FC Barcelona achieved its second consecutive victory with a final score of 1-3 against Alavés, something that Xavi Hernández celebrated in the press conference.
“Winning is always positive, there are already two victories after my decision, I already said that it was going to be good for the team to announce it and here you can see, we have been effective, something that we were missing” commented Xavi.
And he explained: “The team has struggled, Mendizorroza requires this and the team has been good with the ball and without the ball, we have competed well and this match strengthens us. “I am very satisfied with the work, we received a lot of criticism, but it is time to applaud the team.”
Although his appearance after the game focused on praising his players and sporting analysis, the FC Barcelona coach announced an appeal for the second yellow card received by Brazilian attacker Vitor Roque and sent a very forceful message.
“I am never going to talk about the referees again, I only ask that they let us compete, what Vitor Roque did is a flagrant mistake and we are going to appeal that yellow card. The expulsion is very unfair. I already said it from Getafe on the first day, I think we are paying for Enríquez Negreira, that’s what I think, but I’m not going to talk about the referees anymore, ever again. If not, you kill me, but what do I have to say? A lie?” he asked himself.
Various changes for Xavi at FC Barcelona
Hernández was consulted about Christensen’s new position as midfielder, he said: “It has gone well, victory always proves you right, but he has been very good with the ball, he has felt comfortable, he gives us order and discipline, we are happy because we won one more player in the center of the field. He is competitive, he wins duels with his head, he is focused, he is a defender but technically he can play inside, he gives us balance and pays attention to surveillance, which is something we were missing.”
He also praised two young people like Pau Cubarsí: “He seems like a veteran, very happy with him, he doesn’t lose balls, he wins duels”, and Lamine Yamal: “He is a beast of talent, it is an appearance that happens very rarely in football, “He has everything and he works for the team at 16 years old, he helps the side, he works hard, he doesn’t get tired, he has that humility, he has no ceiling, we have made a strength plan because he is a teenager, we are facing something different and special.”
To conclude his appearance before the media after the match, he applauded: “We have been a mature team, very solid at the back, it is knowing how to compete on a very demanding, very physical field, we had to be focused and the goal conceded is the only negative moment of the match . That goal conceded that gave me a lot of courage, we have to make the tactical foul on the wing, they can’t center us, we defended the area poorly… Despite that situation, the game was very good. It will be good for us to rest this week, although it would have been better to be in the Cup semi-final, now to recover people for Granada day. Gundogan? Today we have no injuries, it was a blow to the back. And Pedri doesn’t have anything either.”
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