Xavi counters criticism

“Joke of the Champions League – now what?”

Xavi Hernandez(Bild: APA/AFP/LLUIS GENE)

Barcelona advanced to the round of the top eight teams in the Champions League for the first time since the 2020/21 season on Tuesday. The five-time CL winners eliminated Italian champions SSC Napoli thanks to a 3:1 home win. Coach Xavi, who has already announced that he will leave the club at the end of the season, was harsh with his critics afterwards.

"We were unfairly criticized. There was too much pressure on the players. I even read that we were the joke of the Champions League. And now what? We can be proud because we are one of the eight best teams in Europe," Xavi raged. "When I announced my decision to leave early, I warned everyone that this team would take a big step forward. Now we can enjoy this moment."

Long trembling until the Lewandowski goal
After the 1-1 draw in the first leg, the Catalans had taken an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo. However, after Napoli's 30th-minute equalizer from Amir Rrahmani, Barca had to tremble for a long time before Robert Lewandowski made the difference in the 83rd minute. In the second round of 16, Arsenal FC beat Porto on penalties.

Who Barca and Arsenal will face in the quarter-finals will be decided in the draw on Friday (12 noon). In LaLiga, where they are currently third, eight points behind league leaders Real Madrid, the Xavi squad will continue with a top-of-the-table clash against Atlético Madrid on Sunday.