Barcelona manager Xavi is assured that his team can defeat Bayern Munich in their vital UEFA Champions League encounter in spite of being dealt a reality check by Real Betis on Saturday.
Four weeks following Xavi was recruitted, Barca suffered their first trounce under the new coach on Saturday (0-1).
Barca’s next game is a dismaying trip to Munich on Wednesday, where a victory will lock their place in the Last-16 of the Champions League.
However, a draw or trounce will send them to the Europa League if Benfica manage to defeat Dynamo Kiev on the night. “The team is capable of going to Munich and winning,” Xavi stated.
“That’s the objective. We depend on ourselves. We’re going to one of the toughest grounds in the world, but we’re going there to give everything and to compete,” he appended.
There have been sights of innovation and change, but the overriding sense is of close flaws being underlined and expectations being further demoted.
“It [defeat to Real Betis] is a shame and I hope it doesn’t affect us. On Wednesday we have to compete like animals to try to get through,” voiced the former Barcelona midfielder.
The most likely outline though is that Barca finish third and drop into the Europa League, a competition they could victorious if they took it seriously and one that would also proffer them an alternative route back into the Champions League next year.
