FC Barcelona Coach Xavi Hails ‘Perfect’ Atletico Madrid Thrashing

Xavi Hernandez hailed his FC Barcelona crew for being “wise” and dealing “utterly” in the direction of Atletico Madrid on Sunday, though he felt his purple card dismissal was “unfair” and “pointless”.

Barca carried out what many felt was their most interesting sport of the season throughout the Metropolitano, and went once more to Catalonia with a 3-0 win that put them second place two components away from Girona going into the worldwide break.

Publish match, Xavi suggested DAZN Espana that he was “very utterly glad” collectively along with his side’s exhibiting, as quite a few players appeared to have been given a elevate following passage to the Champions League quarterfinals midweek.

“We have now been wise. It was the identical sport to the one in the direction of Napoli. Robert [Lewandowski] has been very energetic. Fermin [Lopez], Joao [Felix] … We found the third man. It was an ideal match of our philosophy of play. The work we did went utterly,” the supervisor beamed.

With 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi and Ronald Araujo as soon as extra secure on the once more and serving to carry a transparent sheet, Xavi talked about that Atleti “generated little or no” as a consequence of Barca’s sturdy exhibiting defensively-speaking.

Considering accidents to Gavi, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, one factor rather more distinctive is that this resounding victory in thought-about one in every of Spain’s most powerful grounds was achieved with a makeshift midfield of Ilkay Gundogan, Fermin and Sergi Roberto.

Gundogan was glorious as a pivot, in a further defensive place than the one he was anticipated to play as a consequence of a ultimate minute niggle suffered by current stand-in and customary center once more Andreas Christensen, which meant Roberto obtained the nod.

“The thought was to position Gundogan in as a midfielder on the suitable, nonetheless Christensen had some discomfort. We chosen Fermin on account of he assaults the areas very successfully. Gundo on the bottom of midfield moreover presents us fairly a bit. He always sees the free man. He is a perfect match in positional play,” Xavi talked about, complimenting the German.

As for being dismissed throughout the first half, Xavi thought it wasn’t often known as for.

“The least important issue is the sending off,” he insisted. “The fourth official suggested me it’s because of the gestures [I made]. I make gestures on account of I’m passionate. The sending off was pointless and unfair, nonetheless the important issue is the crew.”