Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has reacted to his side’s costly draw with Inter Milan at the Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Barca went into the game knowing anything but a win against Simone Inzaghi’s side would leave them needing other results to go their way in the final two Champions League Group C games.
However, they only narrowly escaped defeat as Robert Lewandowski’s brace helped the Blaugranas rescue a home draw.
Xavi’s side went into the half-time interval with a 1-0 lead courtesy of Ousmane Dembele’s goal, but the second half served drama as Inter roared back.
Nicolo Barella and Lautaro Martinez turned the tie around before Lewandowski levelled matters in the 82nd minute.
Robin Gosen thought he had stolen all three points for the Nerazzurri when he slotted past Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the 89th minute, but Lewandowski made sure the Blaugranas did not leave empty-handed.
Speaking (via Mundo Deportivo) after the thrilling encounter, Xavi rued Barca’s mistakes in the costly draw, lamenting the competition’s cruelty to his side.
“This Champions League is being very cruel”, he said. “We conceded a lot in the second half. The first has been excellent again.
“It is being cruel from Munich, through Milan and today too. We have deserved more, but this is the Champions League.
“Football is a game of mistakes, and today we didn’t defend well. In the first part, the intensity was excellent. We had to continue, and we have paid dearly for our mistakes. Very serious mistakes that cost us the game.”
Xavi then challenged his side to shift their focus to the upcoming top-of-the-table El Clasico clash with fierce rivals Real Madrid.
“There is the league, the Super Cup, the cup – we have to continue,” said the Catalan coach. “It is a very hard blow. We are already thinking about Madrid, about the Clasico.
“We must recover, make a good recovery and try to beat Madrid at the Bernabeu. We parked the Champions League and focused on the league, where we are leaders”
