Barcelona will advance tomorrow (Thursday, 19:45) to the first game in the Europa League playoffs against Napoli at the Camp Nou.
For the luxury club it is a strange encounter after for many years they played and were among the leading teams in the Champions League.
Ahead of the meeting with the Italians, Barça coach Xavi said he was still angry that he and his players were no longer in the Champions League, but added that he was working hard to bring the club back to Europe's senior competition.
Barça were relegated from the Champions League at home this season, finishing below Bayern Munich and Benfica, and will play in the minor league for the first time since 2004. "The Europa League is an opportunity for us," Xavi said at a press conference. This: to finish in the top four in the league or win the Europa League.
"Of course we would like to be in the Champions League. It hurts that we are not there. Hearing the Champions League music on TV [on Tuesday] angered me, but we are in another competition. It is still a European competition. It is an opportunity to continue to grow and everyone is motivated to win a trophy the club has never He won it. "
Barça and Napoli met in the last 16 of the Champions League two years ago, when the Catalans went through a stage at the expense of their rival and Xavi said the fact that they are now facing the Italians in the last 16 of the Europa League shows the intensity of the competition.
"Napoli is a team at the level of the Champions League. It's going to be a tough battle. I would not say we are favorites."
Xavi and his players in concluding training, Photo: Reuters
Xavi also told Masa that his first 100 days at running the club "felt like 100 years", but he is pleased with the way his players are doing. "We have improved a lot," he said. "We play better, we press better and we Better after losing the ball.
The results and feelings are improving, but there is still a long way to go.
We are growing and we are on the right path, working hard to return to the Champions League next season. "
Professionally, Xavi will have to make do without Danny Alves, Clement Langela, and Samuel Omititi while Ronald Araujo is also in great doubt for the game.
Napoli will be missing Herving Luzano, Matteo Politano and Stanislav Lubotka.
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