FC Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has revealed that, despite being annoyed with their loss to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, he is proud of his team.
The Catalan giants suffered their first defeat of the 2022/23 season when they were beaten 2-0 by the Bundesliga champions in their Group C tie.
Second-half strikes from Lucas Hernandez and Leroy Sane secured the victory for the Bavarians and punish a wasteful Barca team that had missed a host of chances in the match.
Read: Bayern end Barca's unbeaten record
This result extended the German club's impressive record against the Spanish side, whose last win over Bayern came in the 2014/15 season.
Xavi, who played during the LaLiga team's last victory over Die Roten seven years ago, has since insisted his team were better on the night despite his annoyance at the result.
"We were better than Bayern in many aspects," the Spaniard said after the match, per Diario AS.
"We were better physically and we dominated the first half. We cannot let [teams] off, I am annoyed because it was a day to win.
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"The sensation is that it was very good, it was for winning, it is a lesson but it is hard, we did not score in spite of having seven very clear chances. You have to put them in.
"I am pissed off but proud. We were equal to them, we can say that we were better but this is about winning.
"The first [goal conceded] from the corner and the second from not stopping counter-attacks. You have to do it.
"They are a complete team, but we are at the start. We have to improve these aspects in the areas."
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