Win over Napoli one of my best moments as Barcelona coach: Xavi Hernandez

BARCELONA – Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said that beating Napoli to reach the Champions League quarter-finals on March 12 was one of his finest moments in his post.

The Spanish champions won 3-1 at the Olympic Stadium – the Nou Camp is under renovation – to seal a 4-2 aggregate win against last season’s Serie A winners, returning to the last eight for the first time since 2020.

“There has been a lot of unfair criticism, (that we were) the joke of the Champions League, and we had to play with that pressure,” Xavi said.

“We had to be better than Napoli and we were, it’s a more than deserved qualification, a game dominated in attack and defence but also an excellent game by Napoli.

“It’s one of my best moments as Barcelona coach.”

However, the Spaniard also said that he would not change his mind about leaving at the end of the season, a decision he took in January. Since then, the team have gone nine matches unbeaten.

Early goals by Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo set the hosts on their way and, after Amir Rrahmani cut the deficit before the break, Robert Lewandowski wrapped up the win with a late third goal.

Napoli had never beaten Barca in their previous five meetings and it turned out to be a repeat of their 2020 Champions League last-16 meeting, with a 3-1 home win for the Spanish side after a 1-1 draw in Naples.

That was the last time the Catalan side had won a knockout-stage game in the competition and their most recent qualification for the last eight.

Despite Barca’s three goals, centre-back Pau Cubarsi, 17, was given the Man of the Match award and Xavi lavished praise on the young defender, who has been key in recent weeks.

“He’s a very rational kid, he’s got a lot of brains, he’s patient, he’s very humble, he wants to improve,” said Xavi of the youngster, who is the first Barca player to complete over 50 passes (61/68), make all of his tackles (3/3) and make at least five clearances on his Champions League debut since at least 2003-04.

“His sudden emergence is wonderful for Barcelona and Spanish football – we’re looking at a top-level defender for years to come.”

Like Xavi, Cubarsi said this was a match to remember. “This has been one of the best days of my life,” the teenager told Movistar. “The team deserves this Player of the Match trophy, I’m so happy, but we’re a group.”

He also received praise from pundits, notably from Owen Hargreaves on TNT Sports.

“This kid was picking out passes for fun,” the former Manchester United midfielder said.

“He made it look so easy. It was physical when he needed to be. For a Spanish centre-back to be this physical, against somebody like (Napoli’s Victor) Osimhen is quite rare.”

For Napoli, it was back to the drawing board.

“There is disappointment, because we came here to try to win and we didn’t succeed,” coach Francesco Calzona said.

“We got off to a very bad start, if you concede so much to this team, in the long run you lose it.” AFP, REUTERS