It was a very frustrating evening for Barcelona in Hamburg on Tuesday as they fell to defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk. A win would have secure their place in the Champions League knockout stages, but in the end, it was not to be.
In truth, it was a poor performance from Barcelona, who failed to particularly trouble the Shakhtar defence. They had just one shot on target all game, that coming from a Gavi header in the second half.
Understandably so, head coach Xavi Hernandez was furious when he spoke to the media post-match. He admitted that his side are not in a good way at the moment, and things needs to change before they can move forward.
“Nothing has gone as planned. It’s a clear step backwards. We have played one of the worst games in these two years, and at the most inopportune moment.
“We are in a bad moment. It’s a mental issue. We are blocked. We did things wrong in general. We didn’t apply pressure well and that takes its toll on us. We have to control the details of the game and make the players feel good on the pitch. We have to take a step forward.”
🚨 Xavi Hernández: "The Champions League demands the highest level and today we have not shown it, we are leaving angry. Intensity? No, today I would blame it on the game, we have not interpreted it correctly. We have to recover and improve." pic.twitter.com/BwpgmIbVrk
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) November 7, 2023
Barcelona will look to bounce back when they host Alaves in La Liga on Sunday, with their next match in the Champions League against Porto taking place at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in three weeks.
Pack your bags please we have seen and had enough already tbh.
Truth be told although bitter. Xavi is not the right man to lead barca to the ‘PROMISE LAND’. He has done his but we all can see,from the match,that his best is not good enough for the UCL.Thus,pushing sentiments and emotions aside,a far more experienced and tactically-savvy manager than Xavi,is urgently needed for Barca,to avert an impending disaster for the third year running. The time to act is NOW!
U cannot blame Xavi the player are not clinical enough
What?
xavi has had enough he is awful in knockout competition and big games and defensively compact and agressive pressing teams.
U have a bunch of such quality players and u cannot use them effectively? Xavi need to change his tactics or be changed to restore the tikl-taka system. Brighton Manager Zerbi should be in his p lace
Xavi was a weak player even as at now he’s also a weak coach…..
All the players are fade up with Xavi tactics just imagine real Madrid game with Barcelona wen Xavi subtitude J-felix and lose the game… I don’t think Xavi knows what he’s doing… Even without de-jong and Pedri Barca should be winning, not to put your mind on two players… Barca should bring in another tactical coach that will lead Barcelona before we lose many players thank you.