Xavi: It's hard to accept that the young players are propping up the team

The coach lamented the mistakes

Posted Monday, December 13, 2021 by Marca.com

Barcelona dropped yet more points in LaLiga Santander on Sunday, conceding an 86th minute equaliser in their clash with Osasuna, and Xavi was frustrated and suggested that it was difficult to accept that it was the team's younger players who were propping up the team.

Gavi, Nico and Abde were all exceptional in the match, by far the Cules' best performers, yet this left the coach frustrated at how little his senior stars contributed in comparison.

"Abde, Gavi and Nico were extraordinary, they are propping up the team in difficult moments," Xavi declared in his post-match press conference.

"The youngsters are making a difference and that is difficult to digest.

"It's positive and negative because they won't always be able to perform excellent because they are young.

"They can't be the props, other players have to work. We all have to demand more from each other."

When quizzed on the result, the former Al-Sadd coach was quick to make clear his distaste.

"The point is insufficient, we're left with a bad taste," he said.

"We competed well at 2-1. We had to keep the ball, but couldn't succeed.

"We haven't been calm, nor did we manage to dominate the ball, as they penned us in and we suffered.

"The equaliser comes from a set piece. They live on that strategy. It is very difficult for us to defend in the area and this can't be. There are so many things to improve."

Introducing Oscar Mingueza in the second half was a move that will be critiqued by supporters, but the Catalan gave his reasons.

"We went on the attack with the 3-4-3, but Gavi's legs were already failing and we wanted to cover the defenders, but we wanted to keep the ball and go on the attack," he continued.

"We have gone forward, but we didn't know how to play in the opposition's half."