Xavi reveals Laporta celebrated Real Madrid win in the dressing room
Xavi reveals Joan Laporta celebrated dramatic El Clasico win over Real Madrid in the dressing room with players amid pressure on Barcelona president after Catalans were charged with corruption
- Barcelona came from behind to seal a dramatic late win over rivals Real Madrid
- Joan Laporta does not stand accused but will testify in the corruption case
- Carlo Ancelotti complained about decision to rule out Marco Asensio’s goal
Xavi Hernandez revealed that president Joan Laporta celebrated Barcelona’s Clasico win in the dressing room with the players after the dramatic 2-1 victory.
He also said he could understand Barcelona supporters singing: ‘Campeones Campeones!’ at the end of the game, despite not accepting that the league was won.
‘The president comes into the dressing room after most games and I have no problem with that because the relationship is good. He was happy tonight of course,’ said the Barça coach.
It has been a tough few weeks for Joan Laporta since the public prosecutor in Spain accused Barcelona of buying favour from referees by hiring the then-vice president of the refereeing committee in a 20-year period up to 2018.
Laporta does not stand accused but he will have to testify in the case and also has the headache of a temporary stadium move at the end of this season that will cost the club almost 100m euros in lost matchday revenue, hanging over him.
Barcelona came from behind to seal a dramatic late win over fierce rivals Real Madrid
Xavi has Hernandez revealed that president Joan Laporta celebrated the win with players
It has been a tough few weeks for Laporta (C) since the Catalans were charged with corruption
The release of emotion did not only come from the president. Supporters celebrated as if Barcelona had won the league on the final whistle.
‘I don’t feel like the Champion yet. We are happy but there are still 12 games left to play,’ said Xavi.
‘I understand the supporters singing ‘Champions Champions’ but no we haven’t won it yet and we know that. The supporters have been superb since I took over.’
Carlo Ancelotti complained about the VAR offside decision that meant Marco Asensio’s goal did not stand.
‘In the World Cup the offsides were clear because of the semi-automatic system in place – here I have my doubts.
But Xavi hit back: ‘I’m surprised by Ancelotti. It’s offside. And offside is something almost scientific now – it’s either offside or it isn’t and it’s offside I don’t think there are any doubts.’
The Barcelona coach added: ‘I enjoyed it tonight. There were moments in the game when I suffered but we played well tonight. We were better than them.’
He also said he was pleased for Barcelona’s two slightly unexpected scorers.
Carlo Ancelotti complained about the VAR offside decision to rule out Marco Asensio’s goal
Franck Kessie scored in the second minute of injury-time to extend Barcelona’s lead at the top
‘It feels like Sergio Roberto is always criticized but he’s always been a great example and he was superb again.
‘And Kessie is an example. He works so hard. I had doubts about who would play (in the absence of Pedri) but it worked out well with both Sergio Roberto and Kessie scoring.’
Ancelotti refused to give the league up for lost. ‘We are sad but proud of the way we played,’ he said. ‘You have doubts when you don’t play well. We did not play well after the Super Cup and that did sow the seeds of doubts but tonight we did not deserve to lose.
‘We are going to fight until the end of the season in all competitions. Of course we are going to keep fighting for La Liga.’
Source: Read Full Article