Xavi Hernandez admitted it would be hard to sleep after Real Madrid outclassed his Barcelona side in a 4-0 Copa del Rey at Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Los Blancos reached the final 4-1 on aggregate, knocking out the 31-time record Spanish cup winners after Vinicius Junior opened the scoring and Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick in the second half of the second leg.
Xavi had led Barcelona to victory over Madrid in the last three Clasicos, but Madrid stunned their rivals to set up a final against Osasuna on May 6.
“We’re hurt today, yes. It will be hard to sleep, more so as the big Barca fan that I am,” Xavi told reporters.
“I told the players (this could happen), we had chances but went in at 1-0. It’s a shame because we competed well in the first half and that was our moment.
“In the second Madrid were better, sincerely, they were better physically, they pressed us high. There are no excuses.”
Despite the painful defeat, Barcelona should still be able to clinch the Spanish title, holding a 12 point advantage on Real Madrid in second.
Barcelona also beat their rivals in the Spanish Super Cup final in January.
“If we win La Liga and the Super Cup it’s a good season,” added Xavi.
“There are 11 finals left, and we have to keep competing.”
Author
World Cup News
-
Football
/ 1 month agoSpain Prime Minister says football boss apology over kiss ‘insufficient’
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday blasted as “insufficient” the apology given by...
By AFP -
Football
/ 1 month agoSpain World Cup hero Carmona pays tribute to father who died before final
Spain’s Women’s World Cup hero Olga Carmona paid tribute to her father on Monday...
-
Football
/ 1 month agoWatch: Spain’s Hermoso defends Rubiales kiss at Women’s World Cup
Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso defended Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales after he came...
By AFP -
Football
/ 1 month agoWorld Cup showcases progress but also challenges for women’s football
Sunday’s World Cup final between England and Spain is the final act of a...
By AFP