Xavi Calls Out Barcelona Players Despite Narrow 3-2 Victory Over Almeria

Barcelona’s head coach, Xavi Hernández, expressed strong disapproval of his team’s performance, labeling it as “unacceptable” despite securing a 3-2 win against LaLiga’s bottom club, Almeria, on Wednesday night. The hard-fought victory put an end to Barcelona’s three-game winless streak.

The match saw Barcelona’s captain, Sergi Roberto, finding the back of the net twice, with his 83rd-minute goal ultimately securing the crucial three points for the team. Almeria, however, displayed resilience by equalizing twice, posing a threat to Barcelona and aiming to secure their first victory in LaLiga this season.

The opening goal came from Raphinha, giving Xavi’s team a first-half lead, only for Almeria’s Léo Baptistão to draw level before the break. Xavi did not mince his words in his post-match assessment, emphasizing his discontent with the team’s first-half performance, stating, “We had 30 shots and gifted them two goals. The first half is unacceptable. As a coach, you can’t accept that I told [the players] that at half-time.”

Leading on from these statements, Xavi articulated, “It’s as simple as that. The second half was better, but we missed a lot [of chances] and made a lot of mistakes. It’s been like this for over a month.” He also pinpointed the evident lack of spirit, aggression, and focus within the team, highlighting the need for increased rhythm and intensity.

Xavi’s candid remarks not only shed light on Barcelona’s immediate performance but also served as a firm call to action for the team to recapture the essence and drive that characterized their previous season.