Barcelona manager Xavi has admitted that his team lacked patience and calm during their 2-1 Europa League defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. The team’s first defeat since October 2022 came as a result of the loss. In a post-game press conference, Xavi bemoaned the team’s poor performance in the second half and admitted that they had lost several key duels.
Xavi began by admitting that the game was even until the final quarter, and Manchester United’s change of rhythm was something they couldn’t handle. When asked about the team’s problems, he admitted that they played well at first but lacked patience and calm. He mentioned how they struggled to start the second half and lost some duels. He also bemoaned the minor final details that could have made or broken the game.
Xavi mentioned that they needed a little more to achieve the desired result. He pointed out that they were missing Gavi and Pedri, and that was the difference in the second half. He added that the team should be proud of how they competed against a big team and that they should concentrate on the league and the cup.
When asked about the game’s message, Xavi stated that they had demonstrated their ability to compete in Europe. He stated that they had played against Bayern and Inter and that they were sometimes better than them. He also stated that they performed admirably against Manchester United, but that they must improve next year. Xavi stated that they started slowly last year, but this year they have competed against all teams, and he believes they will be even stronger the following season.
When asked about Busquets’ performance, Xavi said that he had a great first half, but they lost those duels and intensity in the second half. He acknowledged Manchester United’s strength and intensity, which made it difficult for them to take the game to them.
When asked what Barcelona lacked to compete in Europe, Xavi stated that they simply needed to try again. He admitted that they needed to learn from their mistakes, and it was all about the small details. He pointed out that teams had beaten them in some ways, but they were still competitive. Xavi noted that the two goals they conceded were direct duels and individual duels, both of which they must improve. He added that they must concentrate on the league and cup, which are crucial competitions for the club.
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Xavi stated that Araujo’s injury was only a precautionary measure. He noticed Araujo had taken a knock and decided to remove him as a precaution. Xavi was also asked if the defeat would affect the team’s morale, given their recent run of success. He mentioned that they have another game on Sunday and that it’s all about relaxing, recovering, and focusing on the league and cup, which are both important competitions for them.
Finally, Xavi was asked about the differences in how his team defends in Europe versus the league. He admitted that they had given up a couple of goals, which is unusual in the league. He mentioned that they needed to improve their defense and become more solid. He acknowledged that they had been competitive in Europe and that they needed to improve to be better next year.
Finally, Xavi admitted that Barcelona was not at its best against Manchester United. He stated that in the second half, they lacked calm, patience, and intensity, which cost them the game. However, he acknowledged that they were competitive in Europe this year and that they must learn from their mistakes and improve on the minor details in order to be better next season. He added that they must concentrate on the league and the cup.
