The Catalonians are in crisis. Whoever watched their La Liga games against inferior opposition basically knew that Barcelona is wining, but not playing well, but after some bigger games under the spotlights, it became evident to everybody. First it was a defeat and a draw with Inter which got them all but out of the Premier League, then came El Clasico. All the talk about Barcelona’s tiki-taka fell into water when European champions came in and won comfortably 3-1. All season the hype has been about Ousmane Dembele’s form and Lewandowski arrival, and yet it was Ernesto Valverde and Karim Benzema who solved the winner after only 35 minutes.🚨 Carlo Ancelotti’s advice to his players before the game:“Just play as if it’s a UEFA Champions League match.” 🚨#ElClasico pic.twitter.com/w9YNTznt8J— 🥂 (@Aj_RMA) October 16, 2022 As an ex player, Barca’s coach Xavi didn’t have the nerve to accuse the players of the result, but shifted the blame on himself. „We have to be self-critical. We’re not doing well at all. We’re in a very bad dynamic and we have to change it immediately. I feel bad and frustrated. We weren’t as aggressive as we should have been. I don’t think Madrid have beaten us in intensity but they have in maturity, they have known how to compete better, they are a more accomplished and mature team than us at the moment. I won’t ever blame the players. It won’t happen. I am the captain of this ship and I take responsibility“ said Xavi. El Clasico teaches Xavi a lesson: Barca with a ball in possession, Madrid with three points in the bagUnlike Barca coach, his president obviously thought that the defeat was not only due to the play on the pitch. In a report obtained by The Athletic, it was revealed that an unhappy Joan Laporta took to the officials dressing room following the defeat to question the referee about his decision-making in the fixture, but was invited to leave the arbitration locker room, without further incident. ##NAJAVA_MECA_6725527##As for the winners, coach Carlo Ancelotti was as calm as ever, even thou he actually has a negative record in El Clasico (4 defeats in 6 derbies prior to this one). „We were better in the first half, more forceful, we came out well from behind and defended well against an opponent who presses very high. That was the key to the match. “I thought about last season, that I invented something… and in this game I tried not to invent and put the players in their place. I highlight Modric’s game that was spectacular against his midfield“ said the Italian.
