Barcelona boss Xavi denies Diego Simeone 'dig' after disagreement over playing style

Barcelona manager Xavi has denied making a 'dig' at Diego Simeone following his side's 4-2 triumph over Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Yannick Carrasco fired the Nou Camp visitors into an early lead before Barca hit back, scoring four goals in reply with their only four attempts on target in the game.

Jordi Alba, Gavi, Ronald Araujo and Dani Alves all found themselves on the scoresheet before Luis Suarez pulled one back against his old club and Alves saw red for a raking challenge.

Much of the build-up to the hotly-contested La Liga clash centred on the supposed mind-games between the two managers, however Xavi played down such talk after his side's victory.

Prior to the game, Simeone took aim at the Barca boss after taking offence over his previous comments regarding Atleti's style of play.

The Argentine declared: “Xavi once said that Atletico 's style was not for big teams. Now he has the opportunity to show the football he wants to.”

However, in the aftermath of the match, the Barca club icon was quick to explain that his initial remarks were misinterpreted and dismissed talk of making a 'dig' towards his managerial counterpart.

“(When I talk about Simeone) it's not a dig, we see football in different ways," Xavi clarified. "It's not a criticism.

“He's a great coach in the way he wants to play. And they are the reigning champions so this win has a lot of merit.

“He understands football in another way. There are a thousand different ways to play. They feel comfortable without the ball. When we don’t have it, I don't feel comfortable.”

Simeone is renowned for ensuring his Atletico side play a tenacious, dogged style of football which is based on defence organisation and aims to stifle opponents.

Having shipped four