Xavi: 'Time to dream'

Barça are going into the international break on the back of a fabulous performance to win 3-0 at Atlético Madrid's Civitas Metropolitano. Speaking afterwards, coach Xavi Hernández said "it was the ideal game for our methodology and philosophy. Our positional game came off perfectly, and the defence made sure they never really created very much. It was one of the best performances of the season, if not the best."

"This is the time to dream. We are in our best form of the season. This is our Barça DNA at its best. Unfortunately, it hasn't come off in every game, but some work out brilliant like this one, and when it clicks, it's all very enjoyable."

On Lewandowski, who scored one and assisted the other two, the coach commented that "this may well have been his best game since he came to Barça, he was excellent."

As for getting sent off, he said "that matters for little, what matters is the team. The fourth official said it was because of my gestures. Let's see what it says in the official report. I gesticulate a lot, because I want my team to win. I think it was rather unnecessary and unfair, but I just have to accept it."

Fermín scored, Héctor Fort and Cubarsí started, and Marc Casadó made his Liga debut. "La Masia has always been part of our DNA. Big teams like Barça have always been nourished by home-grown talent. And they're ready to play, that's why they are getting used."

On João Félix, he offered that "he played a very good game, especially off the ball, he helped a lot. He was especially motivated, this was a game for him and that's why we played him. He made a difference and so I'm very happy with him."

All in all, it was perfect day in Madrid, but as Xavi concluded "we're Barça, and nobody can ever relax here. I'll be pushing them more than ever, and as I'm leaving at the end of the season, I'll push them all the more."