Xavi Hernández Reflects on Barcelona’s Supercopa Defeat and Calls for Resilience

Xavi Hernández, FC Barcelona’s coach, addressed ‘Movistar+’ immediately after the conclusion of the Supercopa de España final, expressing his dismay over the team’s resounding loss to Real Madrid (4-1). The match saw Barcelona overwhelmed by Real Madrid’s high intensity and efficiency.

“There’s disappointment, sadness. It’s football, and we face the bitter side. A shame. We had many hopes, a lot of excitement, but we played our worst game. We started the match very poorly, had the chance to cut the lead, but the 3-1 setback made things very difficult again. We were never comfortable; although we dominated, the chances we created didn’t go in. Madrid hurt us on the counter, and we couldn’t stop their transitions. We have to experience football’s bitter side. A year ago, it was the best for us, and today it’s the worst. Apologies to the fans because we struggled to compete, and we showed the worst side. I’ve experienced many defeats in my career, and in the end, we bounce back. Barcelona will return,” expressed Xavi, visibly affected by the defeat.

“It’s clear that tough days are ahead, enduring a lot of criticism, but it has to be accepted. We weren’t at the level required for the final and the club. We need to recover and focus on the remaining titles,” Xavi added on the field.

After speaking with ‘Movistar+’, Xavi held a press conference to delve deeper into the Supercopa final against Real Madrid. He emphasized that the key to the match was conceding two goals in the opening ten minutes.

“How we entered the match affected us a lot. You can’t concede so much. We were very poor in defense and not good in pressing. We lacked a lot in those first 10 minutes. We reacted with Lewandowski’s goal, but the penalty, which wasn’t, killed us. It was a final, against Madrid, and we didn’t show the required level to compete for a title like this,” stated Xavi, who lamented Barcelona’s defensive fragility against a Madrid side that fully exploited the speed of Vinicius and Rodrygo.

“We didn’t stop runs, didn’t commit tactical fouls, and the first two goals came from runs into space. It’s a tough defeat. We’re angry. As a Barça fan, I’m disappointed. It’s one of the worst performances of the season. We need to be very self-critical. We have hope and excitement, but it’s not enough. I want to apologize to the fans because this is not the image we should show in a final against Real Madrid,” expressed the Terrassa native, who also emphasized that “we have to compete for the three remaining titles” and reminded everyone that “the club cannot bring in anyone” to enhance the squad’s quality.

“A year ago, we had the entire context to talk about a ‘new era.’ Now things are going badly, and we must make a change,” concluded a self-critical Xavi.