Xavi: Arsenal played with too much intensity, that’s not normal in a friendly, they played like the Champions League. We had a virus, it was difficult for us

Thursday night offered two clashes between La Liga and the Premier League. While Real Madrid defeated Manchester United 2: 0, Barcelona fell to Arsenal 3: 5 in a shootout.

Los Angeles is the capital of European football at the moment. It is currently home to Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal, Manchester United, AC Milan and Juventus.

Barcelona had to cancel their first friendly against Juventus because of a virus that has ravaged most of the A-team players. However, the Blaugranas were already in the second match against Arsenal.

But after big mistakes in defence, they lost 3:5. Arsenal played very agile, fast, direct. At the same time, the Gunners didn’t concede a single goal. But maybe it was too much for Xavi’s taste.

“It was a good game as a show for the spectators, not so much for the coaches. I said to Arteta that it looked like a Champions League game because the intensity they played at was not normal in a friendly. But I understand that everyone wants to win. It was difficult for us, we had a virus…,” Xavi said at the press conference.

“Our intensity didn’t surprise me, theirs did. It’s not normal to play with such intensity and to make so many mistakes. We all want to compete, but this is a friendly. They played with a different rhythm. But we saw positive things, apart from the result I am happy,” the Barcelona coach added.

After an intense Premier League campaign, the Catalans will step into familiar surroundings as they challenge Real Madrid in El Clásico on Saturday. On the first of August, they will then face AC Milan, and after returning to Spain, Barcelona will face Tottenham at home.

Good news for the club is that the management has managed to secure a sponsorship from Qatar in the amount of 100 million euros, which will allow the club to register new signings such as Ilkay Gündogan and Oriol Romeo.

Source: MARCA