FC BARCELONA
Xavi post-game interview after “unacceptable” Barcelona beat Real Sociedad
The Catalan coach spoke to the press after Barcelona’s narrow escape against Real Sociedad, where a late Araújo goal sealed the 3 points.
Xavi Hernández sat down in front of the press after Barcelona’s last-gasp win over an impressive Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena. The coach was visibly frustrated after the final whistle, as Barcelona had taken the three points but been overrun for large parts by an energetic La Real, who caused countless problems for the Catalan side who Xavi said had a “post-Clásico hangover”.
“The victory is a spectacular feeling, we weren’t good, we couldn’t keep the ball”, Xavi said in the immediate aftermath of the game, “In the second half we were better, but Real Sociedad are a team that press you and squeeze you. Last week we deserved to win and we didn’t, in this game you don’t deserve to win and you do. Football can’t be explained sometimes. There was a change of mentality after the Clásico. We came out with a ‘post-Clásico hangover’, we lacked intensity. These three points are golden.”
‘Unacceptable’ Barça performance ‘isn’t the way forward’
After the adrenaline of the late winner had died down, Xavi’s post-game press conference conveyed a much more serious tone: “we weren’t good and we have to be self-critical”, he said. “We didn’t play well and this isn’t the way forward.”
The manager continued: “Against Real Madrid we played well, but we lacked intensity today. I’m not just looking at the result. The players were still affected by the game against Real Madrid. The first 20/25 minutes were unacceptable. I didn’t expect to win.”
“Yes”, was his response when pushed on whether the Clásico defeat had genuinely affected his squad, “I didn’t expect it, but that’s how it is.”
‘What I was seeing was unacceptable’
The first half was a terrible showing from a Barcelona team who were attacked on all sides by a rampant Real Sociedad, and Xavi changed things at half-time in an attempt to stop the onslaught: “I asked if anyone was tired for them to put up their hand because what I was seeing was unacceptable”, he admitted, “they said no, so I said we need to be more intense. It was a game of individual battles, second balls, and Real Sociedad beat us at them. We only made a few chances, we weren’t comfortable. It’s such an important win.”
Changes came from Xavi who looked to the bench to freshen things up: Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha all entered the pitch in attacking positions as “the draw is never enough”, according to the manager. “The changes [were made] so we could go for the win. La Real showed signs of fatigue towards the end. We managed to make the chance for Araújo and we take home three vital points.”
La Real ‘deserved more’ says Xavi
Xavi was asked about one change in particular, Pedri, who made his return after more than 70 days out: “Pedri will change up the midfield for us, [Real Sociedad] were very good and Pedri coming back is very good news for us and him”, Xavi said on his young star.
“La Real were better than us, they deserved more”. Words like these are easy to say after a win, but nobody can doubt the veracity behind what the Barça boss said after the narrow victory away from home against Champions League opposition. When asked if the win was a turning point, he said “for sure. Intensity in non-negotiable. Winning a game without playing well is what a champion does. It’s a win worth its weight in gold.”