led the team to defeat Osasuna and advance to the Western Super Cup final, Barcelona coach Xavi talked about the controversy of the first goal in an interview.
The following is a quick interview after the game.
Finally won by more than 1 goal
We were able to find some chances at times...it was difficult today, Osasuna is one of the best defensive teams in La Liga and it was difficult to create spaces and we knew our chances would be higher than usual few. Congratulations to Osasuna. Pedri sorted out the offense after coming on, and Lamin (Yamal) performed very well.
He performed very well and performed well off the bench, as did Lamin and Pedri. Substitutions work, that's what substitutions are about, they make us stronger. We had areas to improve but we made it to the final.
Was there a foul in Lewandowski's goal?
To be honest, I thought Andreas (Christensen) committed a foul on the spot, but I saw it in the replay and it was not the case. Catena may also be sent off. Sometimes the penalties are good for us, sometimes they hurt us... I don't think the referee is decisive.
Osasuna coach Arasset felt that the referee's scale of fouls on both sides was inconsistent.
I didn't feel that way. I might have directly called a foul on the spot, but not after watching the replay.
Western Super Cup is the turning point?
I hope so. This is a final, and finals are not for playing, but for winning. Yesterday I saw that Real Madrid performed very well and we want to compete with such an opponent, but there is no favorite, this is a El Clasico. Hopefully the final results will be the same as last year, we are the defending champions and at least we will enjoy the game.
The following is the content of the post-match press conference.
Are you satisfied with the team's performance?
Yes, we made it to the finals. First, enjoy the finals and compete. I don’t think our performance was outstanding, but we played well because it was a complex game. We created chances, but not as many as usual, but I think we are awake and we qualified, which will bring energy to our game on Sunday.
The team did not collapse because of their performance in the first half. What is the key?
I don’t know what our possession rate was, but we felt good under Gundogan and De Jong. After Pedri came on, everything became clear. Roberto also performed very well, and Pedri moved to the central midfielder position. We certainly didn't pose as much of a threat as usual, but we could have secured the win earlier. Our performance wasn't great, but it was a good game.
Will it be difficult for Barcelona to come close to last year's level in Sunday's final?
I hope so, because that was one of the best games the team has played since I took over. Real Madrid are in better shape than last year, but we will try to dominate the game and compete at the same level as them. We’re not going to change much, we’re very motivated. It's a step forward, first, to enjoy the finals and then, to compete for the championship.
What do you think of Yamal’s performance?
His performance on the ball is very good because he can create advantages. His various treatments are reasonable, but he is only 16 years old, and when he goes against it, you will realize that he is only 16 years old. But he was expected to change the game. In addition to scoring goals, his overall performance was also very good and he was an extraordinary talent.
What makes you optimistic about Sunday's final?
Our style of play, our approach, the way we compete with Real Madrid. We beat Real Madrid here last season and we played well for 60 minutes in the El Clasico. This is what the game is about: dominating the game and reducing Real Madrid's possession. We want to fully demonstrate our DNA, we are full of motivation, and it is time to show our outstanding performance.
About zero seal
This gives us confidence, which is very important to us.
The substitutions worked
Yes, they came off the bench very well and Pedri made the situation clear. The three players who came off the bench performed well and that's what they are there for: to contribute. I'm very happy with today's substitutions.What does
think of Pedri's status?
He's very good, we were going to play him for 25 or 30 minutes, which is good news for Sunday's game.
Is it possible to use four midfielders?
needs to be looked at again. We will plan well for the game against Real Madrid, they are a super strong team. It's difficult to beat Real Madrid, but we have the example from last year, so we have to compete hard.
