XAVI: NO REASON BARCA CAN’T BE CHAMPS AGAIN

BARCELONA are ready to bounce back from last season’s group-stage meltdown and bid for their first Champions League triumph since 2015.

Head coach Xavi won the tournament with Barca four times as a player and sees no reason why he can’t repeat that as a manager, having replaced Ronald Koeman 10 months ago in the hot seat at the Nou Camp.

And the fact they crashed out at the group stage last season against Bayern Munich and Benfica has not stopped him thinking it is just a blip.

Barca face Munich in Group C again this year and open their campaign tonight at home against Czech underdogs Viktoria Plzen.

Former midfielder Xavi (above) said: “We will compete and dream big. Otherwise, I would have stayed at home.

“Why can’t we win this competition? Barca is about winning. I like to win, I can’t conceive competing without winning.

“Being favourites is something else. You have to be humble. Every match is going to be a war. We haven’t won a Champions League title here since 2015.”

New signing Robert Lewandowski (training with team-mates, below) has delighted Barca fans in their three consecutive La Liga wins, scoring five goals, including two consecutive doubles.

The arrival of the two-time FIFA Best Player of the Year from Bayern Munich has upped the expectation levels after Barca endured a frustrating 2021-22 season after Lionel Messi’s departure.

With new signing Raphinha playing well on the right wing, a resurgent Ousmane Dembele finally showing his potential and Ansu Fati getting back to form, morale could not be higher.

“I see every day how the fans are. The jerseys have sold out, people stop us and cheer us on the street. We have to keep going, it’s a positive feeling,” added Xavi, who has also welcomed Marcos Alonso (above) to the club from Chelsea.

“We welcome the pressure here – we have won five Champions League titles under pressure. Dreaming about winning again is not adding pressure.”