Xavi challenges fans ahead of Barcelona-PSG clash

Barcelona manager Xavi has challenged the team’s fans to come out and make the Olympic stadium in Barcelona a “boiling atmosphere” as they host French champions PSG in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final fixture.

Both teams met in the first leg at the Parc De Princes last Wednesday, and Barcelona emerged victorious with a 3-2 victory. The Blaugrana followed it with a 1-0 win away at Cadiz in the La Liga.

However, in the pre-match conference on Monday, Xavi exposed the approach of his team to the big fixture, likening the fixture to a major football war. He explained that his team would not speculate and would take the ball away from PSG and win the game. 

While stating that the team will be at its best, Xavi said his players will need the fans to motivate the team and make the atmosphere in the stadium unbearable to the visitors.

“We are playing at home, and Montjuïc has to be a big night venue. It will have to be a boiling point atmosphere. We need the fans because there will be tricky moments, and PSG will make us work hard, and so at this time, we have to be united.” Xavi said.

The team will face one of their former players, Ou, Ousmane Dembele, who returns to Barcelona for the first time since leaving the club to join PSG in the summer.

Xavi reveals that the French man’s exit left a bad taste in his mouth, but he holds no grudges against his former player and says he will welcome him with respect.

Barcelona are looking forward to reaching the Champions League semi-final for the first time since the 2018/19 season. They will move through with only a draw after their first leg 3-2 win thanks to Raphinha’s brace and Andreas Christensen’s 77th-minute strike.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu