Barça licks its wounds: "We cannot be bogged down in actions like this"

“I'm frustrated, angry, because I think what's been seen on the field is unfair.” That was Xavi Hernández's final analysis of the defeat against Real Madrid in Montjuïc. In his opinion, Barcelona did more than enough merits to win the first classic of the season. But, in the end, the effectiveness of Carlo Ancelotti's team, personified above all in Jude Bellingham, ended up causing the result to not be what, according to him, the Blaugrana deserved.

“Bellingham has made the difference. In the 1-2 he enters from the second line, it is our mistake. The first is a shot, very strong. The key has been effectiveness. If we take the game into account, we deserved much more” , added the Barça coach, who even went a little further in his analysis. “Barça did not deserve to lose. If anyone deserved to win, it was us,” the Egarense insisted.. His great consolation is that, at least, the style lived up to what he was looking for: “By being positive, we have taken a step forward in the game. But, when you are not effective and forgiving, these things happen. Above all, against Real Madrid”.

It didn't hurt him at all to praise Bellingham's figure. “He seems like a great player to me, but it is also true that he is in a state of grace. He has faith, confidence and, in the end, he has made the difference,” he insisted, without forgetting to highlight the work of a Gavi who, for many years, minutes, he managed to overshadow the Englishman.

“A matter of details”

“Gavi has been sensational, but the whole team did a good job. I don't like personalizing, but he is the soul of the team. He has played more as a pivot, at the base, and he has done it very well. He has even won aerial duels. It gives us an intensity that is fundamental for the team,” he analyzed.. “Everything has been a matter of details. For me, the first goal made the difference. We cannot be bogged down in actions like that and, as a result of that, we collapsed,” Gavi explained before the DAZN microphones at the end of the duel.

However, despite the defeat, all the Barça players wanted to give a message full of optimism. “The League is very long and we have to continue” Gavi himself harangued. “The important thing is to win, but now we have to move forward. Last year we also lost the first classic, but, in the end, we won the League title,” he was supported by Ronald Araujo who, once again, was in charge of stopping Vinicius Junior's attacks.. A task in which, once again, he performed with flying colors.

“I touched him with affection”

“I simply did what I had to do, because facing Vini is always very difficult,” said the Uruguayan.. The Brazilian, during the duel, had an exchange of opinions with Xavi who even touched his face. A completely friendly gesture, as the one from Terrassa wanted to emphasize.. “I have a lot of respect for Vinicius, I have touched him with affection. I am not the one who is going to generate tension or bad vibes. No way,” the coach added.

“We have to have more of the ball, more calm, more patience. Madrid dominated 20 or 25 minutes and scored two goals and we only had one in 60 that we had control of the game. We are frustrated, angry, upset, but we have to continue. “We have taken a step forward and this is the way. We have to be more consistent if we want to win titles this season,” concluded the Barça coach.