Rufián’s forceful message after the invasion of the ultras in Espanyol-Barcelona

Barcelona have won their 27th league title after defeating Espanyol on their field, but the celebration has taken a backseat after the images that have been seen at the end of the match in Cornellá. What had to be a party has become a pitiful image. Ultra blue and white fans prevented Barcelona from celebrating the LaLiga title as they were doing, with a huddle in the center of the field and the Barça players had to run through the changing room tunnel so as not to put their physical integrity at risk in the face of the unexpected invasion of the field by the home crowd.

At the end of the game, the Barcelona squad wanted to celebrate the title on the pitch. Shouting “champions, champions!” They formed a circle in the center of the field, where they were joined by the technical team.

Instead, his coach, Xavi Hernández, well aware of the rivalry between the two teams, asked them from the sidelines to leave the field and go into the dressing room to celebrate.

The Barça footballers, oblivious to the tension that their celebration was generating among the Espanyol fans, continued on the pitch.

Until blue and white ultras began to jump onto the field and a rain of objects began that forced the Mossos d’Esquadra and the private security of the stadium to intervene to guarantee that the Barça players could gain the changing room tunnel.

Almost all football fans have been ashamed of what they have seen, as well as many Espanyolistas such as Gabriel Rufián, ERC spokesman and renowned Espanyol follower.: “The ultras don’t have a team. Their only shield is hate. And they don’t represent us. It’s time to congratulate the winner, assume what comes and grit your teeth to save yourself,” he wrote after seeing the images

Xavi Hernández, the Barcelona coach, spoke later, very measuredly, about what happened: “We were not in our house, we have to have respect for the Spanish. It was a very difficult time not to celebrate, at no time have we tried to provoke anyone“. The coach preferred to talk about the road to victory: “We have a magnificent feeling, it’s more than 10 months of work, of sacrifice. It has been an extraordinary job. For the fans, for the club, it is important for the stability of the project, we have to continue on that path”, he said and continued: “We have signed the League with a fantastic game, we have been brilliant in the first part, we have not lowered the guard, we have scored 0-4. Then we have relaxed. We have won the League in a derby, the scenario was scripted, getting a League title in a derby with five days to go.2