Xavi 'uneasy' after Barcelona's narrow Copa del Rey win over Intercity

Xavi admitted that he was 'uneasy' following Barcelona's narrow Copa del Rey win over third-tier outfit Intercity on Wednesday evening.

La Blaugrana managed to beat Intercity 4-3 but needed extra time to do so after Oriol Soldevila Puig scored a wonderful second half hat-trick. Xavi's team would eventually win out thanks to a 103rd-minute winner from the young Ansu Fati.

Speaking to the press after the game, Xavi admitted that his side's lack of 'forcefulness' in the final third was cause for concern.

"We suffered too much," he explained. "We had many chances to win before extra time, but we didn't. We can't leave happy. We lack forcefulness both in attack and in defence to end the games. This lack of forcefulness makes me uneasy. Especially in attack. In defence it can happen, but not in attack.

"I'm leaving satisfied with the game, but not with the forcefulness in the areas. We're lacking."

The boss did, however, hit back at claims his side had nearly been 'ridiculed' by Intercity.

"I don't think we've bordered on ridicule," he insisted. "Seven top-flight teams have been knocked out, have seven top-flight teams made fools of themselves? It's hard to win. I don't think that question is a football one.

"We did not kill the game off when we were in front. We could have made it 2-0, 4-2, but we made things difficult for ourselves.

“It’s the same feeling we had after the Espanyol game. That was a warning and this is another one.”

Barcelona will be hoping to impress much more when they face off Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday evening. Barca are currently locked level on points at the top of the La Liga table with Real Madrid, while Atleti sit 11 points behind in fourth position.