Girona are top of La Liga as the winter break rapidly approaches, having also taken advantage of Real Madrid dropping points against Real Betis a day earlier. Meanwhile, Barca have dropped to fourth, behind Atletico Madrid, and are seven points off the pace.

“We haven’t played a good game. We haven’t been forceful,” Deco summarised to DAZN.

“I think we started well. [Girona] started winning. We tied. We were not strong enough to win the game. They were forceful, they knew what they were coming for and they have quality.

“We have tried but we couldn’t.”

Although Xavi certainly agreed that Barcelona’s performance wasn’t “forceful” enough, he appeared to take a less negative tone in his assessment.

“It is not a bad game for Barca,” the coach suggested.

“Last year we also suffered a blow, but we won two titles. This is a Barca under construction. Construction has this. You take one step back to take two steps forward.

“We deserved more, but that’s football. When you’re not so forceful in defence you receive a very hard blow. Girona has a great team. We haven’t played bad football. That lack of forcefulness, it costs us a heavy defeat that is difficult to digest but we have to get up.”