Xavi: "We showed character; It is a good feeling in general"
Barcelona manager Xavi was pleased with his team's performance against Villarreal after they had won only one of their previous four matches.
Xavi
believes his team responded to their critics with their 3-0 LaLiga victory over
Villarreal, noting that they "had to react" following their inconsistent previous play.
Robert Lewandowskiscored twice in quick succession and Ansu Fati added a third goal for the Blaugrana at Camp Nou in a seven-minute run shortly after the half-hour mark.
Barça still chase league leaders
Real Madrid
by three points following their loss in
El Clasico
over the weekend, but their victory also stops a two-game losing streak and puts them back on top.
Having won just one of their previous four games prior to Thursday's victory, Xavi understood that his team needed to silence their detractors and was pleased that they achieved it in such an outstanding manner.
"We played a great game,"
he said
. "It was our turn [to win] - we had to react. It wasn't easy, because a lot was expected of us after poor results. There are many expectations placed upon us this season. But we showed our true face, we showed character. It is a good feeling in general."
Xavi said his substitutions were predetermined and not a result of the loss to Real Madrid, adding "
On Sunday, there will be changes again. We have fatigue among our players. We need intensity and we need rhythm. Players must be plugged in, for the minutes they play."
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