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Xavi welcomes pressure on him as Barcelona head coach

Xavi welcomes pressure on him as Barcelona head coach
© Reuters
Barcelona boss Xavi says that he is not fazed by the pressure on him to deliver success ahead of Thursday's clash with Manchester United.

Barcelona boss Xavi has insisted that he is not fazed by the pressure on him to deliver success.

The 43-year-old has been in charge of the Catalan giants since November 2021, and he boasts a record of 45 wins, 14 defeats and 12 losses from his 71 matches at the helm.

Xavi recently landed his first trophy as Barcelona head coach, with the club winning the 2022-23 Spanish Super Cup by overcoming Real Madrid in the final.

Blaugrana are also bidding for success in the Europa League, as they prepare to face Manchester United in the second leg of their knockout round playoff affair on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, the Catalan side are set to take on Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, with the first leg of the last-four contest due to take place on March 2.

Barcelona coach Xavi on February 19, 2023© Reuters

Barcelona are in pole position to win this season's La Liga title, meanwhile, sitting top of the table, eight points clear of second-placed Real Madrid on the same number of matches (22).

The team are currently in Manchester for the second leg of their Europa League clash against Erik ten Hag's side, with the tie delicately poised following a 2-2 draw last week.

Xavi was asked about the pressure on him during Wednesday's press conference, and the former midfielder insisted that 'everyone would want to play in this environment'.

"It is for me as a coach. Everyone would want to play in this environment. I would tell them to be calm and control their emotions," said the head coach.

FC Barcelona coach Xavi reacts on January 8, 2023© Reuters

"There are five titles we are competing for this season and we have already won one. We're a long way from the semi-final or final but it's an important test.

"It's a lost title if we don't go through. We are very excited about the Europa League and the Copa del Rey.

"Tomorrow we will see if we have changed. We cannot say that we have changed. We haven't been up to the task in the Champions League, we're in the Europa League. We can't say 'we're back'. Tomorrow we have to test ourselves and prove it on the pitch.

"We are in a good moment, with confidence, leaders in the league, we won a title. But it's another test, another competition. We have to have a lot of mentality."

Barcelona will enter Thursday's clash with Man United off the back of a 2-0 victory over Cadiz in La Liga, which made it 18 games unbeaten in all competitions for the Catalan outfit.

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Written by
Matt Law

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and Barcelona boss Xavi on February 16, 2023
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