Xavi on Barcelona's La Liga title celebrations amid pitch invasions - 'We had to go inside'
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Published 15/05/2023 at 08:04 GMT
Xavi won his second honour as Barcelona manager after the club beat Espanyol 4-2 in the Catalan derby on Sunday. After the win was confirmed, the Barcelona players briefly celebrated on the pitch, which angered a group of Espanyol fans, something that Xavi said was unintentional. The fans invaded the pitch and forced the away team to quickly race towards their dressing room.
'The players had to celebrate inside' - Xavi on Barca title joy being halted by rival fans
Xavi claims that Barcelona celebrated their first La Liga title since 2019 inside the dressing room because they "didn't want to bother anyone" after Espanyol fans invaded the pitch in their 4-2 victory.
Barcelona clinched La Liga after beating rivals Espanyol in the Catalan derby on Sunday, marking their 27th league title.
The players briefly celebrated in the middle of the pitch, which upset a few Espanyol fans. The supporters invaded the pitch, forcing the away team to quickly retreat towards their dressing room.
"I didn't see it, sorry. I was inside the dressing room. I thought it was the time to go inside, so I went inside before," Xavi told reporters after the game.
"We had to go inside because it was not our stadium, and we need to celebrate as a family. Players are emotional. We didn't want to bother anyone. We were celebrating a very important league for us.
"I don't think we need to give importance to that [the Espanyol fans on the pitch]."
When further pressed on the actions of the pitch invasions, Xavi said: "Again, I didn't see it. I went into the dressing room. They told me some fans went on the pitch, but again, we don't have to talk more about this.
"It's a sensational title. It's an emotional win, and we celebrated because we won it, not because we were at Espanyol's stadium. We celebrated the work that started in July, and we've suffered to win this league. I don't think we need to talk more about this."
The title is Xavi's second at the club as manager, after winning the Supercopa de Espana earlier in the year.
The club, who clinched the title with four games to spare, have won 27 of their 34 league matches.
They've scored 64 goals, only bettered by Real Madrid's 70, but have especially impressed defensively throughout the season, only conceding 13 goals in the league this season.
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Clashes and field invasion at the end of the match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona, corresponding to the week 34 of the Liga Santander, played at the RCDE Stadium, in Barcelona, on 14th May 2023.
Image credit: Getty Images
For comparison, Carlo Ancelotti's men, who have battled for the title against Xavi's side all season, have conceded 32 goals.
When praised for making his mark on the league, Xavi said: "It's not Xavi's league. That doesn't make me feel good. It's Barca's league.
"A Barca that is growing and coming back. That is starting a new era. We need to keep growing. It was great work from the team, and the players are key in all of this. I am here to help them and guide them and to make sure they work as a group."
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