Xavi is critical of referee Mateu Lahoz after his performance during the derby between Barcelona and Espanyol (1-1) on New Year’s Eve. According to the trainer of the Catalan superpower, the arbitrator gradually lost control in the Spotify Camp Nou. However, Xavi refuses to attribute the loss of points on the last day of 2022 to the performance of the heavily criticized Lahoz.
“It is a referee who is normally in control during matches, but this time he completely lost control of the duel,” concludes Xavi after the heated city derby at the subsequent press conference. “I also told him that. He is usually dominant and always talks to players. The referee must always remain calm, but that was not the case today. He lost control when he started to deal more and more incomprehensible cards.” Barcelona received ten yellow cards and a red (for Jordi Alba), Espanyol received another eight yellow cards and a red (Vinicius Souza)
Here we go again! Lahoz gives Alba a second yellow card for talking and therefore red for the left back ?? #ZiggoSport #LaLiga #BARESP pic.twitter.com/ow57I1Yr0G
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) December 31, 2022
Lahoz ran to the sidelines in the closing stages to talk to the dissatisfied Xavi. “He would like to explain his decisions to me again and I am certainly open to that. I do not blame him, it is our own fault,” said the Barcelona coach, who advises the refereeing corps in Spain: “I have it It has been said before: the referee must come out to explain what he has seen and heard from players. That would also make the referees a lot more human.” Xavi also indicates that Jordi Alba, who was sent off for comments to the management, would not have said anything to Lahoz.
Xavi is disappointed by the loss of points at home, especially given the flashy start of Barcelona. “We played a brilliant first half hour. But we nevertheless drop two points and that is really our own fault. We should have made 2-0, but we started to play more and more slowly.” Due to the loss of points, Barcelona is tied with number two Real Madrid (38 points), which won 0-2 at Real Valladolid on Friday.