After the match at Old Trafford, Barcelona’s dressing room ended up in frustration: a great effort was made, a stunning first half played against opponents full of power and intensity, but in the end, the result could not have been worse plus a bitter elimination once again from Europe.
Despite everything, the feeling with which the team came out of the elimination was positive: it competed to the end and showed the ability to fight at the highest level in Europe.
And although it was a painful defeat, there was no sadness or bitterness like the bitterness of elimination in the Champions League, especially in the home and away matches against Inter, as the players still remember that “incredible things happened in both matches.”
Xavi Hernandez and Juan Laporta had time to talk during the flight back to Barcelona from Manchester. The Blaugrana coach was frustrated by the early exclusion in Europe, despite his insistence on the message he also confirmed in the press conference: “Now I have the feeling that we competed, that we are indeed very close.”
Of course, Xavi took advantage of the situation to remind the president that next season, he will need many reinforcements and new signings, if he wants to see the team at the top of the European Championships.
“At the moment we are not complete,” insisted the coach, aware that the team still suffers from the lack of a natural right-back and no natural replacement for Sergio Busquets or Robert Lewandowski.
Everyone at the club is clearly aware of the squad’s current limitations, “We’re building a great team,” Laporta always warns when asked about Xavi’s project.
And in this building process, there are still some pieces missing to complete the team that can aspire to all the titles. In the hands of the sporting administration, headed by Matteo Alemani, the necessary reinforcements will be obtained that will allow Barcelona to look forward to everything.
In any case, Barcelona is still very much alive in two competitions that are considered priority and strategic within the club: La Liga and the Cup.
In the league, the title most sought after by Laporta and Xavi, the team finds itself in a very favorable position, eight points ahead of Real Madrid, after signing the second best start ever in this competition. In the cup, the team will play in the coming weeks against Real Madrid in the semi-finals. Final.
If these two titles are finally achieved, together with the Spanish Super Cup, which was achieved last January in the final match against Real Madrid, Barcelona will have secured all competitions in Spain, without any doubt, a first step to consolidate change with the aim of advancing in Europe. next year.
Source: As