Xavi speaks following Barcelona 4-0 Betis: “Yamal is like Messi”

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez was elated following his team’s 4-0 victory over Real Betis on Saturday evening.

The coach was particularly impressed by Barcelona’s reaction, after succumbing to a defeat to Rayo Vallecano last time. “We needed to react after the last defeat,” he said in the post-match press conference.

“There’s nothing worse than how we played against Rayo. This was a complete match. We’re on the right path and this match shows it. In general, the reaction was good,” he added.

Xavi suggests Barcelona had started the game well, which played a crucial role in driving them to an easy victory. He also talked about Edgar Gonzalez, who was sent off within the first half after picking up two yellow cards.

“The second yellow card was clear. The team was playing well even before the red card,” he said.

Xavi also praised some of the individual stars in the game, including Lamine Yamal. The 15-year-old sensation raised many eyebrows with his exquisite cameo against Real Betis.

“I told Lamine Yamal to try things, and he did it. When you see him in training you realize that he can be an important player,” Xavi said. He even compared the youngster to Lionel Messi, adding, “Lamine Yamal is a similar player to Messi. He can mark an era at Barcelona.”

Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to ever debut for Barcelona, breaking the record of Vicenc Martinez Alama’s against Real Madrid in 1941.

Other than Yamal, the Barcelona coach welcomed both Andreas Christensen and Ousmane Dembele. “Christensen is an extraordinary signing. We missed him,” he said. “Dembélé felt good, with the match already sentenced.”

Following the result, Barcelona remain 11 points ahead of Real Madrid in the league table and with just six matches left to be played, the Catalans have a clear shot at securing the title.

Source: BarçaTV+