Xavi calls for 'self-criticism and improvement'

Responding to the 0-0 draw at San Mamés, FC Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández described it as a "point won at a difficult ground... we fought to the end against a very strong opponent, and even more so with them playing at home."

But he was frustrated with the lack of danger created by his team, and matters have not been helped at all by injuries suffered to both Pedri and Frenkie de Jong.

"We found it very hard to get into the game" he explained. "We didn't seem to understand how important is was to win duels, to evade pressure. We didn't play a good game, we were never comfortable. We were okay for the first 15-20 minutes, but not for the rest of the game. We need to be self-critical and need to improve much more if we are to compete."

"This was a wasted opportunity and I feel disappointed. But there are always going to be games like these, games that are just ugly. The only positive thing is how good we were in defence."

"The two injuries in the first half certainly affected us. We are so unlucky. Those are two very important players for our game plan. I imagine we're going to miss them for several games. The team was trying but we generated very little. We didn't quite have out claws out and never really went for the game."

"But I wouldn't put it down to lack of ambition. Perhaps we need to believe more in what we're doing. We need more faith. Because that was a huge opportunity we had out there today. We gave everything. The team wore themselves to the ground with trying. But we managed to get very little out of it."