Xavi hails 'excellent team performance'

Xavi Hernández was over the moon after his team beat Atlético Madrid in Sunday's crunch fixture. "The team was excellent" he told the press afterwards. 'Attitude' and 'personality' were two words he used over and over when describing the way his team had worked so hard for each other and for the win against a direct rival in the title race. 

“The players stepped up their game" he said. "I'd highlight the deeper pressure, the good circulation of the ball, a midfield where Gündoğan, Pedri and Frenkie understand each other to perfection, the tight defensive line, Raphinha and Lewandowski working so hard for the attack ... We could have put the game to bed much earlier, but I'm still very happy and satisfied. We are Barça, so what need to do is play like that all the time."

“João Félix worked very hard, he won back a lot of balls and was very well positioned. He looks happy and I'm very pleased with him ... And Iñaki Peña is such an example. He trains hard and that's why he performs the way he does. He gets ten out of ten for some extraordinary saves.”

"And the fans get ten out of ten too. Now we need to see them back here when we face Girona next Sunday."