Xavi still seems to be in a state of disbelief that Barcelona will have to play in the UEFA Europa League—the second-division continental competition—after the team failed to advance from the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
The team exited the Champions League in the group stage for the first time in 21 years, and will be playing the second-tier competition for the first time since 2003-04.
Ahead of Barcelona’s match against Napoli in the round of 32—the first leg is being played at the Camp Nou—Xavi said that he was not happy listening to the Champions League anthem while other teams played earlier this week.
“Of course, we would like to be in the Champions League. It hurts that we're not there. Hearing the Champions League music on television [on Tuesday] made me angry,” he said at a press conference ahead of the game.
“The [Europa League] is an opportunity for us. Our main aim is to get back in the Champions League next season and there are two ways to do that: Finish in the top four in La Liga or win the Europa League.”
𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐂̧𝐀 ⚔ 𝐍𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈 pic.twitter.com/899rYAWiVF
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 17, 2022
He said that despite playing in a second-tier competition, the team is motivated to win a trophy the club has not won before.
When asked about Kylian Mbappe’s match-winning performance for PSG against Real Madrid, Xavi snapped back saying he did not want to discuss the Champions League.
“Don't talk to me about Mbappe,” he said. “He is a great player, as are Neymar and [Lionel] Messi and PSG and Madrid are great sides, but we're not in that competition.
“It makes me angry. I'm very competitive, a winner, and I'm angry to have been knocked out of the Champions League, but we have to fix that…. But don't ask me about Mbappe.”
Barcelona had finished third in Group E of the Champions League, losing out on round of 16 spots to Bayern Munich and Benfica. It is a competition that Xavi has won four times as a player, as opposed to just the three games he has played in Europa League history (it was previously called UEFA Cup).
Xavi also said that Barcelona were unlucky with the UEL draw as Napoli are a “Champions League-level side”.
“Napoli are one of the toughest teams in the competition and we have to play the second leg away from home next week. There are other teams, like Sevilla, in this competition with a lot of experience. We're candidates, but I would not say favourites,” he said.
It has been a rollercoaster ride for Xavi since taking over from the sacked Ronald Koeman in November. The team is showing signs of progress under the former Spanish midfielder, but there are deeper issues to be solved before the club legend can build a team in his own image.
The team made several crucial signings over the last two months, including that of Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adama Traore. The return of Brazilian full-back Dani Alves has also raised the morale in the dressing room.
But Xavi will have a depleted defence against the Italian side as Alves, Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti are all out injured. Ronald Araujo is also a doubt.
After the crucial win over Atletico Madrid 10 days ago, Barcelona were held by city-rivals Espanyol. The team is 15 points adrift of first-placed Real Madrid in La Liga, albeit with a game in hand.
Virtually out of the domestic title race and knocked out of the Copa del Rey, the Europa League is Xavi’s only chance to nab a trophy in his first season.
