Barcelona suffered a devastating loss in the Champions League quarterfinals against Paris Saint-Germain, with Xavi Hernandez acknowledging his mistakes that contributed to the team’s downfall. The match saw Barcelona take an early lead before a red card for Ronald Araujo changed the course of the game, eventually leading to a 4-1 defeat and a 6-4 aggregate elimination.
Xavi admitted to his error in the handling of the sending off situation and expressed regret over not minimizing mistakes that could have turned the game in Barcelona’s favor. Teammate Ilkay Gundogan criticized Araujo’s challenge but Xavi played down any internal conflict within the team, stating that the matter has been resolved.
Despite the disappointment in the Champions League, Xavi remains focused on the upcoming Clasico against Real Madrid. With the La Liga title at stake, Xavi emphasized the importance of a positive mindset and a strong performance to secure a crucial victory against their rivals and keep their title hopes alive.
Xavi expressed confidence in the team’s capabilities, highlighting that the focus is on competing at a high level and securing a win in the upcoming match against Real Madrid. He acknowledged Madrid’s strong performance throughout the season but stressed the determination of Barcelona to close the gap and put pressure on their rivals in the title race.
Regarding his future at Barcelona, Xavi dismissed speculations about a potential extension beyond his announced departure date of June 30. He emphasized that his focus remains on the current season and the upcoming Clasico, stating that discussions about his future can wait as the team’s priority is to focus on the crucial matches ahead.
As the anticipation builds for the Clasico showdown, Xavi underlined the significance of the match as the most important of the season for Barcelona. With the opportunity to narrow the gap to Madrid in the title race, Xavi emphasized the team’s determination to seize the moment and deliver a strong performance to keep their championship aspirations alive.
