SUMMARY
- FC Barcelona recently faced PSG for the second leg of a Champions League clash.
- FC Barcelona's hope of winning a Champions Leagues title died with 4-1 loss, and an aggregate score of 6-4.
FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has issued a stunning response to PSG coach Luis Enrique’s statements following his side’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal exit. In a night that brutally ended Xavi’s hopes of a Champions League title, PSG defeated FC Barcelona 4-1 and 6-4 on aggregate.
Kylian Mbappe’s brace and Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha’s goal helped PSG mark their comeback after losing the first leg 3-2 against FC Barcelona. However, the second leg was marred with controversial decisions from referee Istvan Kovacs who was brutally rebuked by Xavi. In the post-match interview, Xavi accused Kovacs of ruining Barcelona’s season-long efforts and labeled his officiating as a “disaster“.
FC Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo’s red card early in the first half proved to be the deciding point of the quarterfinal tie as PSG capitalized on the situation. Nevertheless, according to Luis Enrique, his side would have won the quarterfinal even without Araujo’s sending-off. The former Barcelona coach also stated that he hoped Xavi would continue to remain as the club’s head coach.
🚨 “Luis Enrique said that even without the red card PSG would have won anyway and he hopes you will be the coach of Barça for many years, what do you say?”.
❗️ “I say NO to both”, Xavi replies. pic.twitter.com/5txP82Z8bM
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 17, 2024
Responding to his former manager’s comments, Xavi gave a rather blunt reply. Upon being asked to give a response to Enrique’s comments on Araujo’s red card being an insignificant factor in the tie as well as urging him to stay at FC Barcelona, Xavi replied, “I say NO to both.”
It’s hard not to point out that FC Barcelona’s Champions League exit would be a bitter pill to swallow for Xavi Hernandez. Despite having an inexperienced and injury-plagued squad, Xavi’s men have shown great determination and grit in the first leg against a tough opponent like PSG. Who knows, had it not been for Araujo’s red card, perhaps Barca would have progressed to the UCL semifinals.
Luis Enrique admits defeating FC Barcelona was tough for him
Meanwhile, Luis Enrique has come clean on his feelings after defeating FC Barcelona. Having played at the club from 1996 to 2004 and also being in charge of the club as its manager from 2014 to 2017, Enrique’s return to his former club seemed like a homecoming. Keeping aside his duty as PSG’s coach, Enrique admitted after the match that it was difficult facing and defeating his former club.
🔴🔵 Luis Enrique: “I’m proud of this team. It wasn’t easy for me as former Barça manager, I hope it won’t happen again!”.
“Mbappé has been a proper leader from the beginning to the end. Vitinha but also Ousmane… it’s been fantastic game by all of them”. pic.twitter.com/27BEZsXeUP
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 16, 2024
Enrique said, “It wasn’t easy for me as former Barça manager, I hope it won’t happen again!”. For the Barca fans, losing against their former manager’s team would be undoubtedly a bitter feeling. Although, it’s tough to ignore Enrique’s contributions during his stint as the Catalan club’s head coach. Under Enrique, FC Barcelona won nine trophies, including the Champions League back in 2015.
Xavi Hernandez remains firm on his decision to resign as FC Barcelona’s manager
Back in January 2024, Xavi Hernandez announced his decision to step down as FC Barcelona’s head coach at the end of this season. After a string of poor results in which his side lost two El Clasicos, got knocked out of the Copa Del Rey, and conceded the Spanish Super Cup title, Xavi stated that his decision was final and it was made for the sake of the club’s benefit.
Arriving at a time when FC Barcelona was perhaps at its lowest, Xavi Hernandez’s contribution deserves more respect. Plagued with financial crisis and unable to sign big players, Xavi managed to help FC Barcelona secure a Champions League spot in his first season. In his first full season as the club’s head coach, the Spaniard won the La Liga title and also won the Spanish Super Cup.
🚨 Xavi: “You asked me many times that if I’d be the Sir Alex Ferguson of Barça… the truth is that it will NEVER happen here”.
“You guys won’t allow it — being Barça coach is so difficult”.
“You see how they kill you, they criticize you, it affects you”. pic.twitter.com/tDvo5qmB73
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 27, 2024
Upon being asked about his reasons behind stepping down as the club’s head coach, Xavi blamed the Spanish media. The former FC Barcelona skipper lamented that it was getting extremely difficult to continue at the club amid the constant criticism from the press. Lastly, he stated that he felt his resignation would help ease the pressure on the squad and help his players to compete for the rest of the season without any burden.