FC Barcelona’s Xavi Rues ‘Undeserved’ El Clasico Defeat To Real Madrid
Xavi Hernandez felt that his FC Barcelona team suffered an “undeserved defeat” to Real Madrid, who beat them 2-1 in El Clasico on Saturday.
Barca went 1-0 ahead early through an Ilkay Gundogan strike, but were then seen off thanks to a second half double from man of the hour Jude Bellingham.
Speaking to DAZN which broadcast the game in Spain, the Catalans’ head coach revealed that he thought his men “dominated the first sixty minutes, but when you don’t score [to make it] 2-0 football has these things”.
“We need five or six [chances] to score a goal and they score two or three goals with two or two and a half [chances],” Xavi lamented.
Xavi saw Madrid satisfied with Bellingham’s equalizer, and happy to settle for a draw until an “unfortunate cross” from Dani Carvajal arrived for Bellingham to sneak the winner through Marc-Andre Ter Stegen’s legs.
A “very bad result” left a bitter taste in Xavi’s mouth, but he still thought it was a good game which his men didn’t deserve to lose.
Barca planned the match “very well” in Xavi’s opinion, yet he conceded that Madrid made his men suffer in the last few minutes.
“Honestly I think we were superior,” Xavi said. “But Madrid, if you forgive them, have these things [to win matches].”
“In the dressing room they talk about a penalty, but today we didn’t lose because of the referee [and instead] because we didn’t convert the chances and we took an undeserved defeat,” he concluded on the result.
Probed on what appeared to be a heated exchange with Vinicius Jr., Xavi wanted to play down any potential controversy.
The manager clarified how he only told the Brazilian he didn’t agree with a foul on one call from the referee, but did this “with respect” as always.
“I admire and respect him as a footballer,” the former midfielder stated.
Now in third while four points behind Madrid and second-placed Girona, Barca will attempt to get back to winning ways when they travel to the Basque region for a Saturday night showdown with Real Sociedad next weekend.
