“The team has achieved a victory of character and vital for the future of the League”
MADRID, March 13 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The coach of FC Barcelona, Xavi Hernández, was “proud” of his team’s victory of “character” this Sunday against Athletic Club, which could be “key in the future of the League”, while sadly assessing “the hostility” of San Mamés with references to the “Negreria case”.
“We lack effectiveness, we have had to do the second. We lack patience, calm, precision, but it was difficult because the rival does not leave you a span. We have taken a step forward. It is a very difficult start and it is a golden victory. We are good in defence, Ter Stegen has been extraordinary. We are supportive and generous and that is important”, he said at a press conference.
The Catalan coach was asked about Iñaki Williams’ disallowed goal at the end and about his team’s ability to suffer. “I have not seen the hand, I thought they were looking at the offside. I have seen the monitor and, yes, it is a hand. We suffered too much. We deserved to make it 0-2 and that is where the game changes, it is the script for many games, but this is San Mamés. It’s hard to win. I’m proud of how the team competes, which historically has cost them”, he commented.
On the other hand, Xavi valued the San Mamés protest with tickets with the word “mafia” and the Barça shield, in the midst of the investigation into the ‘Negreria case’ and the chants of “a Segunda”. “I respect the fans at San Mamés, they have always treated me very well. This atmosphere of hostility towards Barça in San Mamés surprises me, really, and it saddens me, because they have always treated us very well. Judging ahead of time I don’t think it’s good for society. We’re judging ahead of time, it saddens me. We haven’t spoken, we’re waiting to play football, we have the obligation to defend the club to the death,” he said.
In addition, the Barça coach already referred to the Clásico against Real Madrid next Sunday at the Camp Nou Spotify. “We also have pressure, we play at home, we want to win the League. We are well placed, we have nine points, today was a final for us without thinking about the Clásico. We have had a difficult personality, Athletic squeezes you. The team has achieved a victory of character and vital for the future of the League”, he concluded.