FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez believes his club have ‚gotten rid of the ghosts‘ in the Champions … [+] League after their 1-0 win over Porto on Tuesday.
Getty ImagesFC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez believes his club has „gotten rid of the ghosts“ in the Champions League after their 1-0 win over Porto on Wednesday.
The Catalans maintained their 100% record in the competition this season thanks to a breakaway Ferran Torres strike on the stroke of half time at the Estadio do Dragao.
Speaking to Movistar after the match, Xavi noted that the performance was not his men’s best. But while „previously there was talk of ghosts“, he believes „we got rid of them against a historic rival, who pushes.“
„Many things have happened,“ Xavi went on. „[There were] many difficulties during the game and with very adverse circumstances.
„We had to control the game more in the second half, but this is the Champions League. We see with other results that it is very difficult to win, especially away from home.
„The effort has been extraordinary without it being our best game,“ Xavi beamed.
As Xavi implied, though, the match wasn’t without potentially damaging incidents. Both Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal left the proceedings earlier than expected, ahead of Gavi being sent off.
On the Pole, Xavi revealed that the club’s doctor told him Lewandowski received a „very strong blow“ and couldn’t continue, with his recovery determining whether he can play in Barca’s last game before the international break on Sunday against Granada.
Regarding Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old felt „bad“ and „indisposed“ which he had been communicating to his coach „for a while“.
„He had pain in his belly, and we took advantage of a break that went quickly to go to the dressing room and come back. But they told us that he could not continue and Marcos [Alonso] came in,“ Xavi added.
Admitting that Barca suffered and especially so when reduced to 10 men, Xavi complimented his charges for having the „soul“ and „skin“ to win three vital points which leave them top of Group H.
Asked about living the fixture intensely, Xavi confessed that he protests and gets angry, but it is an approach which is „difficult to change“ and has „always gone well“ for him.
With three weeks‘ rest on the continent, his side will next be seen in the Champions League when they host Shakhtar Donetsk on October 25.