FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez showered praise on his team after leading the Catalans to the top of the La Liga standings with a historic comeback victory over Celta Vigo.
After three matches in seven days, Xavi’s team was worn out and generally played slowly.
They were unable to reproduce the “highest level” they had shown in back-to-back 5-0 victories over Real Betis and Royal Antwerp, which he had witnessed since taking charge in November 2021.
The Blaugrana seemed doomed by the time Anastasios Douvikas’ goal doubled the visitors’ lead in the 76th minute.
Joao Cancelo scored in the 89th minute to cap the comeback and electrify the Montjuic Stadium, but Robert Lewandowski and his teammates had other ideas. The Pole scored in the 81st and 85th minutes before Cancelo.
After the game was over, Xavi said that his teammates were the only ones who could have made the “remontada,” as it is known in Spain.
“They believed in it, and that means we’re a team,” Xavi explained.
The coach had to admit that his team was “very disorganized today,” despite complimenting them for playing with “courage” and “belief.”
“We weren’t at the same level as the previous matches, [and] we must analyze that,” he demanded.
Xavi went on to say that Barca “risked everything” by playing with just two defenders when it appeared that the tie would not be won.
Toward the end of the game, there were also two right-wingers on the pitch, as substitutes Raphinha and Lamine Yamal shared the same position.
Joao Cancelo, the game’s best right defender, was also permitted to push forward at will, but he didn’t feel like he had the game’s best goal aside.
“It is true that personally I was playing a very bad game, I was making a lot of mistakes,” the Portuguese reflected.
“But I tried to give everything until the end and we were able to come back.”
“There’s a lot to improve but it’s important to win even if you play poorly,” the Manchester City loanee went on.
“I was lost in the match. I made many technical errors that are not normal in my game,” Cancelo confessed.
Even more bluntly, he claimed that Barca and their supporters would not “love” him if he caved in during the game.
“We have to continue, but these three points are very important,” Cancelo concluded, with Barca now afforded six days’ rest until hosting Sevilla in their fourth consecutive home match.Follow me on Twitter.
