"Be aware of your friends' complacency at the expense of yourself, and for this reason (Barca) tied and will be eliminated from the Champions League," this is how Egyptian star Mohamed Aboutrika criticized Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez, who admitted his responsibility for the disappointing 3-3 draw with his guest Inter Milan in the European Champions League. The footballer said, "It's my fault," after he was close to bidding farewell to the group stage for the second season in a row.
Barcelona is in third place with 4 points in Group C behind leaders Bayern Munich (12), who secured his ticket to the final price, and Inter II (7).
Also, his fate is no longer in his hands, as even if he wins the last two matches against his Bavarian guest and host Viktoria Plzen, the Czech Republic, he needs Inter to waste points in each of his last two matches due to the Italian team’s superiority in the two direct confrontations between them after their 1-0 victory in Milan this week. Past.
"The first goal for Inter was a blow to us and the second goal cannot happen at this level of competition, in football at the highest level," Xavi said after the match, referring to defensive errors by Gerard Pique and Eric Garcia.
"We showed faith and character to the end. This competition was very tough for us: in Munich, with our lack of realism, in Milan and today with our mistakes."
🤔 What did Pique want to do in this shot??!!
⚽️🔥 Nicolo Barilla equalizes the score for the guests and increases Barcelona's troubles #Champions League |
#Barcelona_Inter #UCL |
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— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 12, 2022
Abu Trika to Xavi: Be aware of your companions' complacency
Aboutrika, an analyst for “BN Sports” channels, criticized Xavi after the disappointing draw and told him, “Beware (don’t) compliment your friends at the expense of yourself, because you are the one who will pay the tax, and that is why (the team) equalized and will be out of the Champions League, Xavi Jamil Pique and Boskic, Barcelona. It won't change until the two of them walk."
And the former Egyptian national team star added, "Who drowned Xavi and Barcelona are Pique and Boskic, one in the half of the field and the last defender, and the two are experienced, for every coach, do not take your decisions with your heart and take them with your mind, and if (Xavi) took the decision with his mind, he would start with De Jong and Casey in the half of the field. instead of the two.
Aboutrika sends a message to Barcelona coach.. "Xavi, don't flatter your friends" 😅#European_Champions League |
#Barcelona#beINUCL |
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— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 12, 2022
The match at Camp Nou witnessed an exciting end as 3 goals were scored within 10 minutes.
After the Catalan seemed on its way to losing after being behind 1-2, Poland's Robert Lewandowski equalized in the 82nd minute, before German substitute Robin Gouzness made the progress for the guests (89).
However, the former Bayern striker kept Barcelona's low hopes of staying in the tournament by equalizing in overtime (90 + 2).
⚽️🔥 Lewandowski revives Barcelona's hopes with a great goal #Champions League |
#Barcelona_Inter #UCL |
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— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 12, 2022
Xavi, who reached the head of the technical staff in the middle of last season from Al-Sadd, added, "Even if we still have a mathematical chance (to qualify), it is not only in our hands. We keep hope, but it will be very difficult. This is because of our mistakes, and nothing else. ".
And he added, "We played a good first half, but our mistakes killed us. It's tough and difficult. But if the defense made mistakes, it means I made them. If Pique, Busquets, Pedri or Dembele were wrong, then I am wrong. It is my responsibility. In the second half, we did not play with concentration." Enough. It's a training mistake. When you draw at home with great players like tonight, it's my fault. There is no problem. I'm angry, frustrated, sad and upset."
Barcelona is waiting for a league summit on Sunday in the El Clasico match with its host and rivals Real Madrid to try to break the partnership between them, as both are equal with 22 points in the lead.
🔥⚽️ Ousmane Dembele lights the stands with joy and announces the first goals of the match #European_Champions_League |
#Barcelona_Inter #UCL |
#beINUCL pic.twitter.com/8r40CCSIVl
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 12, 2022