17.09.2009 14:05
“It’s the same story every year”
Roger Bogunyà
Xavi told reporters on Thursday that Barça outplayed Inter in the Giuseppe Meazza: “If we had won 0-1 or 0-2 people would be talking about a great Barça”. He also warned that many games this season would be like the match in Milan.
But it’s a familiar story – the opposing team pulls down the shutters and leaves Barça
the possession of the ball. That sometimes leads to goals but not this Wednesday - Mourinho’s
defensive strategies and a lack of sharpness in the final yards saw to that.
However, Xavi has a positive take on the match: “It says a lot about Barça that we
closed down one of the favourites on their own ground. I think we were superior at every
moment”.
Defence and counterattack
This defensive attitude on the part of opponents is a common experience for the
Barça players: “We’re suffered this before. We suffered it last year. Matches in the
Camp Nou are always monotonous and that’s the way they will be. Barça dominates and the
opponents, with two lines of four in defence, look for the counterattack, without giving us any
space. It’s the same story every year. This season it may be even worse given that Barça has
been winning and everyone respects us even more”.
“The result changes everything”
However, Xavi admits that all styles of play deserve respect though for
him there was only one possible winner on Wednesday evening: “We had three or four very clear
chances to take the lead and we might have seen a different match then. We gave a good performance
throughout the team, great football. It’s not a case of the result above all else but if we
had won 0-1 or 0-2 people would be talking about a great Barça. The result changes
everything”.
Satisfied with Ibrahimovic
Xavi also spoke about Zlatan Ibrahimovic: “I think he’s OK, he’s performing
well. He gives us a lot of options, he combines well and let’s us play the ball in the air.
He’s mobile and is a reference point up front because he holds the ball well. He gives a lot
of options to the team and so far he’s already scored two goals and he’s adapting
really well. We’re satisfied”.
Atlético, a more open match
One of the few teams that seems to go against the trend of defence and counterattack is
Atlético Madrid: “Historically, they are always attractive matches with plenty of goals. I
imagine it will be a more open match. It’ll be nice”.