Xavi: "You can win without playing completely well"

MADRID, 8 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The coach of FC Barcelona, ​​Xavi Hernández, valued the importance of the victory (0-1) this Sunday against Atlético de Madrid, beyond the suffering and the need to improve, on a "key" day for the leadership with the defeat of Real Madrid.

"The game plan was to dominate it, to have possession. We have lowered the intensity in high pressure and hence the changes we have made. When we recover we have to look up. It has been a difficult but complete game and a very important victory. A team victory," he said at a press conference.

The culé coach acknowledged that the message that the game leaves him is that you can win without playing well. "He leaves us a message that without playing completely well we can also win. We will not always play brilliantly, without doing well in the second half we have taken three points that give us morale and confidence, the lead, and everything is positive today" , he pointed.

Xavi had to highlight his defense, especially when asked by Ronald Araujo. "He is an extraordinary defender, just like the others, whoever plays. Ronald is a great leader, I told him if his adductor was fine, that's the most important thing, and he said yes. Without Lewandowski, without Alba, we had significant casualties and we had a very difficult game ahead. Atlético made us suffer especially in the second half", he pointed out.

"We have been very good in defense, we have to improve in the game, have more alternatives when they pressure us. Attitude is important, sacrifice, today we were doing a lot, after losing Madrid yesterday. We abused Ter Stegen's back pass , you have to play forwards," he added.