can still have a great season, we’ve lost a great competition, but we’re going to the Europa League”, he stressed. .
However, the pending task of the Catalan team is to control some details in the match control. “Effectiveness is also competing, stopping duels. How many fouls has Bayern made in the first half? Aggressiveness is also football. That has to be matched,” he stressed.
“If things don’t work out, I’ll see at the end of the season, but we have to continue to be positive. We’ve already talked to the players, we have four titles at stake this season. From there on, compete,” he said.
Asked about the setbacks this season in the ‘Champions’ of Sevilla, Barça and Atlético de Madrid, Xavi does not consider it to be a problem in Spanish football. “Villarreal also reached the semifinals last year. Each elimination must be analyzed, Juventus has also been left out. LaLiga has not dropped in level, it is at the level of the Premier,” he said.
