FC Barcelona won their opening Copa del Rey match against Barbastro, but Xavi and his men were far from their best in this game. The Catalans scored three goals, but their defence was far from being satisfactory, as it conceded two goals against a second-division side.
As Mundo Deportivo has reported, Xavi spoke to the press after the end of the match. The Barcelona head-coach admitted that his team suffered a lot in this match, but this suffering came only because of the mistakes made by his own players:
“We suffered more than necessary due to our own mistakes. The game got complicated because we gave away a corner, which resulted in the 1-2 and boosted their spirits. For them, it was the game of their lives.”
“We were very good in the first half, even up to the 1-2, and then they got the upper hand, pressing hard. We knew in these games anything can happen; one detail can complicate the match.
If you give away chances, it changes things. In the Cup, it’s all about those details. We suffered more than necessary because of our own faults, those specific errors that make us suffer more than usual.”
In addition to taking the blame for the poor performance of his team, Xavi also complained about some of the refereeing decisions in this game:
“I’m left with the feeling that until the 1-2, which we gifted, we were doing well in the game. Then, with a penalty, we suffered again. We gave away things we shouldn’t have.
I haven’t seen the controversial plays yet, but I’ve been told Joao’s goal is indeed valid. It’s a shame there’s no VAR in this competition. In 2024, there should be VAR even on lower-tier fields.”
Other than the few mistakes that proved to be costly, Xavi was overall well-satisfied with his team’s performance, and highlighted the performance of Hector Fort in particular:
“We played a great game, understood the midfield play well, and Héctor Fort performed admirably. But when you miss chances and give away opportunities, you end up suffering.
We played well, but it got complicated due to a corner. It’s these little details that can make a title slip away. A controlled ball turns into a corner, and things get complicated.”
Regarding his two strikers, Xavi explained: “Vitor Roque and Lewandowski can play together perfectly”.
One major blow for Xavi in this match was the physical condition of Inigo Martinez, who had to leave the pitch only ten minutes after having made his return from another injury. Xavi provided an update on the defender’s situation: “He felt pain in the other leg. We will conduct tests to evaluate.”
