Barcelona suffered a third defeat in a row at Camp Nou in all competitions, crashing 1-0 in La Liga to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday night.
A goal in the seventh-minute by Alvaro Garcia put the Catalans on the back-foot but were unable to penetrate the well-drilled defence of the Andoni Iraola coached side.
Speaking to the media after the match, Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez credited Rayo for their solid all round performance on Sunday admitting his side weren’t good enough.
“The rival had a great defensive setup. The ball just didn’t wanna go in. This match was similar to the Cadiz one. We could not play in their half,” Xavi said.
“We don’t start matches with the correct mentality. In the first-half it wasn’t us. In the second we improved, we tried anyway and the ball didn’t want to come in. We deserved more.
“They take advantage of their chances. We don’t. We have to be more effective. The situation is difficult, we have complicated ourselves.”
The Barcelona players did have a penalty claim late in the game when Gavi was pushed to the ground inside the Rayo box but the referee waved play on.
Of the match officials decision, Xavi said: “Ask the referee about the penalty. I don’t speak on his behalf. I haven’t seen the action enough… The referee should come out and talk here.
“I don’t think referees make mistakes intentionally, I believe in their integrity,” he added.
Xavi admitted he failed to motivate his players enough which he should have done on the day.
“Today I made a mistake as a coach. I did not manage to motivate my players. I come out here and I recognize it. I can say what I have done wrong, not what others have done… it would be disrespectful, Xavi added.
“We are in a complicated period and we have to be very united. I understand the criticism, we are all to blame and the person most responsible, as a coach, is me.”
