Protection of sacred cows

On bad days, nothing like communion and a single speech in a locker room to get out of tricky situations. This Sunday, after winning in Vitoria, it seemed that the Barça players and coaching staff had decided to shield the door of the booth with lime and stone and, beyond the Dembélé case, close ranks, especially with their sacred cows, highly discussed in recent days after the falls against Madrid and Athletic. The first, with a gross error by Busquets in Vinicius’s first goal; that of San Mamés, with a night to forget Jordi Alba, widely surpassed by Nico Williams and author of the penalty that decided the match.

Players like Frenkie de Jong, also among the sacred cows discussed, and Jordi Alba felt strong enough to vindicate themselves. The Dutchman discussed the analysis that is made of his matches and shot with a bullet. “Now they will say that if I score a goal, I play well. A lot of people don’t watch my matches well. I have to improve a lot, but I’m not a disaster either.”.

Then it was the turn of the side, who complained of being on a target. “I feel singled out many years ago, but I accept all criticism. It is part of this circus and I know that, when there is a bad game, those who have to be singled out are always pointed out (…). If I play well they don’t talk about me, if I give two assists it will be normal and If I don’t play well, I’m going to be killed (…). No one has given me the gift of playing ten years at Barça”. The captains have felt alluded to by the criticism for a long time. “Veterans are always pointed out when they lose, but there are veterans everywhere. It seems that there are only veterans at Barça. Veterans have been talked about for four or five years, and I was 28 or 29 years old…”.

What is clear is that Xavi has unconditionally sided with his captains and, at a time when they are discussed, he made it clear that he is not going to be the one to take over, at least this season. “The environment does not help sometimes. For example, Alba has played a great game; or Busquets and Piqué who have been criticized; Frenkie has played a better game too,” he explained this Sunday in Vitoria, continuing the words of other weeks , in which he has spoken of “brutal commitment” of its captains. It is clear that the objective of the Barça coach is to keep the dressing room healthy. Xavi admitted that they are “suffering” and any crack in the dugout would be dramatic for a team that, sportingly speaking, has nothing to spare. It must be them against the world.

Xavi recognized that Barça celebrated the victory in a big way in the locker room. It is not the most important victory in the history of the club, but it is better to celebrate victories than defeats.