FC Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez blamed the “unwanted tension” among the squad created by the media after the Catalan club ended their UEFA Champions League 2023/34 group-stage run with a 3-2 loss against Royal Antwerp.
Barca have now lost back-to-back matches for the first time this season as they fell two goals short of defeating the league leaders in La Liga, Girona, during the weekend. Xavi also wasn’t happy with his troops’ level against Antwerp on Wednesday.
"I’m worried" Xavi admitted after the match. “The footballers were at a lower level today. Today. But I don’t like to speak in public about bad things on an individual level. They have a higher level than what they are showing. Today the feelings are not good and individual errors cost us dearly.,” he told Marca.
“It is a matter of confidence. It’s a question of being inspired. And this shirt is heavy. The objective has been achieved, but the feelings are not good. You have to be self-critical. You have to improve to win things.”
Xavi was confident that the team would improve in the upcoming matches but he also called out the media for giving birth to unnecessary controversy among the squad.
“We didn’t start well, and we have to focus on it. Unnecessary tension has been generated with the squad list, above all we spoke with the players. From there we agreed with the president and with Deco. And that’s it. Then, we didn’t play a good game. But this defeat is not painful,” he added.
It is worth noting that Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, has warned the board members to not make any comments on Xavi or the team. This development came after Sporting Director Deco made unwanted comments on the squad's travel plans to Belgium, a day before the Champions League clash against Antwerp.
