Xavi’s brutally honest verdict on Barcelona after latest humiliation – ‘I’m p***** off’

Lionel Messi 'wanted to stay' says Barcelona president

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Xavi has let rip after Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League following a 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday night. The loss means the Catalan club will be absent for the Round of 16 for the first time since the 2003-04 season.

Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala all found the net for the German champions at the Allianz Arena as they cruised through to the knockouts following a faultless group stage.

However, it proved to be a very different story for Barcelona as the crushing defeat saw them drop into the Europa League Round of 32 with Benfica claiming the runners-up spot in Group E.

The Spanish giants went into the game knowing that if they matched the Portuguese side’s result they would guarantee qualification, but defeat, coupled with Benfica’s 2-0 triumph over Dynamo Kiev, sealed their fate.

Xavi, who has only managed two wins in his first five games as the club’s new coach following his November appointment, was left seething following the cash-strapped club’s latest humiliating episode.

THINK YOU KNOW SPORT? Test your sporting knowledge with our tricky quiz

“Bayern dominated us,” he said in the aftermath of the defeat. “We always want to dominate but it was the opposite here. We must demand more. We’re Barca.

“This must be a point of inflection to change the dynamic and many more things. This is the Champions League, but this is also our reality. It’s the situation we’re in.

“I’m angry. This is the reality and it p***es me off. We have to tackle it face on. There’s nothing else for it.”

Having failed to make it out of their Champions League group for the first time since the 2000-01 season, Xavi added that with this season’s focus now changing, Wednesday night’s historic defeat must act as a turning point for a club that find themselves in crisis both on and off the pitch.

DON’T MISS

Arteta can’t ignore glaring change needed at Arsenal

Man Utd staff conflicted over Ronaldo and Fernandes

Messi hits back at Barcelona over playing for free

“A new era starts today. We start from zero. Our objective is the Champions League, not the Europa League, but that is our reality now and we have to try and win it,” Xavi added. “I’ve seen how tough the reality is.

“I hoped we would compete better. Bayern are better. That’s the reality. But we’re going to work hard and give our all so that this doesn’t happen again. It’s a feeling of helplessness.

“We have to start to get Barca back where they belong, which is not in the Europa League. This is also a hammer blow for me as a coach. We will work hard to bring Barca back, but we have to change a lot, of course.”

The five-time Champions League winners mustered just two goals across their six group stage games, failing to score in any of the four matches against the group’s top two Bayern and Benfica.

Following Barcelona’s damning defeat, Bayern’s Muller, who opened the scoring at the Allianz Arena, heaped yet more misery on the struggling Spaniards after the match.

The German attacker said: “I think Barca can’t cope with the intensity. Technically, they have it all, they are great players tactically and technically. But they can’t cope with the intensity in top football.”

The Spaniards will discover their Europa League opponents on Monday when the draw for the Round of 32 takes place in Nyon, Switzerland.

In the meantime, the Blaugrana will be looking to bounce back when they travel to Osasuna in La Liga on Sunday.

Xavi’s side are currently languishing down in seventh place in the league, a whopping 16 points adrift of table-toppers and fierce rivals Real Madrid.

Source: Read Full Article