Former Barcelona player and current Blaugrana manager Xavi still holds bitterness towards the refereeing decisions made in their Champions League group stage match against Inter Milan on October 4.
After Barcelona’s victory against Viktoria Plzen yesterday, which concluded their Champions League campaign this season, their manager Xavi spoke to Spanish broadcaster Movistar Plus via FCInterNews.
“This group has been a negative result for us. We had qualification in our hands, but we lost it through errors and refereeing decisions,” said Xavi.
The former Barcelona player maintains that the potential handball during the Champions League group stage had an effect on his team failing to qualify for the Round of 16.
“We have learn how to take advantage of our opportunities when they present themselves. Bayern Munich and Inter did it and we did not,” continued the Barcelona manager.
“We had the opportunities in Milano and during the return leg against Inter where we left with a draw after controlling the game.
“We had the misfortune of having a difficult group and we were not up to the task,” concluded Xavi.
Inter and Barcelona faced off twice in this season’s Champions League with the Nerazzurri getting the better of the Blaugrana in the first match at the San Siro on October 4 with the only goal coming from Inter’s Turkish international midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.
The two sides played again a week later to a 3-3 draw with Inter’s goals coming from Italian midfielder Nicolo Barella and Argentinean striker Lautaro Martinez.
