Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández has stated Paris Saint-Germain‘s funds make them favourites of their Champions League quarterfinal tie after the Spanish and French champions have been pitted towards one another in Friday’s draw.
Barça will journey to Paris for the primary leg on April 10 — earlier than the return leg in Barcelona on April 16 — with the winners going through both Atlético Madrid or Borussia Dortmund within the semifinals.
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It is the Catalan membership’s first Champions League quarterfinal since 2020, after they have been eradicated within the group stage in 2022-23.
“It is actually tough. [PSG] are one of the tough opponents we might have confronted,” Xavi stated in a information convention on Saturday forward of Barça’s LaLiga sport with Atlético. “However we’re excited. Now we have the return leg at dwelling. It is time to dream, and present that we will compete.
“Maybe I would say PSG are favourites. Historical past apart, as a result of we have gained extra Champions Leagues, financially proper now it isn’t the identical, with what they’ve spent and what we have spent. However it’s important to carry out on the pitch.”
Barça teen Pau Cubarsí was referred to as up by Spain coach Luis de la Fuente on Friday after starring for the primary staff in current weeks.
That has led to hypothesis that the centre-back, 17, could possibly be requested to function for Spain on the Olympic Video games in Paris, after which at Euro 2024.
Midfielder Pedri, now 21, performed in each tournaments 4 years in the past, and has suffered persistent harm issues since, with some blaming an extreme workload.
“We hope all that does not occur once more,” Xavi stated.
“However we do not have to be detrimental. We’re comfortable for him, he deserves to play with the nationwide staff. However as for the remaining, I am unable to say something, as a result of I am unable to determine if he goes to the Olympic Video games and the Euros, there’s nonetheless a variety of time left.”
Sunday’s sport with Atletico will see Barça’s on-loan ahead João Félix return to the Metropolitano, the place he can count on a hostile reception from followers of his mum or dad membership.
Félix scored the one objective in a 1-0 Barça win when the 2 groups final met in LaLiga on Dec. 3.
“You need to present a variety of persona towards Atletico,” Xavi stated. “[Félix] needs to be vital tomorrow. Within the first sport he performed very well.
“Me personally, I all the time appreciated a hostile ambiance. He has a robust character. He desires to indicate his expertise, and tomorrow he and the staff should present persona.”