Xavi Hernandez admits that Barcelona is ready to fight again against Paris Saint-Germain and is even willing to appear to suffer in order to advance to the next round.
The Blaugrana will host PSG in the second leg of the 2023/24 Champions League quarter-finals. The plan is for an exciting duel between the two teams to take place at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Wednesday (17/4/2024) early morning WIB.
Victory in Paris was Barca’s first victory in the knockout stages of the Champions League in four years and left them full of confidence after making it six straight wins in all competitions.
Sergi Roberto and co are unbeaten since a 5-3 defeat at home to Villarreal in La Liga in January, which saw Xavi announce his resignation as manager at the end of a tumultuous season.
Barcelona hold a narrow 3-2 lead after the first leg in Paris last week, as they bid to reach the semi-finals for the second time in eight seasons since lifting the trophy in 2015.
“This will be a great football match,” said Xavi. “We are not a team that likes to speculate; we want to take the ball away from PSG and win the game. Hopefully we will be at our best. They will demand a lot from us.”
Building work at the Nou Camp is underway as part of a £1.25 billion renovation and Xavi is calling on the club’s supporters to turn their temporary home at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys into a monstrosity.
“We are playing at home and Montjuic [stadium] should be an extraordinary place. It will be a boiling atmosphere,” said Xavi.
“We need the supporters because there will be difficult moments and PSG will make us work hard, so now we have to be united.
“We have to control ourselves and take the initiative, but it will be difficult. PSG will be on the attack because Luis Enrique will not stay quiet. I know him well and I know they will put us under pressure.
“We’re going up against one of the best teams in the world, one of the most intense and they’re not going to give us anything, and he’s one of the best coaches in the world.”
Ahead of the match, Barca will be without captains Sergi Roberto and Andreas Christensen, who is suspended after receiving a yellow card in Paris.
“The ban on Sergi Roberto and Christensen is very detrimental to us, that’s true, but the key against PSG is to play as a team.
“If we can do it, apart from those names, we will have a big chance [of winning]. We have to give everything to reach the semifinals,” concluded the Spanish coach.
