Xavi wants to go to the “premier class” with Barça via Europa League: “It’s our reality now”

For the first time since 2004

The last time a coach from FC Barcelona gave a press conference on a Wednesday in the run-up to a European Cup game was around 18 years ago. Because on Wednesday it’s not about the “premier class”, but about the Europa League. “It’s not the Champions League, that’s clear, but it’s our reality now,” Barça Xavi said (quoted via L’Equipe).

Since the opponents in the knockout stage playoffs are SSC Napoli, it feels a bit like Champions League after all. In the first round of the round of 16, the most valuable team with 651 million euros meets the third most valuable squad in the Europa League with 507 million euros – in the “premier class” this squad value is only exceeded in four out of eight pairings.

Xavi says: “I’m very motivated and so are the players. (…) There are big teams like Sevilla, Villarreal, Naples … against Naples it will be a match at Champions League level.

In the Catalans’ last appearance to date in the Europa League, which was still called the UEFA Cup in 2004, FC Barcelona lost out to Celtic Glasgow (0:1 & 0:0). In both games, Xavi started alongside Carles Puyol and Ronaldinho: “I know it was very difficult. We weren’t victorious and it’s the title Barça have never won in their history.” The only clubs to have won all three European cup competitions are Ajax Amsterdam, FC Bayern, Juventus, Chelsea and Manchester United. In addition to the Champions League and the Europa League, the European Cup Winners’ Cup was also held until 1999.

For Barça, the Europa League is not just about completing the trophy collection, but about qualifying for the Champions League. “There are two ways to get there: either via LaLiga or the Europa League and we will take our chance,” said Xavi confidently. In the Spanish league (to the LaLiga table) there is a close race for fourth place, similar to the Bundesliga: fifth-placed Atlético Madrid (39 points) separate three points from seventh-placed FC Villarreal (36) – FC Barcelona (39) is on four and Real Sociedad (38) on six.

To home page