Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has cautioned his players that they cannot fail when they face Inter Milan in the Champions League at the San Siro on Tuesday.
Barcelona and Inter both suffered defeats at the hands of Group C’s top team, Bayern Munich, and come into this matchup with three points after two games.
Barcelona has found the Champions League to be a cruel place in recent seasons; they won it in 2015, and last year they were humiliatingly eliminated in the group stage.
Xavi stated at a news conference on Monday that the game on Tuesday is “essential,” not “certain,” but “extremely necessary” if we are to go to the next round.
“Tomorrow’s game is crucial because both of us fell to Bayern (Munich). We won’t let up, regardless of what Bayern does tomorrow. We cannot fail because that is in our heads.”
The Catalans are in excellent form, sitting atop La Liga and going undefeated at home, while Inter are having trouble, sitting ninth in Serie A with four losses in eight games.
But according to Xavi, previous outcomes are irrelevant because Inter can present a unique threat to his club that no other team in Spain can.
Xavi continued, “Form doesn’t matter so much; we’ve played numerous games in which we were favorites and lost.
Inter has a dynamic style with two attackers that isn’t employed in the Spanish league, they have amazing movement in attack, and they are quite strong.
It will be incredibly challenging since this is the most competitive group we have had in the Champions League in a long time. To attain the desired outcome, we must exhibit the same personality as we did in Munich.
Barcelona’s left-back Marcos Alonso, who may or may not play out of position against Inter, is slated to start that game.
Due to the injuries to Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Hector Bellerin, Memphis Depay, and Frenkie de Jong, Alonso might be positioned at center back if Xavi chooses to line up with three defenders there.
It wouldn’t be my first time playing there, Alonso remarked. “Playing is what I want to do the most, so if the coach wants me on the team, I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”