Barcelona will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter final in April. Both teams are seeing each other again after two three years in another knockout showdown. The last time Barcelona and PSG met was in the Round of 16, 2020/21 season.
Back then, PSG managed to get through to the quarter final after leading the aggregate 5-1. This time around, Barca would come as an underdog against the French giant. Responding to that, Blaugrana manager Xavi Hernandez said that they have what it takes to overturn the prediction.
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UCL Draw: Xavi Hernandez optimistic of Barcelona’s chances against PSG
“Maybe they are [favourites], I don’t like those conversations,” Xavi told the media. “Maybe you can say PSG are favourites, but we have more Champions Leagues in our history. But at the economic level there’s no doubt, comparing what they’ve spent with what we have.
“We all saw the draw together and the feeling is positive. We have to show it on the pitch, but we have hopes and we want to win. It’s a decisive moment to showcase that desire.”
UCL Draw: Xavi Hernandez would face his old boss
Xavi will face his former senior and manager Luis Enrique who is sitting on the opposite side this time. Regarding this, the four-time Champions League winner admitted that the draw was not easy for his side.
“It’s a very complicated [draw], one of the most complicated rivals we could have gotten,” he added. “I know Luis Enrique and his staff, how they work. I have confidence and hope. We have one of the most difficult rivals, but we have the second leg at home. It’s the moment to dream.”
When he was still playing, Xavi scored one goal against PSG in the Champions League from six games. Including four games when he was still Enrique’s player. This would be the first time for Xavi to lead the Barca squad from the pitch-side as a coach.
On a separate occasion, the club’s vice president Rafa Yuste is also confident with his side’s ability to overcome PSG. The notorious scientist mentioned one of Barca’s young stars Lamine Yamal as an important figure to bring the club advancing further in the competition.
“Our mentality is to try for the semis. We have Lamine and he is an exceptional player,” he said. “A huge squad and a coach who has the bravery to call up young players. It’s going to be a nice game. They have a coach that we know well, but our fans will help us get to the semi-finals.”