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Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez stated on Monday that his previous tenure as a player with the team has established a lofty standard that the club is currently finding challenging to attain in the Champions League.
The Catalan giants clinched victory in four editions of the competition between 2006 and 2015. However, they have faced some humiliating eliminations in more recent times.
Barcelona squandered leads against Roma and Liverpool and suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich. Additionally, they struggled to advance beyond the group stage in the last two seasons.
Addressing these challenges, Xavi stated during a press conference, “There is immense pressure on us because the expectations are sky-high — we are talking about Barcelona. These expectations are a direct result of the success we enjoyed in the past decade, from 2006 to 2015, when we secured four Champions League titles.”
The coach emphasized that the club’s primary goal is to advance beyond the group phase, as they prepare for their opening match in the competition against the reigning Belgian champions, Royal Antwerp, scheduled for Tuesday.
“We certainly relish challenges, but the expectations are exceedingly demanding; it’s a relentless journey,” he added.
“These high expectations stem from following an extraordinary era, arguably the finest in the history of our beloved club.”
Xavi expressed confidence in his players’ ability to handle the situation and their enthusiasm for the upcoming European campaign.
“When I look at my players’ faces, I see not just joy but also a strong sense of hope,” Xavi commented. “There’s an abundance of hope and a burning desire.”
Despite facing financial constraints, Barcelona made strategic moves in the summer transfer market. They secured loan deals for Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo, bolstering their squad. Additionally, the club brought in Oriol Romeu, a former Barca youth academy product, to replace Sergio Busquets; Romeu was signed from Girona.
The 31-year-old midfielder expressed his disbelief at returning to this level of competition. He left Barcelona in 2011 to join Chelsea, and later in 2015, he made the move to Southampton.
“I would be dishonest if I claimed that when I joined Southampton, I ever envisioned playing a pivotal role at Barcelona someday. It’s truly hard to fathom,” admitted Romeu.
“The world of football is full of unexpected twists and turns. I find myself content and optimistic about delivering a strong performance.”
