“We played the worst game of the season and today we couldn’t fail”

Barcelona left all three points in Almería the day after Madrid drew against Atlético at the Bernabéu. The culé team squandered the possibility of distancing itself by ten points from the whites, although seven points is not a negligible distance. Xavi Hernandez he was upset by the loss. «I am very angry because we have had the worst game of the season. We lacked intensity, circulation and rhythm. And today we could not fail. They have wasted time, they have played with the result… it’s a hard day. We have accused a lack of passion. We keep our distance from Madrid but we haven’t been there.” The coach added: “We have noticed fatigue, that is why we have made rotations and changes, but somehow a golden opportunity to get within ten points has been lost. It’s been a bad day for us.” And he pointed out: «We have tried everything, even putting Araujo up… They have defended themselves very well. We have had occasions in centers but not very clear. It has not been a good day for us. Has been a pity not take advantage of this opportunity and move on, there is no other ».

Frankie Young He was self-critical after the defeat: “We are very disappointed because we were able to get within ten points and we are down to seven,” he said, although he made it clear that “they have defended well but obviously, we have to do better and create much more danger.” . «We have not thought about the classic because the League is very important. things have not worked outespecially in the first half but now it’s time to continue,” he commented before assuring that “we always have to be very focused because if you don’t start well and they score, it’s very difficult.”

Ter Stegen, who conceded his eighth league goal this year, was also disappointed: “We were hoping to get something out of here. We leave without points and we have to think about what is coming to us, which are important games. The goalkeeper ruled out that Madrid’s stumble on Saturday had had an impact: “Madrid’s draw has not relaxed us, quite the opposite. We wanted to go to ten points. We weren’t there in the first half and then we tried in the second half everything we didn’t do in the first…». The German assured that he could not do anything before El Bilal’s shot: «The goal? The pass is very good and ends wonderfully. It’s a good goal and we must congratulate him.” And he issued a warning: «This is more than an alert. We should have done our homework and we haven’t, that’s why we’re left with this feeling now. You have to do self-criticism and see where we have failed» «Today everything went very well. We will remember this day for a long time.”

Eric Garcia He did not look for excuses and perfectly portrayed what had happened: «I think that in the first half we did not have the rhythm or the intensity that they had. In the second part, they accumulated a lot of players in the area and it has been difficult. The center-back regretted the result: “Almería was very closed inside. They let us center but then they were in the box together. it’s a bitch because Madrid had tied and we had an opportunity to distance ourselves further. We accumulate from hard defeats». And he explained the coach’s message during the break: “We have not come out with the intensity or with the rhythm that we played. Xavi has told us that we had to match their intensity.