Xavi expressed disappointment with the condition of the Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium’s pitch after Barcelona’s goalless draw with Getafe in LaLiga on Sunday.
Despite dominating the game, Barcelona failed to score for the third consecutive match, resulting in a draw against the relegation-threatened Getafe.
Despite leading Real Madrid by 11 points with nine games remaining, Barcelona’s inability to finish their chances was a cause for concern. In the early stages of the match, Sergi Roberto sustained a hamstring injury, leading to his substitution with Eric Garcia, which Xavi attributed to the state of the playing surface.
Xavi said, “The state of the grass has affected us. Yesterday we trained with a dry field. I have been criticised a lot for the issue of the surface. Today the whole world has seen it.
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“It is very difficult to play like this, it is bad for the show. The ball gets stuck, it’s bad even for Getafe. It’s essential that it be in good condition.
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“It’s no excuse and we have to recover our sensations. We take a point that makes it not bad at all because of how uncomfortable we have been.”
Regarding the injury, Xavi said: “Sergi noticed something in the hamstring. Let’s see tomorrow. Let it be for a short time, whether or not there is an injury.”
The leaders face third-placed Atletico Madrid next Sunday and Xavi warned they must not let their standards slip.
“I think we’re having a good season in the league, but we mustn’t fall asleep. Very important games are coming up,” Xavi said.
“We tried to get the full-backs to go inside. We tried, we didn’t have the best game, it’s clear. We gave everything and we got a point that isn’t entirely bad, but we’re not satisfied.
“I hope that next week we can get two or three players back. It’s not an excuse, we have a good squad, I’m satisfied. From there, minimise injuries and get people back. We’ll plan for next season and see what happens.“