Maybe it’s just the difference of opinion, maybe it’s the beginning of something, but Xavi and Deco have different opinions in public for the first time. A defeat is always a stress in a football club, yet alone in a big one, like Barcelona. The title defenders suffered a heavy home loss, both in terms of the opponent and the score. A 10th-place Girona in 2022 looks like a title contender in 2023 with only one loss and some spectacular games so far, which gives them first place in La Liga at the moment. But looking at the status of Barcelona, losing 4-2 at home to a small team 90 minutes drive from the Catalonia capital is one step from embarrassing. The only reason why it isn’t is because Girona is in excellent form so far and Barcelona isn’t, so the defeat was not a shock, like it would be last season.Leicesterona keeps dreaming: Barca get caught in La Liga dwarves’ netXavi’s men have not been shining this year, and with four draws and two defeats, they are already seven points away from Girona after another bad day at the office. And newly appointed sports director Deco was contradicting his coach in analyzing the last night’s game.”We haven’t played a good game, we haven’t been forceful and that took its toll on us. We started well, but without aim, they scored before and we were not strong enough to win the game. They have quality, they know what they have to play, we have tried, but we have not been able to. We have to fight, nothing has been decided, the League is long, but it was an important match against a direct rival that we have not been able to win” said the sports director.4 – #Barcelona 🔵🔴 have conceded at least two goals in the first-half in four @LaLigaEn games this season, their third-highest all-time record in the first halves of the same competition campaign in the 21st century (5 times in 2000/01 and 2018/19). Threat. pic.twitter.com/fDBV8va4lf— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 10, 2023 That’s totally opposite to the coach, who believes his team played well and even a Barca win would be fair.“It is a hard blow because we had high hopes of being one point behind Girona and two behind Madrid. Now we are seven behind Girona and five behind Madrid and tied with Atlético, with them having one game less. This is our reality. This is a Barca under construction. I remain positive, I trust the team. It was not a bad game, but we took a beating. We have to keep working, there is no other option. Last year we were hit hard, but in the end we won two titles. Girona has a lot of credit for what they are doing. They are leading the standings and have a seven-point advantage over us. Very well deserved. The match has It was even, it is decided by details. If Barca won we would also have said that it would have been fair, I think we have shot 31 times. We lacked effectiveness and perhaps the errors in defense have taken their toll on us” said Barca’s coach.Forget Spain, Barcelona isn’t even the best team in Catalonia.pic.twitter.com/NvOK9bwzwy— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) December 10, 2023 With games against Antwerpen, Valencia, Almeria and Las Palmas coming up next, there should be no problem with either Barcelona or Xavi and. Deco. Both men are currently fond of each other, as co-workers and former teammates. But if the results go the other way, watch this space for more interesting news.LA LIGA – MATCHDAY 16Friday Getafe – Valencia 1-0 (0-0)/Mayoral 87/Saturday Alaves – Las Palmas 0-1 (0-1)/Rodriguez 31/Real Betis – Real Madrid 1-1 (0-0)/Ruibal 66 – Bellingham 53/Villarreal – Real Sociedad 0-3 (0-3)/Merino 38, Zubimendi 41, Kubo 45+4/Real Mallorca – Sevilla 1-0 (1-0)/Larin 11/Sunday Atletico Madrid – Almeria 2-1 (2-0)/Morata 17, Correa 22 – Baptistao 62/Granada – Ath. Bilbao ABANDONEDCadiz – Osasuna 1-1 (1-0)/Marti 19 – Budimir 70 pen/Barcelona – Girona 2-4 (1-2)/Lewandowski 19, Gundogan 90+2 – Dovbyk 12, Gutierez 40, Fernandez 80, Stuani 90+5/Monday 23.00: (2.52) Rayo Vallecano (3.30) Celta (2.95)***odds are subject to change
