Xavi concedes Barcelona’s unnecessary struggle against Barbastro

Although Barcelona got the job done against Barbastro in the Copa del Rey last night, Xavi Hernandez felt his team suffered more than they should have due to avoidable mistakes.

The Spanish giants dug deep to earn their qualification into the next round of the competition against a fourth-tier team—a sight Xavi deemed unnecessary.

Barcelona 𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 fourth-tier Barbastro 3-2 to advance in the Copa del Rey 🙃 pic.twitter.com/tV1RjIu0r7

— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 7, 2024

“We have suffered a little. We have had a very serious first half. It seemed doomed, but these games always get complicated,” the 43-year-old said via Marca.

He continued: “It has been more complicated for us than necessary. We are in the second round, which was the objective.

“The lack of concentration. It was a very controlled match. The badly disallowed goal… It is complicated for us by our mistakes.

“I think we played a good game, but we got confused again. And a mistake can earn you a title. We don’t have to give away as much as we give away. I think that, in general, it is a positive game.”

Xavi’s led Barcelona will now turn their attention to their Spanish Super Cup semi-final clash against Osusana coming up on Thursday at the King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.