Robert Lewandowski (C) and teammates react at the end of the match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on September 23, 2023. (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)
Xavi Hernandez praises Barcelona mentality in comeback win
Joao Cancelo celebrates with Alejandro Balde , Joao Felix and Robert Lewandowski during the match between FC Barcelona v Celta de Vigo at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by David S.Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Three goals in the span of around 10 minutes propelled Barcelona to a 3-2 comeback win over Celta Vigo on Saturday.
A win that manager Xavi Hernandez believes the Catalan side would not have gotten in seasons past.
“It was a spectacular comeback, Xavi said after the match. “We really believed until the end. We played with faith and courage. It was a comeback born from the will to win. When you don’t play well, you need these qualities.
“We were taking more and more risks, leaving two at the back, everyone else on the pitch was an attacking player. We had to take risks and it came off. This shows the generational change we see in society. The players don’t give up, 2-0 down, at home, but this generation fights until the end.”
Xavi went on to single out the likes of Gavi, Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde. All three came on as substitutes with Gavi replacing Frenkie de Jong in the first half and the rest at second half. Gavi delivered the cross on Joao Cancelo’s winner.
While the young players have certainly added a different mentality, some of the veterans also deserve their share of praise.
Robert Lewandowski netted a brace, giving him five goals on the season, and despite some questions regarding his current form, he more often than not has come through during his brief time at Barcelona.
Then there’s Cancelo.
The right-back, on loan from Manchester City, had a poor game by his own admission but appeared when needed most. He had the assist in the equalizer before scoring the winner.
The other Joao, Joao Felix, had a similar game to his countryman but he contributed the assist in Lewandowski’s opener.
Having players who may struggle in matches but then deliver a moment of brilliance is something Barcelona have not had since Lionel Messi. That Barcelona have two in the form of two loanees speaks to the job done by the board during the transfer window.
While the comeback is good and all, both the players and the manager know they need to play better so they do not have to rely on late game heroics to salvage a win.
At the same time, not every performance will be like the ones we saw against Real Betis and Royal Antwerp. Some games are going to be a struggle like it was versus Celta Vigo. But it’s the type of wins teams can look back on and point as a season changer or season definer.
