“If we play like that on the way back, we will go to the quarter-finals,” assures Xavi

By Le Figaro with AFP

Public here at 23:46

Xavi appreciated the performance of his men. TIZIANA FABI / AFP

The FC Barcelona coach returned to the performance of his men this Wednesday evening in Naples (1-1) in the round of 16 first leg.

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez was confident in the prospect of the return match after his team’s draw (1-1) on Wednesday against Naples in the round of 16 of the Champions League.

“If we play like that, we will have every chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals, but it’s the Champions League: when you leave an opportunity and a little space, you are punished.”he declared at a press conference.

“Before this match, it was 50/50. Now it’s 51/49 (…). I’m a little bitter, we could have won this match, we had control of the ball, we played well in all areas except for the last ten minutes of the first half »continued the Catalan technician.

“They equalized, it’s a shame, because we deserved to win, it’s not a bad result, there were a lot of scoring chances and we countered well. “As things stand, we can hope to reach the quarter-finals”, he insisted. Barça, dominating in the first period, took the advantage thanks to Robert Lewandowski (60th), but Victor Osimhen equalized in the 75th minute, putting the two teams back to back. back before the return match on March 12 in Barcelona.

“I’m proud of our match, but in certain phases of the match we lacked a little maturity, we still have to work, but it’s one of our best matches.”he concluded.