Xavi is having a “wonderful time” as Barça cruise to La Liga title
The Barcelona manager responded to a suggestion that the league season feels long, insisting that he is savouring every moment of it.
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández appeared at a press conference on Friday ahead of his side’s match against Real Betis this weekend.
The Catalan club suffered a 2-1 defeat to Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night, extending their poor recent record to just one win in the last five games. Nevertheless, Barca’s blistering early season form and Real Madrid’s inconsistency leaves them with an 11-point gap at the top.
Barcelona’s last La Liga triumph came in 2018/19 and Xavi has insisted that he will enjoy the remainder of the season, provided that his side lift the trophy at the end of it.
“I do not understand those who say that the league is long,” Xavi said. “It was long when we were going for for second place. La Liga is not long for me now, it makes me happy.”
“What is ‘long’ if we are to win the league? I am having a good time. I don’t understand the media; I’m having a wonderful time.”
Xavi looks for a ‘clean slate’ after Rayo defeat
The defeat to Rayo was the fourth consecutive fixture between the two sides in which Barca have failed to win. Off the back of that disappointing result, Xavi said that his side need to move on from their “worst game of the season”.
“We need to have a a clean slate after the Vallecano game,” the Barca boss said. “Because in terms of our principles and the football it was the worst game of the season. We have to erase what happened in Vallecas.”
Xavi also confirmed that both Ousmane Dembélé and Andres Christensen were back in contention for the visit of Real Betis. The visitors are currently sixth in the table and will be hoping to sure up their place in the European spots against Barcelona.
“Betis is a great team,” Xavi said. “And they are clear about what they are playing for.”