"I don't like to say anything bad about my players in public, but..."

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said on Wednesday that "the defeat that hurts is the one against Girona, not tonight" after losing 3-2 to Antwerp of Belgium in the Champions League, although they went through to the last 16 as group winners.

"We are confident that the team will improve and find results after Saturday. This is a much less painful defeat because we are top of the group," the Barca coach told a press conference. Antwerp, who took the lead three times, scored the first two goals after two errors by midfielder Oriol Romeu.

"I don't like to say in public anything bad about the players individually, but they have to cheer up because they have a higher level than they have been showing lately," said the 'cule' coach when asked about the team's individual mistakes.

Barca's boss said their opponents "played a great game" by generating "transitions that could not be stopped", and that his side were "well below their level". "We are confident that the team will improve and find results from Saturday (against Valencia in La Liga). We have four titles at stake and I'm positive," concluded Xavi.

 

December 14, 2023