Barcelona manager Xavi was “angry and upset” after his team scored an equalizer late in Granada on Saturday.
The Blaugrana were on the verge of a crucial victory that could have seen them jump to third place in the LaLiga table, only Antonio Puertas’ goal in the 89th minute to cancel Luuk de Jong’s first goal.
Speaking after the game, Xavi was tired of dropping two points and having to play in the last 10 minutes lying on the ground following Gavi’s second yellow card.
“We can’t go happy. We are angry and upset,” he told reporters. “We are also inexperienced, obviously.
“I’m not talking about the referee, I’m talking about the result of our dismissal. We have a little control, we have to go back [to protect ourselves] and it costs us because we are not used to it.
“Experience and craftsmanship are gained through games. [Gavi] is a player who gives us a lot.”
Xavi emphasized that his team must look after itself after the draw, adding: “We have lost a lot of balls. We have to blame ourselves.
“You have to do a lot of things: go up, create opportunities. If we want to grow we have to do a lot of things and grow from now on.
“[The result] is not the merit of [Granada], our merit.”
De Jong’s head was just before the second hour in two LaLiga matches, which he won at Real Mallorca last week, and Xavi suggested the Dutchman still had a role to play despite strong rumors that he would be out of action. His loan from Sevilla has been cut to reduce payroll debt.
“I’ve told you that you are part of the team just like everyone else,” he added. “When it comes to offers and we have to balance the salary, that’s the situation. But Luuk is an expert and has helped us a lot. I’m very happy for him.”
