Xavi claims Champions League ‘being cruel’ to Barcelona

Guardiola: Haaland cannot win Champions League for Man City on his own

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Barcelona manager Xavi has claimed the Champions League is being cruel to his team. The Catalan giants were held to a 3-3 draw by Inter Milan at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night and are now on the brink of being eliminated from the competition.

Barcelona have struggled in this season’s Champions League and had already suffered defeats to Bayern Munich and Inter ahead of Wednesday’s showdown with the Italians. But they took the lead just before the break as Ousmane Dembele struck from close range.

Inter turned things up a notch after the break, however, and drew level as Nicolo Barella thumped the ball into the roof of the net five minutes into the second half. And the visitors took the lead just after the hour-mark as Lautaro Martinez struck an effort against both posts and into the back of the net.

Robert Lewandowski made it 2-2 inside the final eight minutes as his deflected shot evaded Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana. And a chaotic finale ensued. Barcelona were caught napping with two minutes remaining as Robin Gosens turned in Martinez’s cross after Onana had kicked the ball upfield. But Lewandowski levelled for the second time in stoppage time as he headed the ball into the top corner right at the death.

Barcelona flattered to deceive in front of their own fans on the night and were lucky not to be dumped out of the competition there and then. And after the contest had come to an end, Xavi explained exactly what he thought.

“This Champions League is being cruel to us,” he said. “But in the second half we made a lot of mistakes. The first goal was a clear mistake by the defensive line and we had talked about it. Football is a game of mistakes and it’s about minimising them – today we have made very serious mistakes that have cost us.

DON’T MISS

Arsenal have one big difference to other clubs in Jude Bellingham race

Ian Wright drags up ‘awful’ Jack Grealish comment on Miguel Almiron

Man Utd ‘looking at’ Lyon wonderkid as Arsenal and City ‘send scouts’

“People saw that we played with our heart, but we can’t fail. In Munich it was our effectiveness, in Milan it was other circumstances and today it was our mistakes. The Champions League is very complicated, we have to change our mindset for La Liga.

“We have to think about [Sunday’s] El Clásico – the Champions League has become complicated. It’s a shame. If you don’t beat Inter at home, you don’t deserve to stay in this competition. When the players fail, I take full responsibility.”

The draw means Barcelona are three points behind Inter with two games remaining. But if the Serie A team win either of their two final matches against Viktoria Plzen or Bayern Munich, Barca will exit the competition.

WIN A FREE ENGLAND SHIRT FOR THE WORLD CUP

Source: Read Full Article