FCBARCELONA.CAT

20.10.2007 23:18

Xavi: "Everything happened to us in reverse"

Anna Segura

The Barça players agreed that Villarreal had been good value for their win as they expresssed their opinions after the 3-1 defeat in El Madrigal. Bojan scored for the visitors, but Senna netted twice after Cazorla had put the hosts ahead early on.

Krkic's goal made him the youngest player in the history of Barça to score in the league, but it was not enough to help the team to victory.

Bojan Krkic:

"I am pleased with the goal, but I have a bad taste in the mouth as we were unable to take all three points."

"Messi is a great player and I have a great understanding with him. I will keep the shirt I wore today as a souvenir."

Xavi Hernández:

In the end we lacked freshness, but the match was determined by the first goal. Villarreal played well on the counter-attack. It is a day when everything that normally happens to us was in reverse."

"We said in the dressing room that we know we have to keep our chins up. It is the first defeat of the season at a difficult stadium and in a week when many of us had international commitments."

"This ground has not been good to us. We started the game badly. They played on the counter against us and it was very difficult to find space. We have to congratulate them because they played a great game."

"It is true that Villarreal are a direct rival, but there is still a long way to go in the league and until now we have been playing well."

Deco:

"It hurt a little at the beginning of the game, but at the break I had a massage and it improved. I did not think that I was injured."

Eidur Gudjohnsen:

"It is never good to go on because a team-mate has been injured, but I am pleased to have played my first minutes of the season. It would have been better if we had won though."

"Villarreal is a strong team with a lot of quality. We have played well after going 2-0 behind, but they scored the third and it was very difficult for us after that."

"I felt fine, but I am still lacking minutes."

"Midfield is my best position. I am comfortable there and played there for the last two years at Chelsea and it is not a problem for me. I am prepared to play there."