Barcelona boss Xavi can’t get over Inter’s win in Champions League

Xavi is still upset by Inter‘s win against Barcelona in the Champions League and continued to talk about the game with the Nerazzurri during a press conference today: ‘You have to think that referees are honest.’

The Catalans suffered a 1-0 defeat at the Stadio Meazza last month and were lucky to get away with a 3-3 draw at Camp Nou in the reverse fixture.

The Serie A giants have a three-point lead over Barcelona in the Champions League Group C, meaning that a win in the next home match against Viktoria Plzen would be enough to qualify for the Round of 16 with a game to spare.

Inter’s win at San Siro against Barcelona was controversial as the Catalans’ penalty appeal for a Denzel Dumfries handball was rejected in stoppage time.

“I complained a lot on the day of the Inter game, but it led nowhere,” Xavi said at a pre-match press conference today, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

“In the end, it is the referee’s job and you have to think that they are honest. I think that at the end of the season, there is a balance between incidents against and in favour. Let’s see if it balances now.”

Barcelona lost the Clasico against Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid, days after their draw against Inter in the Champions League. The La Liga giants could be eliminated from the group stage for the second season in a row.

“We played with our ideas against Inter and Real Madrid,” continued Xavi.

“Trying to be protagonists, going closer to the box to shoot, keeping the defensive line high. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. We have clear ideas and players feel at ease.”

Inter won three of the last five Serie A games and are currently out of the top four, eight points behind table leaders Napoli. However, they can qualify for the Champions League round of 16 for the second consecutive season.