Barcelona coach Xavi said on Wednesday the team is currently “in good shape” and that his team is getting “excellent results in La Liga” ahead of the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Last 16 clash with Galatasaray at Camp. Nou.
But he said that although the UEFA Europa League is a competition that brings “joy” to the club, the main goal is to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Barca are playing in the second division of Europe for the first time in 18 years – then known as the UEFA Cup – as they finished third in the Champions League Group E behind Bayern Munich and Benfica.
Xavi’s side are delighted to do well so far – unbeaten in their last eight games, winning six, and advancing to third place in the Spanish League, a position they have not held since opening the round. season.
Galatasaray, on the other hand, had a disappointing home season and is currently sitting in the middle of the table on a Turkish Turkish plane.
Barca emerged as the favorite to win the tournament, but Xavi downplayed the idea.
“I don’t think we are the favorites. We don’t know the competition and we have never won a title,” he said. “I think the favorites should be the finalists. Sevilla, for example, is much more popular than we are. Without a doubt. We are the ones who have been selected to win.”
However, Barcelona will go into Thursday’s game hoping to open a crucial moment when they face Turkey before the second leg in Istanbul in about a week.
