Xavi Hernandez has said that Barcelona didn’t deserve to lose 1-0 to Real Betis at the Camp Nou on Saturday afternoon, after an impressive performance at home.
The former Al Sadd tactician lamented the manner in which his team reacted when Betis tried to hit on the counter, as he stressed that Barcelona should improve tactically.
“When we were at our best, the goal came on the counter,” said Xavi. You have to be more tactical. They shouldn’t catch you [off guard] on the counter.
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“We knew about their transitions. We had a few good minutes. It is too harsh a punishment for the game we have played. It is a defeat that hurts. At home. We were in good form, but that’s how football is.
“We have to dominate the games more. We have to stop counters. These are situations that we have to control. It has been unfair. This is the Barcelona we want, but we have to improve. We have to be tactically smarter.”
Xavi admitted that Barcelona may have not deserved all three points away at Villarreal, but he believes that they should have come out victorious from the Betis clash.
“On Wednesday there is another important match,” added Xavi.
“We cannot afford to fail any more [big tests]. But I think the second half was good.
“At Barcelona, you constantly play ‘finals’. I don’t like to lose. We didn’t deserve it. Sometimes, you don’t deserve to win and you do it, like against Villarreal.
“And today it was the other way around. We can’t permit [conceding] goals like the one we allowed in. We have been [together for] a short time, but it is a shame.
“We have to cheer up and get the team ready for Wednesday.” (AF)
