Xavi acknowledged that his team lacked the “maturity” necessary to overcome Napoli in the first leg of their Champions League match, but he still thinks Barcelona deserved to win after their 1-1 tie.
In Naples, Barcelona took the lead through Robert Lewandowski at the hour mark, but Victor Osimhen’s effort, Napoli’s lone on-target during the match, pulled them back.
“After the game, we had the game in our hands, so it’s a bittersweet feeling,” Xavi said to the press. We performed well on the pitch. We played strong defense; Napoli didn’t produce much, but when it came time to assert ourselves, be aggressive, and demonstrate dominance, we lost control of the situation.
“That’s unfortunate. Overall, I thought our performance was excellent, and I’m happy with the representation we gave Europe. We didn’t have the maturity to [control the game], but this is the Barca we desire.
“Maybe physically they were stronger than us in individual duels, but playing this way we have a good chance of going through and will win more than we lose.”
Lewandowski scored his sixth goal in as many games, and Xavi praised him for his comeback to form. The Polish international had been under fire for what was seen as a decline in performance.
The Spaniard stated, “Lewandowski is currently playing for the team.” “He’s moved closer to me. In addition to being with the squad and pushing hard, he is winning his own battles.
“He aspires to grow and is a natural leader. The goals are a result of his excellent play, and right now he’s contributing a lot.”
The return game between Barcelona and Napoli is scheduled for March 12 at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, while Camp Nou, the team’s normal home, is currently undergoing renovations.
The manager admitted, “Of course we miss Camp Nou.” “I predicted during the preseason that this year would be challenging without the stadium. Although playing there [the Olympic Stadium] is not the same as at Camp Nou, that shouldn’t stop us. It’s unfortunate because both the opposition and us would have a different experience in the second leg at Camp Nou.”
