Xavi Hernandez mentioned he was shocked and saddened by the hostility geared toward Barcelona by Athletic Bilbao supporters throughout his aspect’s 1-0 win at San Mames on Sunday.
Raphinha struck the one aim of the sport to revive Barca’s nine-point lead on the high of LaLiga as Athletic followers protested following allegations the Catalan membership purchased beneficial therapy from referees.
The house crowd threw financial institution notes marked with “mafia $” and Barca’s badge on to the pitch throughout within the first half and chanted for Xavi’s aspect to be relegated “to the second division.”
“I respect the fans at San Mames,” Xavi mentioned in his postgame information convention. “They have always treated me well, but I was surprised at the hostile atmosphere towards Barca.
“It was unhappy to see. [Barca] are being judged earlier than time, which I do not suppose is nice for society. Everyone seems to be free to [air their opinion] and I respect all opinions, whether or not I agree with them or not, nevertheless it made me unhappy.”
Pressed on if he expected the same atmosphere at other upcoming games and if it had an effect on his players, Xavi said: “I haven’t got anything so as to add, [just that] it makes me unhappy.
“We have not spoken about it in the dressing room with the players. We are here to win and are focused on the football. We are all professionals.”
Prosecutors on Friday filed corruption costs in opposition to Barcelona following the revelation of funds totaling €7 million to an organization owned by the previous vice chairman of the refereeing committee between 2001 and 2018.
Former presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, together with ex-referee Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira are additionally listed among the many defendants.
Barca vehemently deny any wrongdoing, say they’ve by no means purchased referees or affect and that they have been paying Negreira for “technical reports on refereeing.”
On Sunday, Actual Madrid mentioned they might be a part of the grievance filed by prosecutors in opposition to Barca, prompting Blaugrana president Joan Laporta to as soon as once more tweet the membership’s “innocence,” claiming they’re “the victims of a campaign” in opposition to them.
In a while Sunday, Barca received 1-0 in LaLiga for the ninth time within the league this season to strengthen their grip on high spot forward of subsequent weekend’s Clasico in opposition to Madrid at Camp Nou.
Athletic, who hit the woodwork twice, thought that they had scored a late equaliser via Inaki Williams solely to have their pleasure minimize quick when referee Gil Manzano dominated out the aim because of an earlier handball by Iker Muniain.
“I have seen the images and I don’t know it it’s more shoulder or arm,” Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde mentioned. “But it’s not about that; it’s a question of what is football and what is not.
“I believe VAR is there to appropriate blatant errors. That is why it got here in. Large errors. Balls which have gone in or not, penalties. To name over the referee to see if it touches [a hand] or not 5 passes earlier.
“I don’t know if that belongs in the world of football.”
Xavi mentioned, after reviewing the pictures, it was a “clear handball,” however conceded his workforce weren’t at their greatest in opposition to Athletic regardless of recording a nineteenth clear sheet in 25 league video games.
“It is true we have to play better, but this is a difficult place to come,” the Barca boss mentioned. “It’s normal to suffer at San Mames, but it’s a vital win.
“We knew it could be a tough away sport. Now we have nonetheless acquired the nine-point lead and we go into the Clasico with confidence. However we’ve got to enhance, above all in assault.”