Xavi praises Ansu Fati for 'making the difference' following father's controversial interview

Barcelona head coach Xavi was full of praise for forward Ansu Fati following Saturday night’s 4-0 win over Elche in La Liga, extending the lead over Real Madrid to 15 points until at least Sunday afternoon.

Fati started the game – only his 10th in La Liga so far this season – and scored the second goal that effectively ended things as a contest early in the second half.

“Ferran [Torres] and Ansu made the difference. I’m very happy for them because they needed a bit of confidence. I’m very happy with Ferran and Ansu. They will score more goals for sure,” Xavi said.

“Ansu needed that goal. Forwards change their faces when they score, you can tell. He was very tired at the end, because he worked very hard for the team in defence. The goal is the result of his hard work and individual talent.”

Xavi’s praise comes less than a week after the player’s father, Bori Fati, expressed anger over his son’s lack of playing time this season.

“Good question, ask [Xavi],“ Bori Fati sniped on the Spanish radio station Cadena COPE when asked why Fati Jr. hasn’t often started. “I don’t have an answer for that either and he as a coach will have his reasons. Maybe he thinks he lacks things like defending and I understand that.”

Bori also appeared to offer thinly veiled threats that his son could move on.