Wessel Antes
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FC Barcelona coach Xavi is overjoyed to have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the Spanish coach revealed on Tuesday evening during the press moment afterwards. Xavi paid compliments to Pau Cubarsí, the seventeen-year-old defender who effortlessly held his ground against Napoli top striker Victor Osimhen in Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
After the 1-1 in Naples last month, Barça was too strong for the team of coach Francesco Calzona at home on Tuesday with a 3-1 score. Afterwards, a proud Xavi was right with the Spanish media present. “The team put all its energy into this match. At many moments we were in control. Didn't I say that the players were going to take steps after the announcement that I was going to retire?”
“Nobody believed that,” Xavi continued. “It was thought that I would lose control of the dressing room. We have received a lot of criticism, but this team has shown that it can compete in Europe. We are in the quarter finals. For the first time in four years!” Dutch international Frenkie de Jong was missing from Barcelona on Tuesday due to his ankle injury.
In De Jong's absence, Xavi saw his pupil Cubarsí excel. “Cubarsí doesn't get nervous about anything. He is very calm, but brutal on the ball. It's fantastic to see him play.” The Spanish youth international, who played his twelfth game in Barça's main squad, was even named Man of the Match.
The teenage talent himself responded with satisfaction to the special title. “This is one of the best days of my life. I am very happy with this match. I like to play football from behind, I have done that all my life. I always give 100 percent in every game,” said Cubarsí, who was not the only teenager in Xavi's starting eleven. Lamine Yamal (16) also kicked off and left an excellent impression.
Critical Sneijder
Wesley Sneijder, former Real Madrid midfielder, attended as an analyst RTL 7 less pleased with Barcelona's game. “The statistics don't matter, I watched the match, right? I have seen that Napoli had the greatest chances. I don't think it's a convincing victory for Barcelona.”
On X, the fragment with Sneijder caused angry reactions from Dutch Barça fans, who previously accused him of biased analyses. “Wesley has brought his white glasses again, man man man,” said a user. Someone else also joins in. “What stupid bullshit from Sneijder, pancake.” Sneijder played for Real Madrid between 2007 and 2009. With the Royal he won the Spanish national title in 2008.
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