Barcelona defender Jordi Alba has launched a stinging attack on the 'circus' that accompanies playing for the Spanish giants and claimed he gets 'killed' by critics for any underwhelming display.
It has been a season of upheaval at Barcelona with the club adjusting to life without Lionel Messi. Manager Ronald Koeman was sacked in October and club legend Xavi replaced him.
Barcelona are battling to make next season's Champions League and after Sunday's late 1-0 win at Alaves, are a point outside the top four.
Alba, 32, used that win to hit out at his critics, who he feels never acknowledge when he plays well.
'I have felt singled out for many years, it is not the first time it has happened to me,' Alba told Movistar+. 'I accept the criticism that there is in this circus. Criticism will always be there, I have assumed it.
'If I play a good game they won't talk about me, if I don't play well like the other day, I admit it, they will kill me. I have accepted it.
'I don't care because I have respect from my team-mates and from all the coaching staff I've had.
'It seems that there are only veterans in Barcelona. There has been talk of veterans for four or five years, and I was 28, damn it. But I've always accepted it.'
Alba's words were put to manager Xavi, who stood up for the left-back, who has been at the club since joining from Valencia in 2018.
'Alba was criticised and he played a great game today,' he said.
'Just like Busi (Sergio Busquets), (Gerard) Pique and Frenkie (De Jong). At Barca, the shirt weighs 20 kilos more than at another club.'
Barcelona have a blockbuster showdown with Atletico Madrid next weekend - the team who currently occupy fourth place and are a point ahead of Xavi's men.
BillyDedon
18
The main reason why Barcelona have been bottling games in the past 6 years.