Xavi Hernandez, the manager of FC Barcelona, was deeply disappointed and upset after the team’s loss to Girona in a crucial La Liga match. The defeat not only handed Girona a spot in the Champions League for the first time but also sealed the Spanish top-flight title for Barca’s rivals Real Madrid. This loss also affected Barcelona’s chances of qualifying for the lucrative Spanish Super Cup, which the financially-struggling club badly needs to participate in.
Xavi expressed his frustration with his team’s lackluster performance, stating that the players did not play at the level expected of them. He criticized the immaturity of the players and expressed his disappointment at their inability to compete effectively. Despite giving the players confidence, Xavi felt that the team was unable to perform, especially in crucial matches against Real Madrid and Girona. The defeats to these teams slipped away from Barca’s control, leading to Xavi’s fiery post-game comments.
In a departure from his previous practice of rewarding players with extra days off after wins, Xavi chose to “punish” his squad after the Girona loss. Instead of the promised two-and-a-half days off, the players were only given Tuesday off. The atmosphere at the Joan Gamper CT was described as a “real funeral” the day after the defeat, with long faces, few words, and pitiful silences among the players. Barcelona now faces an uphill battle as they need Girona to slip up in their remaining matches while simultaneously winning all of their own games.
The defeat to Girona highlighted the need for Barcelona to address their shortcomings and improve their performance in the future. Xavi’s disappointment with the team’s immaturity and inability to compete effectively was evident in his post-game comments. The loss not only affected the team’s chances of qualifying for the Spanish Super Cup but also handed their rivals Real Madrid the La Liga title. Barcelona will need to regroup and focus on winning their remaining matches while hoping for a slip-up from Girona to salvage their season.
