It was a tough result for Barcelona and self-criticism from its players. Xavi did not look for excuses although he softened the defeat by ensuring that he is leading “a team under construction.” The coach began by reading the match. “He Girona What he is doing has a lot of merit. He is leader. Today more. He gets seven points from us and it is very deserved. It was an even match. If Barça wins, we would also say that it is fair. I think that we have shot 31 times. Perhaps the errors in defense have taken their toll on us. They’re details. They have a great team and a great proposal. “It was a KO match. Whoever arrived, hit first,” explained the Egarense.
The Barça coach continued with his explanation: «The first goal is a transition in which we did not adjust the high pressure well. They catch our backto. We have had opportunities to put ourselves ahead. They have been more effective. “The game has been there.” And he justified the problems suffered against Míchel’s team: «We don’t have players for the round trip. They have things that are difficult to hold. “In the first half we should have taken the lead.”
«It is a hard blow because we had hopes of getting to 2 and 1. This is our reality. This is a Barça under construction. The construction has this. You take one step back to take two steps forward. Today we got tails, but it could have cost us dearly. We must not doubt at any time. It’s not a bad game for Barça. Last year we also suffered a blow, but we won two titles,” justified Xavi, who praised Girona’s play: “They are the best team I have seen so far. They are mistakes, but we need to improve. The other day we didn’t fit in with Atleti and today we lost four. “This is football.”
De Jong, self-critical
Frenkie de Jong He was very self-critical of the team and of himself. «It is a tough defeat, but we have not been good. Girona has done very well, but it is our fault. We have not been to level that we have to be. We haven’t been sharp with the ball. Me neither, especially. “That cost us the game,” the Dutchman began explaining. The midfielder was very serious: «We are seven points away, which is a lot but there is more than half left. But we have to improve a lot.” And he concluded: «We are very disappointed, but there is a lot of League left. We have to work hard, improve and see if we can reassembling».
Michel It was the other side of the coin, absolute happiness. «Very happy because we have found a great Barça. It has been a game of details. We have got it right. They started very strong. We hit the counter. The 0-1 gave us calm. They tied us early, but Miguel Gutierrez He was a differential player. We were good with the ball, although they could have scored a goal at any moment. Even match, with chances. Leadership, 100 games in First Division. First time that I beat Barça and that Girona beat Barça. There have been moments when my players’ legs didn’t give them because the pace is very high. They have had a brutal mentality. “I told them that they had to have a defensive mentality in duels,” he began by commenting.
The Girona coach added: «It is the most special victory. Because it’s him leadership. They had just won in the Champions League, with Atlético being a great team… we expected this. Very difficult. They have surprised us quite a bit. This Girona has soul and believes that it can harm the rival. “We knew they were going to have a lot of pressure, but if we were able to make the first two passes, we would have options.” The man from Madrid was proud of his team: «We have seen a great team and another that we want to be. It was a game in which anything could have happened. Come here with desire and the ambition to go after the rival goal is of enormous merit.”
Of course, Míchel did not abandon his cautious speech: «Champions? Match by match. I think that mathematically today we are already saved. That’s the goal. We have dominated all the games except the one against Real. I told my players to expect a game today where they would dominate. “I think the team has understood it.” However, he also seemed ambitious: «Now we are leaders, but it is very difficult. We have to fight to be in Europe next season.”
2023-12-10 22:50:19
#hard #blow #Barça #construction..
