Barcelona’s head coach, Xavi, didn’t mince words as he dissected his team’s disappointing display in Saturday’s clash against Catalan rivals Girona, a match that saw them succumb to a 4-2 defeat in Spain’s top-tier football league.
The Blaugrana went into the fixture with the awareness that only a victory would keep their hopes alive in the La Liga title race, especially after witnessing leaders Real Madrid secure a convincing 3-0 win against Cadiz earlier in the day.
Despite initially leading 1-0 and later 2-1 against Girona, Barcelona ultimately stumbled, conceding four goals and handing Real Madrid the championship with four games still to play.
This loss not only dashed their title aspirations but also saw them plummet to third place in the league table, trailing Girona by a single point. It marked the third defeat in Barcelona’s last four outings across all competitions, a fact that didn’t sit well with Xavi.
In the aftermath of the Catalan derby, Xavi voiced his frustration, attributing the defeat to what he perceived as “a lack of maturity” within his squad.
“It is hard to explain this. This is the summary of our season, we gifted them the match,” Xavi lamented, as reported by Marca.
Despite dominating possession and seemingly having the game under control, Barcelona’s inability to capitalize on their chances proved costly.
Xavi criticized his team’s competitiveness and highlighted individual errors that, in his opinion, were unacceptable at their level.
Reflecting on the match, Xavi pointed out the stark contrast between the previous and current seasons in terms of defensive stability, noting an increase in individual mistakes.
“Last season we reduced our individual errors, but this season we doubled them,” he remarked.
The swift succession of two goals conceded in as many minutes exemplified Barcelona’s defensive frailty, a vulnerability that had previously been exploited in matches against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
Amidst the disappointment, Xavi extended congratulations to Real Madrid for clinching the league title, acknowledging their superiority throughout the 2023-24 campaign.
“Real Madrid won the most points, so yes. Congratulations to them,” he conceded graciously.
Looking ahead, Barcelona still have league fixtures remaining against Real Sociedad, Almeria, Rayo Vallecano, and Sevilla to conclude their season.
Xavi’s future at the club had initially been uncertain, with the 44-year-old announcing his intention to step down as head coach at the end of the current campaign.
However, recent developments have seen a reversal of plans, with Xavi now set to continue in his role for the upcoming season.
With a busy transfer window looming, both in terms of player acquisitions and departures, Barcelona are gearing up for a period of transition as they aim to reclaim their status as a dominant force in Spanish football under Xavi’s stewardship.
