Xavi targets second after ´titanic effort´ to secure Champions League place

Xavi is not ready to welcome the end of Barcelona’s season despite the relief of clinching Champions League qualification on Saturday.

The Blaugrana beat Real Betis 2-1 in Seville to ensure the fifth-placed side can no longer catch them in second.

Ansu Fati’s scuffed shot broke the deadlock, before ex-Barca defender Marc Bartra responded with a similarly untidy header.

It fell to Jordi Alba to win the match and secure Barca’s top-four place with a sublime 94th-minute volley.

Coach Xavi saluted his side for the effort they put in to recover from a poor start to the season, having won every match they have played against top-10 opposition in 2022.

But he still has his sights set on tying up second place.

“We’ve taken a weight off our shoulders,” Xavi said. “It could have been a more complicated and difficult season.

3 – Defenders from the top five leagues with the most goal involvements in 2021/22 across all competitions:

20 – Trent Alexander-Arnold (G2 A18)
17 – Andrew Robertson (G2 A15)
15 – JORDI ALBA (G3 A12)

Cannon. pic.twitter.com/BsrUOvFkLX

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) May 7, 2022

“The team has competed a lot. We have not played excellently in many games; in others, yes, but we have a winning soul and competitive character.

“We beat the top 10 in this second round of the season. It’s evidence that we have to play better. It has to be analysed, but we have made a titanic effort from November to here.

“We will be in the Champions League, the competition we deserve. Now we want to be second.”

However, Xavi added this achievement was the “minimum required” at Camp Nou, saying: “I want to compete for titles. We can’t miss another year not being competitive.”

The former Barca midfielder will hope Fati can have a big role to play in an improved 2022-23 campaign, having been limited to 12 appearances – in which he has still scored six goals – due to injuries this term.

Xavi hailed Fati as his “difference-maker”, scoring 75 seconds after his introduction from the bench, and said: “It’s a very good feeling to have him back.”

3 – Best minutes per goal ratio in LaLiga 2021/22 (2+ goals):

60.7 – ANSU FATI (4G)
93.5 – Karim Benzema (25G)
99 – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (9G)

Hopeful. pic.twitter.com/qGtM3GHVdM

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) May 7, 2022