Xavi: “We suffered in the end, but this is the Champions League”

Xavi Hernández appeared after Barcelona’s long-suffering victory in Do Dragao. He cost his team against Porto, who pushed really hard, especially in a second half in which they lost possession and had to bail out water for many minutes. His team resisted and that is what the Egarense valued so positively.

Match analysis

«Many things have happened, difficulties during the game, very adverse circumstances. Our first half was very good, for our part the goal came. We should have found the second half more and it wasn’t like that, we suffered at the end. This is the Champions League, this is Europe. We are seeing results from other teams that are very difficult to win, especially away from home. “Today the team makes an extraordinary effort, we don’t play our best game, especially in the second half, suffering, but it is the Champions League and it costs a lot.”

Robert Lewandowski

«He has a bruise on his ankle. The doctor has told us that he has a very strong, very strong blow, which has not let him go out. “Let’s see if we get everyone back by Sunday.”

Yamine Lamal

«He felt bad, he was unwell. He had been telling me for a while, that he felt bad and had pain in his belly. We took advantage of a break to try to get him to the locker room quickly and come back. They told us that he could not continue and we made the change for Marcos. There we have suffered, with 10 men. Also with the expulsion of Gavi. “The team has given its all, its skin, to get these three vital points for us.”

Group Union

«That was also seen last year. There is a very good base. Everyone works, sacrifices and runs. It really is an extraordinary effort that the team has made today. “I am happy and satisfied with that, we have to improve in the game, but this is the Champions League, it is Porto’s field, it is really complicated and there are three golden points that we take away.”

Araujo

«Araujo is just cramps. “It is with ramps, cramps, to recover the people that on Sunday we have another difficult start in Granada, but today I am happy.”

His way of living the game

«I always talk, I am passionate, although it may not seem like it, I live the game, I protest, I get angry. It’s my way of living it. That’s how things have always gone well for me and it’s difficult to change.”

They played too much with Ter Stegen

«The team suffered a lot tonight. Yesterday we were talking about imposing our personality. I think there have been two parties within it. It was very important to play in the opposite field and we have played too much with Ter Stegen. We lacked calm, we lost balls. But this is Europe, it is Porto. Everything costs. And without being fine, we gave our all and we were able to win. At half-time we talked about playing more in the opposite field and we couldn’t. We have to play better, and we will do it. But I am happy with the team’s performance.”

frightened ghosts

«Without trying to make an excuse, we have our best players to hold the ball at home. But yes, we have to stay with the ball more and have more personality. But it is true that they pressed and Lewandowski, who is our reference player, was also injured. Weren’t we talking about ghosts? Well, we have removed some. “We have fought and we have left our skin.”

The victory weighs more on him than the game

“Both. We had done well the days of Betis, Sevilla or Antwerp, but the victory weighs heavily on us. “We haven’t conceded any goals and we have six points.”

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