FC Barcelona Coach Xavi Hails Team After Epic Celta Vigo Comeback

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez heaped praise on his players following a 3-2 comeback win for the ages against Celta Vigo that fired the Catalans to the top of the La Liga table.

Xavi’s men were fatigued and played sluggishly for the most part after three games in seven days.

They were unable to replicate the “highest level” he had seen since taking over in November 2021, displayed during back-to-back 5-0 wins over Real Betis and Royal Antwerp.

By the time Anastasios Douvikas’ 76th minute strike doubled the visitors’ lead, the Blaugrana appeared dead and buried.

Robert Lewandowski and his teammates had other ideas, however, with the Pole scoring in the 81st and 85th minutes ahead of Joao Cancelo netting in the 89th to complete the comeback and send the Montjuic Stadium wild.

Following the final whistle, Xavi said that the “remontada”, as it is known in Spain, was only possible because of his players.

“They believed in it, and that means we’re a team,” Xavi explained.

Though the coach also praised his men for playing with “courage” and “belief”, he needed to point out that they were “very disorganized today.”

“We weren’t at the same level as the previous matches, [and] we must analyze that,” he demanded.

Xavi further highlighted how Barca “risked everything” to play with just two defenders when the tie seemed out of reach.

There were two right wingers on the field towards the end as well, with substitutes Raphinha and Lamine Yamal occupying the same space.

Hero of the evening at right back Joao Cancelo was also allowed to charge forward at will, but he didn’t feel like he had his best evening goal aside.

“It is true that personally I was playing a very bad game, I was making a lot of mistakes,” the Portuguese reflected.

“But I tried to give everything until the end and we were able to come back.”

“There’s a lot to improve but it’s important to win even if you play poorly,” the Manchester City loanee went on.

“I was lost in the match. I made many technical errors that are not normal in my game,” Cancelo confessed.

Even more honestly, he argued that if he gave in during the match Barca and their fans will not “love” him.

“We have to continue, but these three points are very important,” Cancelo concluded, with Barca now afforded six days’ rest until hosting Sevilla in their fourth consecutive home match.