Xavi on huge Athletic win and San Mames hostility towards Barça
The Barcelona coach said he was sad at the treatment from the home supporters
Barcelona coach Xavi was very conscious in his statements of the importance of winning in a stadium like San Mamés -- and even more so in the run-up to a Clasico that could decide the league.
The Barça boss was very satisfied with the result, although he admitted that the team is lacking in control and in making the right decisions so as not to suffer so much.
"It's a massive victory in a very difficult game and three very important points," Xavi said. And he added that Barça "took a step forward offensively in the first 70-75 minutes. In defence, everyone was spectacular, supportive and generous."
In fact, he went further and said that "this team gives their all and I'm proud of the way they compete. The courage reflected in someone like Gavi is spectacular, it moves me when you see 10 players come back from a corner."
But not everything was one hundred percent positive, as Xavi acknowledged that "we need more patience, to be calmer, and also effectiveness. We had the chance to score the second goal. Ansu, Robert, Balde... We also lacked precision and we had too many unnecessary losses of the ball."
But he recalled that "this is San Mamés and here they put a lot of pressure on us. It's not that we've got used to it, it's just that we've suffered too much, it's the script of many matches this season. We would like to win more comfortably, but we got a victory of character and one that is vital for the future of the league."
In this sense, and looking ahead to the Clasico, Xavi explained that "we also have pressure, we want to win the league. I've told the players that this was a final, that we had to compete and put on our work overalls."
The Negreira case
Xavi said he was "saddened" by the hostile atmosphere towards Barça. "I respect the San Mamés crowd, they have always treated me very well. I am surprised by the hostile atmosphere and it saddens me, I think that judging before time is not good for society."
And he concluded that "we haven't spoken (about it) in the dressing room, we are focused on playing football, defending this team to the death."
