Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 10y

Xavi says Barcelona were far from their best in win over APOEL

Barcelona captain Xavi Hernandez said his team were far from their sparkling best in Wednesday's Champions League 1-0 Group F opener win over APOEL at the Camp Nou.

Barca went ahead midway through the first half when Gerard Pique headed in Lionel Messi's free kick, but an expected rush of goals did not materialise.

The Cypriot visitors even had chances to equalise late on -- and debutant goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter-Stegen was called into action to make a flying save in injury time to avoid embarrassment for the La Liga giants.

On his first start of the 2014-15 season, Xavi lasted 60 minutes in midfield, and helped his side dominate possession throughout, without making many clear chances to score in open play. He told Canal Plus after the final whistle that the game had not been the most entertaining, but Barca had begun their European campaign with a win and that was the main thing.

"We suffered," Xavi said. "We tried to move the ball around quickly and we did not manage that. We dominated, yes. We tried inside and outside and they closed up well. When the opponent sees that things are not coming together, they start to believe more. In the end the game was a bit dull, but we have won and that is the main thing. We have begun the group phase well, with three points, that is always good."

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique said he will stick with his policy of rotating his squad. Barca's starting side showed nine changes from last weekend's 2-0 La Liga win over Athletic Bilbao, with just attackers Messi and Munir El-Haddadi keeping their places.

Barca did not play with the rhythm or pace which the Camp Nou crowd expects on European nights against relative minnows such as the Cypriot champions. Nonetheless, the Blaugrana boss said in his post-game news conference that the decision to shake-up his side was in keeping with how he was going to manage his big squad through the season.

"Today I made nine changes in team, kept two," Enrique said. "I was being conservative for my way of managing squad. I made so many changes because I need all the group to achieve all our objectives. I will do it again. You [reporters] will need to get used to it. I have faith in all my players, all of them. Twenty-something players seems better to me than 12. I believe blindly in this way of managing the group."

One of the changes was in goal -- where Claudio Bravo was benched to give summer signing Ter-Stegen his first Barcelona start. The German had little to do for long periods, but did make one flying save late on when the visitors almost managed an unlikely equaliser.

Enrique said the decision did not mean he would play one keeper in the league and another in the cups, while saying that Ter Stegen, Bravo and also Jordi Masip were all under consideration for each game.

"Ter-Stegen had little work to do, but he was in place and dealt with their attacks," he said. "I have three good goalkeepers. It is not a position like an outfield player, but I will use whoever I think is best. I do not like to say one player for one tournament and another for the other. I want all the players to be ready to play."

With summer signing Ivan Rakitic now installed as Barca's primary midfield playmaker, Xavi looks set for a back-up role this season under new coach and his former teammate Enrique, but he denied that he was in any way frustrated with how the new campaign had started.

"I am happy," he said. "When I come in to play I will do so to try and be useful. When the coach needs me. I began [the season] with a knock, but now I feel good."

Enrique said Xavi remained a valuable member of the squad.

"Xavi is not injured, he has no problem," the coach said. "I talk with him a lot, we have a very good relationship. He will be a big help."

Another introduction was La Masia graduate Sergi Samper, 19, who played an impressive first senior game in midfield, completing 79 of 85 attempted passes while playing in the 'pivote' role usually filled by the rested Sergio Busquets.

"[Samper] got full marks," former Barca, Madrid and Spain midfielder Enrique said. "To make your debut is not easy, he has a lot of quality. I congratulate him deeply, he showed personality to debut in Champions carrying the team. He seems to me a great discovery for the club. He will help us on this journey."

Xavi said that Samper, and other youngsters, including attackers Munir and Sandro, getting their chance showed that Enrique was not afraid of giving youth a chance.

"These players who are coming in have a lot of talent and a coach who trusts in young players," he said. "Luis Enrique is honest and brave, and he does not look at the birth certificate before naming his team."

The new-look Barca may not have shined often so far this season, but they have won all four games, while conceding zero goals. Enrique said his players were still working on getting the tactical balance he wanted, but he was happy with the lack of chances being created by opposition teams.

"We must keep improving, but I am very happy," he said. "To attack a team who defends so deep is never easy. We did not move the ball as quickly as usual, but the players are not machines. I am delighted with the defensive work, and the effort put in by the players."

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