6:44 PM ET
Sam Marsden
Moises Llorens
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez was annoyed with his team’s lack of determination as their slim LaLiga title hopes were shattered on Monday with a 1-0 defeat to Cadiz at Camp Nou.
Lucas Perez scored the only goal of the game after 48 minutes to silence the home crowd and leave Barca 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid, who came from behind to win at Sevilla on Sunday, with just seven games left to play.
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Xavi said he was angry with the nature of the Cadiz loss and his players are “pissed off” following a second defeat at Camp Nou in the space of four days after being knocked out of the Europa League by Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.
“We are angry, the players first, because we missed a golden chance to separate ourselves from those in the fight for the Champions League places and also to [keep] fighting for LaLiga, which we’ve practically said goodbye to now,” Xavi conceded in a news conference.
“I am annoyed and we have to be self-critical, myself first, as the coach. We’re playing to be in the Champions League, that’s why I am so angry. There was a lack of desire and determination. It’s been a really bad week and we have to turn things around as soon as possible.
“The players are pissed off. I’ve tried to encourage them after the match, but we must compete better. We have to look at what we have done wrong in defence and attack. On Thursday we have another final against Real Sociedad.”
Monday’s defeat ended Barca’s run of seven straight wins in LaLiga and 15 unbeaten in the Spanish top flight. It was just their second loss in the league under Xavi, who has steered the team from ninth to second since replacing Ronald Koeman earlier this season.
“We’re not in a bad situation,” the coach added. “Things have improved since we took over in November, but we have to keep improving.
“We have to look ourselves in the eye and have more desire because we cannot lose at home to Cadiz….
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