Xavi Hernandez, the manager of Barcelona, made his normal appearance in front of the press today. Barcelona is getting ready to play their first game in Group H of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday against Royal Antwerp.

After experiencing some success in La Liga and the Spanish Supercup, the 43-year-old is now under pressure to do well in the Champions League. This is especially the case considering that the Catalans have been eliminated in the group stage in each of the previous two seasons.

Xavi then went on to discuss the team’s goals for Europe in the upcoming campaign, saying, “The first year was not adequate for us to compete, and last year it was adequate for us to compete, but we didn’t get the results.” This year, we really want to take that next step.”

In addition to describing the purpose of achieving first place in the group, he continued by saying, “The objective is clear; it is to get through the group; then we’ll talk about it.”

“After going two years without accomplishing so, our primary ambition is to make it into the last 16 of the competition. To emerge victorious from one’s group and advance to the next round should be the primary focus.

Xavi is confident that there is enough talent on Barcelona’s roster to compete well in the Champions League, despite the fact that the club’s roster underwent considerable revamping over the summer. However, he underlined that the players must demonstrate their abilities on the field.

“Both in terms of how you play and the results you get. The year before, despite our strong play, we could not achieve satisfactory results. We have done a good job of strengthening our team, and we now have the personnel necessary to compete in Europe; but, it is not about words; it is about facts,” he remarked.

On Tuesday, Xavi will compete against Mark van Bommel, a player who was once a member of the same team as him. As a player, the current manager of Royal Antwerp spent one season at Barcelona. During that time, he was teammates with Xavi and Deco, who is now the sporting director at Barcelona.

“He was a physically very strong player, and I have fantastic recollections of him both as a teammate and as a rival. I have amazing memories of him. He was a nice buddy and a good teammate at the same time. Xavi spoke of van Bommel’s performance in Antwerp, “He is doing a good job there.”

The Catalans’ manager continued by highlighting the traits of the opponent they would face tomorrow, saying, “I would emphasize the flanks.” With Janssen serving as a point of reference right off the get. They have a capable goalie who moves well between the posts. Because of this, they became champions of the league the year before.”

Xavi responded as follows when asked if there is additional pressure on him due to the fact that the Champions League is currently being played: “Yes, always. I have to prove myself in every game, because this is Barcelona.” We are all under an enormous amount of strain, yet I consider pressure to be a welcome challenge.

“They are challenges that I set for us as a team and for myself in my role as a coach. Convincing the players and inspiring them to perform to the best of their abilities is my responsibility.

When it comes to choose the starting eleven for Barcelona’s game, Xavi is faced with a difficult decision because the attackers for Barcelona have been in excellent form recently. When questioned about the circumstance, he responded as follows:

“In the end, the fact that there are a lot of people who are in fantastic form and performing at a high level is a good situation to have. It is challenging to earn a spot in the starting eleven, but it is just as crucial to do so as it is to be one of the substitutes in the second half.

Ferran Torres has been playing at an extremely high level recently. (Image by JOSEP LAGO/AFP and made available by Getty Images))

Despite playing a limited role for Barcelona so far this season, Ferran Torres has already established himself as the team’s most productive forward. The Spaniard has shown tremendous mental fortitude by making a comeback of this nature after rumors had circulated that he would be leaving the team in the summer.

“He told me that he needed to have a very good pre-season, that he was convinced that he could give his best, and that he would prove it. “He told me that he needed to have a very excellent pre-season. “We are not surprised because we have seen him train,” said Xavi of his in-form striker. “We are not surprised because we have seen him train.”

“Last year we were unlucky in the draw, the group was really difficult, this year we have to prove it, tomorrow we play against the Belgian League champions, they are a very good team,” the manager of Barcelona said in reference to the draw and the opponents in Europe this season.

“This is a test for us to show that we can compete against anyone else in the Champions League,” the coach said.

Xavi provided an update on Ronald Araujo’s fitness by saying, “He will be at full strength on Saturday to be available for the squad.” Ronald Araujo returned to group training today, although he was not included on the squad list. Xavi was speaking in reference to Ronald Araujo’s absence from the squad.

Regarding the other player who is out due to an injury, the manager stated, “Pedri is doing very well, he is feeling very good, he still needs a bit of time, but I can’t give a date because it depends on how he feels.” Pedri is Araujo’s teammate who is also out due to an injury.

“However, the most essential thing is that he makes a speedy and full recovery so that he can be with us as soon and as comfortably as is humanly possible.”

In his address to the fans before the start of the UCL campaign, he said the following: “To the fans, we promise them work and sacrifice and to make them enjoy themselves like they did on Saturday.”

Xavi continued his discussion of his own disposition and feelings in the lead up to the UCL match by saying, “I’m always positive; in fact, I was born positive.” I’m energized and excited, but now I have to find a way to rein in some of that joy and tell the players that, although they’ve done a lot of things well, they still need to make some adjustments thereafter.

In recent years, Barcelona has not played to its usual standard of excellence when competing in the Champions League. And when it was asked of Xavi whether or if that had caused the team to lose some of its status in Europe, he reacted as follows:

When I visited Bayern or Inter, I saw that they had respect for us, so I don’t get the impression that we’ve lost any of our standing. Yes, we need to win more games, but we did win the league championship the year before. In order to move further in this tournament, which we haven’t won since 2015, we need to make certain improvements.

When asked about the various possibilities available to him at right back, he responded by saying, “Nothing changes, we did it with Koundé, Sergi Roberto, Araujo… Nothing changes, the system stays the same; the only thing that shifts is the player’s profile and the name they go by. Cancelo provides a large number of options for us.

Already having an impact on the situation. (Image by JOSEP LAGO/AFP and made available by Getty Images))

The manager had this to say about Joao Felix, another new player who had recently joined the squad: “As a coach, if there is no spirit, there is no place in the team.” You won’t be allowed in Barcelona if you don’t have the correct mentality to be there. The attitude of Joao is similar to that of everyone else in that he is upbeat and prepared to work and assist.

In addition, Xavi provided an update on the imminent contract renewals of Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde, adding, “As far as I know, they are on the right track, and there will be news soon.”

The manager then went on to insist that Barcelona has a chance to do well in the Champions League provided the club continues to play at the same high level as it did on Saturday, saying:

“I have faith that we will be able to reach the tipping point and offer the most improved version of ourselves. If we perform at the level of a Saturday in Europe, we will have enough to compete with the other teams there. Even at the level of the Super Cup match against Madrid from the previous year. Maintaining a high level of play consistently is a requirement for us.

“Excitement is the word that comes to mind when I look at the team because I can see it written all over the players’ faces. He went on to say that there was “a lot of enthusiasm” and “a lot of desire,” and that he hoped this would help the group complete the process.

The head coach acknowledged that the rich history of the club in the Champions League, particularly during the era between 2006 and 2015, meant that the bar had been set much higher, and that the expectations for the team were much bigger.

“The expectations are quite high, and the bar has been set very high. It is the result of the Barca of recent years, of our time as footballers during which we won four trophies of the Champions League between 2006 and 2015,” he remarked. “It is the consequence of the Barca of recent years.”

“We like challenges, but the demands of Barca are brutal; it’s the consequence of inheriting a brilliant period, the best in the history of this club,” said the team.