The ESPN FC panel of Shaka Hislop, Craig Burley and Luis Garcia react to Barcelona’s 3-2 win over Almeria in their LALIGA matchup.
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Barcelona 3 Al Maria two uh after the match in Gemma caught up with ch hola chabby um your team were desperate for a win you managed to to get so but maybe not in the best way against the the bottom team yes not in the fully agree because in the first
Half we didn’t play well we didn’t have intensity Rhythm he not the the Bara that I I want so second half was totally different with intensity with rhythm with aggressivity with second ball we won many ds so second half yes second half is the the phase that we that we
Want to to show to everybody so happy for the second half not for the first half uh this thing that you mentioned that the team in the second halfes lately is much better it’s happening uh do you have an explanation to to that that the team changes or is not able to
To play concent fully concentrated in the first half well I think because of the last results know we we played for too much tension with too much tension I think it uh it affected to to us too much I think so the second half was the
The way that we that we play that we show to uh to the opponent U yes I like the team very much in the second half so this is the way it’s a very big important Victory and we need to keep away there were whistles especially in
In the first half are you worried about this here in your Stadium no it’s normal it’s the the supporters but uh in my opinion the second half is the the supporters that we need everybody uh show respect for R Romeo for inaki for S Roberto for everybody and when we show
Our best face so supporters are with us it’s nice I guess that the way that the guy from laasia who fought the the most managed to get that that Victory eventually Sergio Roberto yes he’s an example he’s an example very happy for him because he’s the captain uh he
Always uh helped the team a lot playing not playing but today make the difference for the team I’m really happy for him just one last question now uh I guess a difficult trip to to Dallas and just before Christmas is what you have to do with the with the situation I
Guess it’s not the best for you for Preparation and and how do you you think about the next year well I think uh everybody’s uh ready to to travel to Dallas to play against America everybody will have some some minutes we need to rest some players but uh yes it’s uh uh
We will try to to show the best fa the best face for the for the team and for the supporters there in Dallas and for the next year I expect the titles tropies uh like the last year like this year 23 I expect I expect in 24 that we won we will win
Titles so that narrow victory for Barcelona moves them up to third in the table three clear of Atletico Madrid for one this Luis Garcia is here pluming NE Luis yes guys um not what we expected we were expecting a good Barcelona uh a Barcelona with determination to win it
To win a big to leave this first part of the season and go and regroup and get back with maybe another Dynamic but definitely no no what we saw during the first 45 minutes a bit better in the second half but I think not because of Barcelona it’s because Al Maria put
Everything on the first 45 and he was he run out of steam in the last part so that it was my more creative they created more chances but the endro is kind of the same that we’ve seen so far for for those the first part of the season a very very playing Barcelona
Frustrated at moments very vulnerable very shaky at the back giving opportunities to Al Maria until the last minute where we saw nyaki pñ saving that ball on the line but well H three points I think that Chavi must be Rel to to get those Z points and then go back regroup
Take the chat with the with the lads and let’s see if they can manage to to change this dynamic because definitely they need to change so many things they need to improve so many things and I’m not sure if in this period of two weeks
It’s going to be enough to to see a different face of Barcelona there’s nothing I’ve seen for the bulk of this season that suggests there’s any run coming of any note Al Maria we talked about them I mean play them they are scrapping and fighting they’ve got five draws this
Season they’ve not won a game they’re away from home they’re bottom of the league they will be relegated and two set pieces out is is what did them yes yeah they’ve not been yeah look B cre some chances they’ve not been taken to the cleaners there is way
More questions about this Barcelona team than there are answers way more and I hasten to add it might not just be about losing the title for chavy but how he loses it m and that could be his downfall if they don’t improve drastically in all areas it’ll be I think curtain for him
Because that’s how poor it’s been the the way they were celebrating the the the winning goal looked if you just flicked it on you’d have said they’re playing a team in the top four they’re playing a rival the way they celebrated not for one second before this game did I think this
Was even going to be a contest it should not have been a contest maybe maybe Al Maria away maybe maybe I’ll give you a slight it should have been a contest away from home but not at home and it was that’s how that’s how poor they are at the moment and Sergio Roberto
Shouldn’t have even been playing Lise yeah it’s true that the needs of this team in in the middle of the park made s Roberto the captain one of the most experienced players to to to show and I I think that he done a fantastic job not been I think the last time they
Was in B was on the eth of of of October I think it was so it’s been quite a long time and today 90 minutes he will look sharp he’s a player who knows exactly what he’s doing when he’s in the middle of the park that runs the understanding
The the tempo on the game it was fantastic the first 45 we saw him just raising the hand telling the guys come on let’s do this but um definitely was something different that we’ve seen from from the captain of Barcelona and those two goals they could have been three I
Think the help the team to put this first half of the season on on the side and hopefully again a lot of things to be work but you know guys that the Dynamics moments can change it just for one game or maybe a week that you can
Get a break and the team just get that confidence so let’s see if this Barcelona can put together something different because they’re going to need it for the rest of the season La Liga season of course will certainly the calendar year concludes over the next couple of days some big games you
Jona away against Real Bettis in Seville and that’s followed by alavez against Real Madrid those matches all live on ESPN Plus
40 Comments
Visca xavi visca barca !!!!!!!!!❤
So much criticism from a team whose won the league last season and are still 3rd in the league now.
It’s not like they’re United or Chelsea FFS.
I know its Espn, but i find it funny when a Spanish interviewer obviously works for Espn interviews in English to Xavier 😂😂😂
This is the worst Barca side in 35 years.
Winning mentality and squad rotation is important
why is dan talking from the toilet?
Koeman told Barca that they couldn't play the old way and needed to place more emphasis on physicality, pace, intensity and so forth, than they were. He wanted to bring about those changes. Laporta, and by extension the fans, and then Xavi, were determined to play the old way and thus everyone who comes here doesn't look the same because they can't play the old way anymore. Even worse, they mortgaged the future to do it, by spending over 250m Euros in Xavi's first two transfer windows, instead of just accepting a full rebuild and taking the pressure off for the younger talent to grow at a more ideal pace. Just take your financial lumps upfront. They didn't, and now the bill is due all around. It's only a matter of time before Laporta knifes Xavi the same way he did Koeman. It's already starting.
Godbless💙❤
Xavi left we could still play good football then Iniesta pique alba above all Messi but I think the last guy responsible for the total collapse of this team is Busi I now see why even at a decline Xavi wanted him for this season
sometimes lewa need to sit on the bench, to see the barca system, that way, he see his mistakes. if u see raphinha, he try his limit because on the bench, there is yamal who can take over his position. xavi need to put guiu, and if guiu perform, this will make lewa more motivated.
I watch Barcelona match they want to play all attacking football and leave their back wide open but don't have players and engine to do that
Same again not able to complete chances and silly mistake at defance
Lewa decline is hurting in attack. I have no idea why defance making silly mistakes
Xavi must go please guys he doesn't know how to do substitution honestly why always take Raphina out even is performing well.raphina can play number 10 very well beside on the left winger is playing.let give Marquez the chance to coach Barca.
Is this how they talk about Man City who lost to the team at the bottom? Sure Barca is poor but I think there should be more to the analysis than just saying the same thing every time. Like how they in substance only play with 2 defenders because Balde and Cancelo can’t defend and 2 there’s no defensive midfielder, not once have you brought up a point like this and this is one of the things they need to sort out.
I see a bit of Frank Lampard in Xavi nowadays 🤔🤔
City who have bought all top players without Rodri could not win a single game…Barca during the last 2 years could not buy plus they played most of the first round with injuries to Araujo, De Jong, Raphinha, Pedri, Gavi Lewandowski and the last 3 games without even Ter Stegen! Stop blaming Xavi and look at the big picture
We need Ter Stegen back
Gave the 400th Like
Barcelona can't simply stamp their authority on games.
We have been performing poorly especially at the back. We are also missing a lot of chances in front. We must change things in January.
A wins a win fellas 🔵🔴
Christmas break can't come earlier for Barca 😅, Pedri won't be ready for the Supercup tournament.
as a ManU & Madrid fan I hope Xavi brings back the tikitaka to Barca
Barca are suffering and struggling and they deserve to celebrate. Pointing out that they are celebrating against lowly Almeria is laughable. It clearly means a lot to this team and not to your panel over there. 👎
That was close for the nth time
Our finishing is the number one problem. I've never seen a team try so hard to miss the goal. We've created the most chances and XG and are still the only team towards the top of the table that is underperforming XG.
Is there a good explanation for why VAR doesn’t intervene on out of bounds calls that are clearly wrong? Especially when it leads to a goal…
Sad to say Xavi isn't improving the team
Every player knows there are down time. And when you break that curse, you celebrate! We would rise again …. the players need to get their mind right
Possession squad rotation and creating opportunities should be the thing for Barcelona
This team reminds me of the 19/20 season
They won the league (18/19) then they became out of form afterwards.
Uyu chikala akalichita explain lyonse ?😢😢😢 What a dummy and a joke of a manager he is
It’s just embarrassing how we supposedly have a better squad this season but playing poor. If we don’t win against Napoli in CL then Xavi should get the boot. It’s ridiculous how we bought Lewa and he never performs in the big games let alone matches like these. Gundo isn’t no help should have never gotten him but since he was free it seemed like a steal. Pedri injury prone for playing him too early and Gavi out for the season. It’s just a mess right now. Don’t see it getting any better anytime soon. Just gotta take the dubs and hope we can win as many CL matches as possible.
Xavi is nothing but the Spanish Lampard and Gerrard, stealing a living based on his name
Xavi should be sacked..cuz he thinks that the team did good in the second half.. ..if a coaches mentality is like that .than the team could not progress any more..he even celebrated like crazy after winning against Almeria..the worst team in la liga this season..with only 5 points
I love xav,i however, we need to fire him
At this point in the La Liga season, there is a big gap in performance between the top 2 and 3-6. While any of the teams in 3rd-6th COULD jump into the top 2, any of them could far more easily end up 5th or 6th.
That's the story with Barça, not "will they defend their title"
This xavi guy should go we are playing with no style and no formation, we are not improving
I never imagined ATM having a better goal difference than Barça. This Barça team don’t deserve any trophies.
FC Barcelona ❤❤❤