"We didn't play a great game, far from it"

Barcelona, without excelling, beat Getafe in their return to La Liga after the Super Cup and the Spanish Cup. Xavi Hernandez is happy that the match was settled with a victory, but not with the feelings that his team gave on the pitch. He believes that the performance could have been much better and that there is room for improvement. He also believes that Ansu Fati sacrificed enough and that Christensen is growing a lot.

"We weren't good. We've been a bit weak. We defended well. We didn't play well. We didn't play a great game, far from it. It's an important victory, but we have to improve. We felt the fatigue, the mental effort of the Super Cup. We made a big effort. It's a victory, but not a good one. Not the best game," said the Catalan.

Asked about Ansu Fati, he replied: "Ansu has worked hard. He had few chances. We were slower than usual". Regarding the play that led to Pedri's goal, he said: "Christensen's tackle is a job we normally do. It's the moment to make the transition and be aggressive. It's a positive point for what we worked on during the week".

Speaking about the changes he made at half-time, when he replaced Alex Balde by Jordi Alba and Christensen by Eric Garcia, he revealed: "Balde is fine. It was a tactical change. We needed Jordi's final pass. Christensen has had some discomfort, but it's not important. I think he will be fit for the next game. We've rested De Jong and Araujo.

 

January 22, 2023