Barcelona had the chance to cement second place in La Liga with a win over Girona tonight as they travelled to the other side of the city to clash horns with their domestic rivals.
Following a 2-4 defeat against them at home earlier this season, many would have expected Barça to be motivated and seeking a dominant win today, but the Catalans came up short, losing 4-2 once again.
Despite looking in control for an hour and up 1-2, Barça started making rookie mistakes as Portu ran away with the game, scoring two and assisting one in the win.
A mental issue
“It is hard to explain this. This is the summary of our season, we gifted them the match,” Xavi said following the loss, as quoted by MARCA.
“We dominated the game, and we had it under control. We could not score a third goal and then we gifted three.”
As has been the case so often this season, individual mistakes cost Barcelona the game, with Sergi Roberto and Pau Cubarsi giving away a goal each, while Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde defended thin air.
“We gift the matches to our opponents. It happened twice vs Madrid, now against Girona. Even against Paris.”
This match has put a cloud of doubt over Xavi’s future once again. The coach had only recently reversed his decision and decided to stay, but was questioned whether it will reopen the discussion.
“No,” he answered, “This situation is fixable. It is a mental issue.”
Eric Garcia put in another decent shift against Barcelona, much like earlier this season, and Xavi iterated once again that a spot in the team is open for him next season.
“I already said that Eric Garcia has a spot at Barça. He plays for Girona, now, but it was not my decision.”
Madrid were coming off another brilliant 0-3 win against Cadiz from earlier today, but Barcelona’s loss vs Girona gifted them the title early, pretty much as collateral damage. Xavi, almost with a heavy heart, congratulated them.
“Real Madrid won the most points, so yes. Congratulations to them.”
“I am the first one who is pissed off. I am furious. Above being the manager, I am a Barcelona fan,” he concluded.
