Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez insisted that Barca need to change the dynamic, and stressed that Real Madrid beat them in maturity and know how to compete
Barcelona suffered a 3-1 defeat in the El Clasico, leaving Real Madrid to top the Spanish league standings by 3 points
Xavi said in comments published by the Spanish newspaper “Marca”: “The feeling that we are in a negative dynamic, that we tried, we have faith and self-respect, we tried, fortunately, there are three points, it was an opportunity to maintain the lead and we could not, we did not take advantage of the moments. What they’ve been through, we have to change the dynamic, we have to improve a lot”
And whether that defeat was the effect of thinking about the team’s position in the Champions League and the possibility of bidding farewell to the competition from the group stage, Xavi denied: “I don’t think it had any effect, we reached the Real Madrid penalty area and we had chances. We are in a very negative dynamic that we have to change as soon as possible”
Xavi continued: “I think we were not bad in the first half, we dominated Madrid, I have a feeling we had our chances, in the second half we lacked a lot of strength, if we want to win these kinds of games, we have to change our mentality, we are not in a positive dynamic”
On the impact of this loss, the Catalan coach stated: “Today we talked about the fact that the first goal cannot happen, Real Madrid benefit from 3 counter-attacks they have. We are in a bad dynamic and we have to change it now, we have to be more mature and compete better”
Xavi was asked about the cause of the problem, and the Barcelona coach replied: “I do not target players, I am responsible, I will explain what is happening, it is my fault, specific mistakes”
The Barcelona coach stressed: “They beat us in maturity, in knowing how to compete, everything worries me, especially when the result does not come, we will criticize ourselves from within, the things that we do not do well and that must be improved”
