Barcelona’s aspirations to secure their Spanish Super Cup title for another term were shattered in a crushing 4-1 defeat against arch-enemies Real Madrid.
The resounding loss left coach Xavi Hernandez profoundly disheartened.
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, with a hat trick, posed a substantial threat that exposed Barcelona's defensive vulnerabilities throughout the match.
In a post-match press conference, Xavi conveyed his disappointment, stating, “We had a lot of hope, and we ended up with the worst result of all.”
“We started very badly. Real Madrid did a lot of damage to us on the counter-attack.” He also extended an apology to the fans for his team’s struggles in contending for the title.
Despite the setback, Xavi maintains optimism that Barcelona will bounce back. “I have experienced many defeats in my career, and in the end, we always recovered. Barca will return.”
Meanwhile, the defeat seems to underscore the evident gap between Barcelona and Real Madrid this season, with the Catalans currently trailing their rivals by seven points in La Liga.