- Title: Barcelona ready to fight for Champions League survival, says Xavi
- Date: 11th October 2022
- Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (OCTOBER 11, 2022) (REUTERS) BARCELONA FORWARD, ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI (PINK BIB), RUNNING THROUGH A TRAINING COURSE MIDFIELDER, SERGIO BUSQUETS, GOING THROUGH THE COURSE GOALKEEPER, MARC-ANDRE TER STEGEN, TRAINING IN THE NET VARIOUS OF BARCELONA COACH, XAVI HERNANDEZ, AT NEWS CONFRENECE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA COACH, XAVI HERNANDEZ, SAYING: “I see everything as an opportunity, I’ve said it many times. At the end of the day, there is clearly pressure and challenges. We are in an uncomfortable situation, uncomfortable as far as qualifying in the Champions League, but we are going to face it tomorrow as best we can by being positive, attacking, being brave, having a personality. We have no other choice than to try to win the three remaining points at home.†XAVI WATCHING ON AT TRAINING SESSION FORWARD, ANSU FATI, RUNNING THROUGH THE COURSE MIDFIELDER, FRENKIE DE JONG, RUNNING COURSE SQUAD PLAYING ‘FOUR SQUARE’ WITH GIANT BALL (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA COACH, XAVI HERNANDEZ, SAYING: “I think the fans get it. The tickets (to the match) are sold out. So that’s great. Since I’ve been the coach there have been some really great moments at home with people cheering. From the get-go, tomorrow Camp Nou has got to be at a fever pitch. Fantastic. We need them to cheer, and we will do what we can to make them proud. No matter what happens in the end, we are going to give our all so that we win those three points in Camp Nou.†XAVI SEEN THROUGH A CAMERA VIEWFINDER LEWANDOWSKI JUGGLING BALL SQUAD HUDDLING AT THE CENTRE OF THE TRAINING PITCH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA COACH, XAVI HERNANDEZ, SAYING: “It’s a big disappointment, but we are going to try to think positively. We want to win tomorrow. We want to still be alive in this competition which is so important to us. But yes, it’s gotten tough. We’re in an awkward position.†VARIOUS OF TER STEGEN LOOSENING UP SQUAD WARMING UP (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA MIDFIELDER, PEDRI, SAYING: “Yes, it’s true a lot of us are out, especially in our defensive line. But we have a deep squad and made some good signings. And we have to face tomorrow’s match as best we can with who we have available and remain calm because I know we have the quality to take it.†PEDRI IN CAMERA VIEWFINDER SQUAD CONGRATULATING DEFENDER, JULES KOUNDE, DURING TRAINING SESSION VARIOUS OF SQUAD PLAYING ‘FOUR SQUARE’ WITH GIANT BALL
- Embargoed: 25th October 2022 18:44
- Keywords: Ansu Fati Barcelona Champions League Inter Milan Marc-Andre ter Stegen Pedri Robert Lewandowski Xavi Hernandez
- Location: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- City: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Europe,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001154111102022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez lamented that his team face a must-win Champions League clash against Inter Milan so early in the season after two consecutive losses in the competition.
Following their defeat in Italy last week, a third loss in four games would leave Barca in danger of being knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage for the second consecutive season.
"We are in an uncomfortable situation, uncomfortable as far as qualifying in the Champions League, but we are going to face it tomorrow as best we can by being positive, attacking, being brave, having a personality. We have no other choice than to try to win the three remaining points at home,†Xavi told a news conference ahead of Wednesday's (October 12) showdown with Inter.
Barcelona found themselves in the 'Group of Death' with Inter and Bayern Munich, having to face a re-run of their nightmare 8-2 loss to the Germans in the 2020 quarter-finals.
They started with a 5-1 home win against Viktoria Plzen but lost 2-0 in Munich despite dominating possession.
Last week in Milan, Barca were again the dominant side but succumbed to a 1-0 defeat following a Hakan Calhanoglu goal.
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