After a 3-3 tie with Inter Milan, Xavi Hernandez’s Barcelona team faces a crucial contest against Real Madrid, putting the manager under intense stress.
After the exhilarating 3-3 draw against Inter Milan last Wednesday, it appeared as though their prospects of moving on to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages were in jeopardy.
The Spanish coach has to win this El Clasico, especially following the draw to gain back the fans’ confidence. Despite having a goal difference of +7, Barcelona presently leads La Liga. If they fail, they would trail three points behind Madrid.
Barcelona must achieve a successful result on Sunday in an attempt to relaunch their season. Xavi hopes a recurrence of the incredible 4-0 triumph he orchestrated at the Bernabeu in March will lessen the spotlight on him.
The head coach of Barcelona has pleaded for patience from the supporters since he has admitted that there is a project under construction and that it will not be destroyed at this moment if the team loses against Real Madrid.
In his pre-match press conference on Saturday morning, he explained, “It’s vital for us and for Real Madrid. Let’s see who comes out on top. But the project is still under construction. The slump in the Champions League annoys us, but we’re on the right track. We’re in a great situation in La Liga. In Europe, the outlook isn’t good, but the project is under construction and it can’t be destroyed now. “
And when asked if the fixture made him “riled up” at this moment of struggles in European competitions, he replied, “I don’t know if it makes me horny, I don’t know if that’s the word, but I like to play against Real Madrid. I’m competitive. I’d like to still be a footballer to play in these types of matches. “
