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Xavi Hernández described Barcelona "as the most difficult club in the world" when asked in the press room about the open football debate during the week around the quarterfinals of the competitions in Europe.
“This is Barça”, he said.
“Here you have to win and play well.
A 1-0 victory is of no use to us without playing well because it is discussed throughout the week.
That is why I say that Barça is the most difficult and demanding club in the world.
There is no other like it anywhere”, concluded the Barça coach in the run-up to the second leg of the Europa League quarterfinals this Thursday against Eintrancht.
Real Madrid's classification against Chelsea and Villarreal's against Bayern Munich in the Champions League revalue the Spanish championship in Xavi's opinion.
"The results indicate that the League is not that far from the Premier," he said.
“The League is always the League, it is very competitive.
There are two Spanish teams in the semifinals.
And our goal is precisely to be in the Champions League next season to be able to compete with these teams.
By the way: Villarreal showed that they are great, something that was questioned when they asked me after winning our match in the League”.
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Barça, in any case, does not feel conditioned by Tuesday's score in the Champions League and Madrid's move to the quarterfinals.
“The history of Barça demands of us, not Madrid.
The bar was set by Johan Cruyff.
You have to win by playing well;
if not, we are not happy”, he insisted.
“I don't know what happens in Madrid.
Madrid is a spectacular rival, they have a very competitive gene and they make themselves admired, but Barcelona is another story”, stressed the Barça coach, who for tomorrow's game has Piqué in doubt.
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