Barcelona coach Xavi left frustrated by Granada draw

Barcelona boss Xavi was “angry and upset” after his side conceded a late equaliser at Granada on Saturday.

The Blaugrana were on the verge of a crucial victory that would have seen them leap up to third in the LaLiga table, only for an 89th minute Antonio Puertas goal to cancel out Luuk de Jong’s opener.

Speaking after the game, Xavi was frustrated with dropping two points as well as having to play the final 10 minutes a man down following Gavi’s dismissal for a second yellow card.

“We cannot leave happy. We are angry and upset,” he told reporters. “We also lack experience, it’s clear.

“I’m not talking about the referees, I’m talking about the consequence of the expulsion. We are with one less, we have to go back [be defensive] and it costs us because we are not used to it.

“Experience and craft are gained with matches. [Gavi] is a player who gives us a lot.”

1 – At 17 years and 156 days, Gavi  has become the second youngest player to be sent off in @LaLigaEN in the 21st century, after Marc Muniesa  against Osasuna in May 2009 (17 and 57), both with Barcelona. Vigour. pic.twitter.com/hE83gUimyO

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 8, 2022

Xavi insisted that his team had to look at themselves following the draw, adding: “We lost very silly balls. We must be self-critical.

“You have to do more things: get higher, create opportunities. If we want to grow we have to do more things and grow from now.

“[The result] is not the merit of [Granada], it is our demerit.”

De Jong’s header just before the hour was his second in two LaLiga games, having scored the winner at Real Mallorca last week, and Xavi suggested that the Dutchman might still have a role to play despite strong rumours that he had been on the verge of having his loan from Sevilla cut short to lessen the wage bill.

“I have already told you that he is part of the squad, like everyone else,” he added. “If offers come and we have to square the salary cap, it is the situation that exists. But Luuk is a professional and he has helped us a lot. I am happy for him.”