Xavi was not happy at all: At the Camp Nou on Tuesday night, Barcelona and second-placed Sevilla battled to a 1-1 draw in their last La Liga game of the year 2021.
After falling to an Alejandro Gomez goal at the half-hour mark, Barcelona was able to draw level just before half-time thanks to a Ronald Araujo header.
After the interval, the Catalans had many opportunities to put the game out of reach, but they were unable to capitalise, despite having a numerical advantage for about thirty minutes after Sevilla’s Jules Kounde was dismissed. When Ousmane Dembele struck the woodwork, he came the closest to finding the winner of the match.
After the game, manager Xavi Hernandez said that he was pleased with the way his side performed, but that he was dissatisfied with the result of the match.
“We were deserving of the victory tonight. We have played in the manner in which we like to play: with personality, under pressure, and at a fast pace. Even though this is a challenging field, we have done quite well. The single point is detrimental to us; nevertheless, the worst thing is the outcome. They foresaw our mistake, and some things can be done better,” he added.
The 41-year-old went on to say, “It’s going to be difficult for me to sleep tonight. I am upset with the outcome, but the play comes near to the Barça that I want; bold and aggressive, exactly as I have seen and seen it has brought us triumphs.”
Xavi urged the team to be more courageous in front of the goal
Xavi also said that the squad needed to be more courageous and go for the goal when they were in the box, while also expressing dissatisfaction with some of the decision-making.
“In the opponent’s zone, we should not hesitate to take advantage of the situation. We must fire without hesitation. We have a goal; but, in certain stages of the game, we lack maturity and comprehension of the game, and we make poor decisions,” the former Spanish international said.
The performance of the wingers Ousmane Dembele and Ez Abde was also discussed by Xavi. “Dembele has been outstanding. Abde had to pay a bit extra for his troubles today. If Dembélé’s shot had resulted in a goal, we would be talking about a fantastic match,” Xavi commented.
The manager also said that he believed the club was on the correct track even though they did not have a favourable outcome on Tuesday. “We’re making significant strides in many areas of football. The team’s contribution to today’s match was outstanding. I’m certain that we’re on the right track,” he said.
Xavi’s response about the referee decisions:
On the night in question, the Barcelona players were subjected to a series of harsh challenges by Sevilla, while the officiating was inconsistent throughout the ninety minutes. On the subject of the number of fouls committed, he stated: “Sevilla is a seasoned club that is excellent strategically. They are aware of when to call a timeout due to a foul.”
To be honest… these referees, I’m unable to talk. I’m not going to say anything. By criticising the referee, I am not gaining any advantage. Why don’t you go ahead and ask him? In their own right, the officials should hold a press conference,” Xavi said ( quoted by BarcaTV+ )
The Catalans are still in the seventh position in the La Liga standings, but they have closed the gap on fourth-placed Rayo Vallecano to just two points.
