6:44 p.m. ET
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez was angered by his side’s lack of determination as their tenuous LaLiga title hopes were dashed with a 1-0 defeat by Cadiz at the Camp Nou on Monday.
Lucas Perez scored the only goal of the game after 48 minutes to silence the home crowd and leave Barca 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid, who won in Seville on Sunday with just seven games left.
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Xavi said he was upset with the nature of the defeat against Cadiz and his players were “pissed off” after a second defeat at the Camp Nou in four days after being knocked out of the Europa League by Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.
“We are angry, the players first, because we missed a golden opportunity to part with them in the fight for the Champions League places and also to become [keep] Fighting for LaLiga, which we’ve practically said goodbye to now,” admitted Xavi in a press conference.
“I’m annoyed and we have to be self-critical first, myself as a coach. We’re playing for the Champions League, that’s why I’m so angry. Lacking drive and determination, it has been a really bad week and we need to turn things around as soon as possible.
“The players are angry. I tried to encourage them after the game but we need to keep up the pace. We need to look at what we did wrong in defense and attack. On Thursday we have another final against Real Sociedad .”
Monday’s defeat ended Barca’s streak of seven straight wins in LaLiga and 15 unbeaten wins in the Spanish top flight. It was only the second league defeat under Xavi, who has taken the side from ninth to second since replacing Ronald Koeman earlier this season.
“We’re not in a bad situation,” added the coach. “Things have improved since we took over in November but we need to keep improving.
“We have to look ourselves in the eye and have more desire because we can’t lose at home to Cadiz. This is Barca and we have to do more. We’ve improved but we wanted to do more and fight for trophies.”
The top four teams in Spain qualify for the Champions League and Barca are currently second, level with Sevilla and Atletico Madrid on 60 points albeit with a game in hand. Below them are Real Betis with 57 points and Real Sociedad with 55 points.
“To qualify for the Champions League next season, which is our main goal, we need to improve and play with more momentum,” said Xavi. “We still have seven finals and we have to grit our teeth because the stakes are high.
“It’s not an attitude [problem], the players want it. It’s a matter of believing and giving everything to take a chance. Cadiz defended like it was their last game for the whole game and we have to make up for that.”
Monday’s game took place in a strange atmosphere at the Camp Nou. After around 30,000 Frankfurt fans gained entry to the home stadium on Thursday, prompting the club to change its ticketing policy, some fans opted to stay away in protest.
The singing section behind one of the goals remained empty, and the fan group in charge of the section stated before the game that they were boycotted because they felt “humiliated” to feel like an away team in their own stadium against the German team.
Other fans, meanwhile, protested ahead of the game in front of the Camp Nou. Around 100 supporters gathered to chant against President Joan Laporta and demand his resignation.