UEFA Europa League Quarterfinal: Barcelona manager Xavi heaps for praises La Liga – Real Madrid and Villarreal reaching the Champions League semi-finals this week showed the strength of La Liga, Barcelona manager Xavi said on Wednesday as he eyes a return to Europe’s elite competition next season. Barcelona play Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2nd Leg of the Europa League Quarterfinal. Follow InsideSport.IN for the latest sports news and updates.
UEFA Europa League Quarterfinal: Barcelona manager Xavi says, “Real Madrid and Villarreal show La Liga is not far behind the Premier League.”
⏰ RESULTS ⏰
Best sport there is. Confirmed.
🤯 Substitute Chukwueze sends Villarreal to semi-finals 2-1 on aggregate
😮 Benzema scores in extra time to eliminate holders Chelsea 5-4 on aggregateWho impressed? 🤔#UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 12, 2022
UEFA Europa League Quarterfinal: “La Liga is not far behind the Premier League” – Xavi
Real Madrid knocked out holders Chelsea in a thrilling 5-4 score line while Villarreal stunned German champions Bayern Munich to reach the last four of the competition on Tuesday.
Xavi could only watch on as his side are in action on Thursday in the second tier Europa League, hosting Eintracht Frankfurt in the second leg of their quarter-final. The tie is level after a 1-1 draw in last week’s first leg in Germany.
However, Xavi praised his Spanish rivals for their progress and said it showed the quality of the league. “What happened on Tuesday shows that La Liga is not far behind the Premier League,” Xavi told a news conference.
UEFA Europa League Quarterfinal: Barcelona will battle out against Frankfurt
“No matter what, La Liga will always be La Liga and it’s very competitive. I saw both games. I am a soccer fan. And in the end our main goal is to be back in the Champions League. By the way, Villarreal are a big club now, aren’t they? You all should put them on your big clubs list.”
The Europa League represents Barca’s only realistic chance of lifting a trophy this season as Real have a 12 point advantage at the top of the La Liga standings. Barca are second, level on 30 points with third-placed Sevilla.
“It is the history of Barca that demands of us, not Madrid,” the Spanish coach said. “We do not look at Real Madrid to mirror ourselves. Our history is our biggest pressure and responsibility.”
“Since (former player and coach) Johan Cruyff came, he set a bar for himself. Win by playing well. This is how we Catalans are. This is how we live it. I don’t know how it is in Madrid. Madrid has a spectacular competitive gene, but Barca is another story.”
UEFA Europa League Quarterfinal: Barcelona manager Xavi says, “Real Madrid and Villarreal show La Liga is not far behind the Premier League.”
