MADRID, 5 One. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández highlighted his team’s pride in eliminating Linares in the Copa del Rey (1-2) after starting losing and said it was a “victory of faith” thanks to goals from Dembélé and Jutglá that allows them to access the round of 16.
“From a concentration error in the center, and the defense of the area, his goal came,” Xavi analyzed at a press conference. “We were looking to dominate, to have the ball in the opposite field and with Alves we were looking for more superiority in that area. We have not been bad in the first half, but then in the second we have been more fluid and victory could come,” he added.
“It was a victory of faith. With the result in favor we looked for more possession and close the wings. To protect ourselves thanks to the result and that is why we changed the system. It was an unnecessary risk, I was already dominated and with the score in favor,” said the Culé coach, who revealed the words he said to his players before going out onto the pitch at the Linarejos stadium.
“A silly expulsion could happen and also that we did not equal the intensity of the rival, which is what happened at the beginning. It is the ‘k.o’ competition, we could not relax because any skid leaves you out,” he said.
In this sense, Xavi added that at halftime he said “very clear” to his players that he depended on faith. “We could talk three hours of tactics, but it was a victory of faith, we were better than the opposite but we all had to step up. It is evidence, we are better, but we were losing and we were out of the competition. It was an issue. of faith and that’s how it has been. That’s what I’ve told them. It was logical because it was against Linares but in various phases we’ve been good, “he said.
“It was a difficult day, everyone expected a win but football is no longer like that. It costs a lot to win against lower-category clubs because everyone is tactically organized but we have taken it out. We are happy and content, it is a positive dynamic that We have to take advantage. Now we are thinking about Granada on Saturday, “he said.
Asked by Ousmane Dembélé, Xavi praised the Frenchman’s performance. “We have needed him and he has fulfilled. He has made a difference and could even score 1-3, I am happy with him. In terms of football I have nothing to say, that we need him from him. There is nothing new about the renewal issue,” he concluded.