Barcelona were held to a goalless draw by Getafe in the weekend, and Xavi Hernandez took many by surprise in his post-match press conference. Among the reasons thatexplained the tie, the coach mentioned the sun.
“The match schedule? We’re used to playing without the sun, to playing at night,” Xavi said. “But we have to get used to it, next Sunday we will play again at this time, I don’t want it to sound like an excuse but we have to adapt.”
Only a day later, Carlo Ancelotti was asked about Xavi’s comments in his pre-game conference ahead of the Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Chelsea. Here’s what he had to say.
Ancelotti says the sun is not an excuse
“For us, the most important thing is to play football,” Ancelotti said. “I honestly believe that there are teams that are more used to playing in the afternoon than at night, but there’s a calendar that demands you to play at different times. You always have to be prepared”.
While it wasn’t exactly a jab at the Barcelona coach, Carletto did make it clear he would never complain about the sun. And he has a point, professional teams have to adapt to play at different times of the day.
Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Managing Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of multiple sports, including NFL and soccer, with a specialty in original content and real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news, Martin has consistently been a valuable asset to the Bolavip team, especially during crucial sports seasons involving trades, playoffs, and finals. Now, as the Managing Editor since May 2025, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis with interviews and exclusive content.
