Xavi reveals Barcelona president’s big demand for next season: “Club’s big objective”

Since Xavi has taken over Barcelona, a great deal of improvements have been made. From re-establishing the club’s identity to bringing back titles to the Camp Nou, the Blaugrana are certainly headed in the right direction.

However, one final piece is missing, and arguably one that has caused the most trouble in recent times: the Champions League.

Having conquered Europe 5 times, Barcelona’s reign in this illustrious competition has reached a standstill. The Catalans are back to dominating domestically, but have a long way to go before asserting supremacy on European soil.

As per SPORT, Xavi admitted that regaining prominence in the Champions League is one of the major aims for next season, laid down by president Joan Laporta.

In an interview with the ‘Universo Valdano’ program, the puppet master stated the objective of the 2022/23 campaign was fulfilled:

“La Liga was the main objective of the season, not because we accepted elimination from the Champions League, but because we had already discussed it with the president that the main objective of this season was to win the league.”

However, with the biggest domestic goal accomplished, Xavi understands it is time to raise the team’s bar and comply with increased demands heading into the upcoming season.

The Catalan coach has acknowledged Joan Laporta’s peculiar analogy of his seasons as the manager:

“The president compares it a lot with Rijkaard’s season. In Rijkaard ‘s first season he does not win anything, he stays second, “But we already do a second round and things begin to be seen. In the following season, LaLiga is won, which is what we have done now. And in the following season, the League is won and we are fortunate to win the Champions League”.

Xavi went onto say, “Winning the Champions League is surely what is going to be required of us this season, at least competing to win it. The club’s objective is to compete to win the Champions League”.

Barcelona have suffered demotion to the Europa League in the previous two campaigns, which is something they had not experienced for 19 years prior.

As reinforcements are being inspected and the squad proceeds to grow in experience, demanding Champions League titles is entirely understandable by Joan Laporta.