Tension between Xavi and Francisco after Barça win at Elche
The two appeared to clash on the sidelines after a tense ending to the game
Barcelona had to suffer to beat Elche. There were various controversies during the game including the penalty given to Barca which Memphis Depay scored, plus two against Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets that were not given. These led to tension on the sidelines.
When the referee blew for full time, Xavi Hernandez and Elche coach Francisco Rodriguez clashed. Oscar, the brother and assistant of Barcelona’s coach, was also involved in a clash with Elche player Pere Milla.
In the press conference, Xavi rejected the idea that anything untoward had occurred. “It was nothing, it was the tension of the game,” he said. “We asked them to kick the ball out, nothing else.
“We spoke without anything more happening. Don’t make a big deal of it, they are situations that come from tension. I have maximum respect for Elche, Francisco and Pere Milla, with whom we have friends in common and we were joking.”
The Elche coach also said the same. “We have had a friendship with Xvi for years and he’s a very respectful person. We thought Jordi Alba was faking an injury to waste time and for that, we decided not to give the ball back. We can be nice but we won’t be stupid.”
