Barcelona coach Xavi: "LaLiga title is vital for the stability of the project"
Barça won the title with four games to spare as they beat Espanyol on Sunday
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez was aware of what was at stake at RCDE Stadium against Espanyol in Sunday's Catalan derby.
And that is why, for the first time since he has been in the Barça dugout, he repeated the starting XI for the third consecutive match. With his four midfielders, with everything. Only the option of Ousmane Dembélé at the expense of Raphinha was skipped.
And the truth is that the coach from Terrassa experienced one of his sweetest nights (perhaps the sweetest) since he has been in charge of the first team. An exhibition in the first half to remember. The Blaugrana crushed a very timid Espanyol, who didn't know how to hide. And when they realised, it was too late.
Xavi experienced the match in a much more relaxed way than he had probably expected. After all the mess of the celebration and some regrettable images of the Espanyol ultras trying to attack the players, he appeared before the cameras.
Important for project
"We are left with a magnificent feeling, more than 10 months of work, of sacrifice. It has been an extraordinary job. For the fans, for the club, it is important for the stability of the project, we must continue on this path," said the Barça boss, beaming.
On the match itself, Xavi commented that "we signed off the league (title) with a fantastic game, we were brilliant in the first half, we didn't let our guard down, we scored the 0-4. Then we did relax. We won the league in a derby, the scenario was scripted, to win the league title in a derby and with five games to go...".
Celebrations
He explained what happened in the celebrations after the match and how he decided to act: "I think it was enough, the celebration is normal, the euphoria. But I think it was enough, we are not at home and we have to go to the (changing rooms). These reactions are difficult to control and I told them it was time to go to the dressing room."
Who did Xavi remember as he celebrated? "My family, my wife, my parents, my brothers, the staff who have suffered a lot, those who never fail. We are in Spain and criticism is normal, it happened to me when I was a player, I am very stubborn and in the end the reward comes when there is good work. We have been able to convince the players."
