Getafe goalkeeper hits out at Xavi: “Last year, it was grass and sun, now the referee”

Speaking in an interview with COPE (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Getafe goalkeeper David Soria has taken aim at Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez after the latter’s comments over poor refereeing during their game on Sunday.

Barcelona played Getafe away at Coliseum Alfonso Perez in their first game of the 2023/24 campaign, with the match ending in a goalless draw.

After the game, Barça players and manager Xavi expressed their displeasure over how referee Cesar Soto Grado had handled things on the night.

“The match was violent because the referee allowed them to foul us. For us they call everything, but they allow them to do anything they want. We’re selling La Liga as a product but this is what we have,” Xavi said.

“The referee sent me off for telling him that there were too many fouls. They allow them to foul way too much. This is a complete shame,” he added.

However, his comments have not gone well with Getafe goalkeeper Soria, who has hit back at Xavi, claiming that he and Barça are always looking for excuses.

“Last year, it was the grass and the sun, now the referee. They always have an excuse. We can’t allow them to come to our stadium and let them play calmly. We can’t play like them, but we have other qualities,” Soria said.

Replying to the accusations of time-wasting, the Getafe star added: “Araujo lay on the ground for five minutes to have a play reviewed by the VAR, but nobody talks about that.”

The game on Sunday was hardly a great advertisement for La Liga and was not how Barça would have imagined kickstarting the defence of their title.

With Cadiz at home up next, Xavi & co. will be eager to get their first win of the season.