MY ACCOUNT
Xavi said Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Real Mallorca gives them “peace of mind” in their hunt for Champions League qualification, and hailed Memphis Depay’s attitude after he opened the scoring with a stunning volley.
Having lost three consecutive matches at Camp Nou for just the second time in their illustrious history, the Blaugrana bounced back through excellent goals from Depay and Sergio Busquets, holding on for the win after Antonio Raillo pulled a goal back late on.
The Catalan giants have now won five of their last seven games in LaLiga to open up a nine-point lead over fifth-placed Real Betis in the race for Champions League football, moving up to second in the table.
Although Xavi insisted his team should have won the match more comfortably, he was pleased after picking up a crucial win in their quest to wrap up a top-four finish.
“It was a 3-0 match and we have to finish more satisfied, we have committed an unnecessary foul and they have scored the goal. It is a game to win [more] comfortably,” he said after the victory.
“[But] the three points give us peace of mind. Now we have a league of five teams to enter the Champions League, which we have to win.”
Depay’s fantastic volleyed opener represented his 11th goal of the season in LaLiga – more than any other Barcelona player, and while Xavi was not willing to discuss whether the attacker had a future at Camp Nou, he insisted the 28-year-old deserved to play after showing great application in training.
“There is no talk of the future. Memphis has played because he trains very well, and maybe because another player had lowered his arms,” he added. “We had worked on the play for the first goal.
“We want players with his attitude. I’m happy for him because it’s possible that we were unfair at times with him. But if he trains like this, he has to participate.”
Depay’s Netherlands team-mate Frenkie de Jong, meanwhile, played the full 90 minutes after reacting angrily to being substituted in Barca’s defeat to Rayo Vallecano last time out.
But the 24-year-old, who has been linked with a move away from Catalonia in recent weeks, said he has had positive discussions with Xavi since that incident and hopes Barcelona can compete with newly-crowned champions Real Madrid for the league title next term.
“The conversation with Xavi went well,” De Jong said. “I have confidence in myself and the coach has told me that he also has confidence in me. I don’t think too much is demanded of me, the pressure is always good and it’s never too much.
“We were better and we deserved the victory. We played quite well, although we can always improve a lot. But it was important to win after defeats and we are happy with that.
“We are second, the first objective is to qualify for the Champions League, and then to be second to play in the [Spanish] Super Cup.
“It is frustrating, not fighting for the league, but we have not been good this year and that is why we have not been able to compete with them [Madrid]. We hope to do so next year.”
