Xavi blasts ‘unfair criticism’ as Barca books last-eight spot
BARCELONA — Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said beating Napoli to reach the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday was one of his finest moments in the job.
The Spanish champion won 3-1 at the Olympic Stadium to seal a 4-2 aggregate win against last year’s Serie A winner, 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, we had to play with that pressure,” Xavi told a news conference.
“We had to be better than Napoli and we were, it’s a more-than-deserved qualification, it’s one of my best moments as Barcelona coach.”
Xavi said he would not change his mind about leaving at the end of the season, a decision he took in January. Since then the team has gone nine matches unbeaten.
Centerback Pau Cubarsi, 17, was given the player of the match award and Xavi lavished praise on the young defender, who has impressed 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.
“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,” Cubarsi told Movistar. “The team deserves this player of the match trophy, I’m so happy, but we’re a group.”
Barca midfielder Sergi Roberto said of the teenager: “He’s incredible, he was the game’s best player.
“He doesn’t stop surprising us, in the last 16 and playing this way, he’s a player who can be here for his whole life.”
Fermin Lopez, Joao Cancelo and Robert Lewandowski scored for Barcelona as it advanced 4-2 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Italy three weeks ago.
Amir Rrahmani scored for Napoli, which couldn’t repeat its lasteight appearance from last season, when it won a knockout round for the first time.
Barcelona had been eliminated in the group stage the last two years and hadn’t reached the quarterfinals since 2019-20, when it lost to Bayern Munich.
“It was an incredible night,” Roberto said. “It had been four years since this club was where it deserves to be. We have to enjoy this moment.”
The Champions League could be Barcelona’s last realistic chance for a title this season. It was eliminated in the Copa del Rey and trails Spanish league leader Real Madrid by seven points.
“It was a great match, very complete,” Xavi said. “We have been criticized unfairly, and today we showed that this team is prepared to compete in Europe. We are among the best eight teams in Europe. We have to enjoy it.”
The victory also means extra income for Barcelona, which has been struggling financially recently.
The Catalan club is unbeaten in six meetings with Napoli in all competitions. It struggled to keep the Italian side from threatening after taking the early lead. Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, making his 100th appearance in a UEFA club competition, was tested often by Napoli’s attack.
Barcelona had a few chances to increase its lead on counterattacks before Lewandowski sealed the win from close range in the 83rd after an assist by substitute Roberto. Lewandowski has scored 13 goals in his last 13 knockout-stage games in the Champions League.
Lopez put the host ahead with a shot from the center of the area in the 15th minute after a low cross by Raphinha, who also set up Cancelo’s goal two minutes later.
The Brazil forward hit the post from inside the area and the ball bounced back for an easy strike by Cancelo.
Napoli got on the board in the 30th with Rrahmani finding the net with a low left-footed shot for his first European goal.
“We gave them too much space, we lost possession often, we started with the wrong attitude and didn’t defend well,” Napoli coach Francesco Calzona said.
Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal had a goal disallowed for offside in the 68th.
The last time Barcelona played in the quarterfinals it also eliminated Napoli 4-2 on aggregate in the round of 16.
Xavi still couldn’t count on several players because of injuries, including Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Ferran Torres.
The other teams that have advanced to the last eight are Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, with two more teams due to join them on Wednesday night.