Barça coach Xavi Hernández said out loud what most Culers are thinking. “It’s the most important game of the season,” was how the Barça coach summed up Tuesday’s last 16 Champions League second leg against Napoli at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys with the tie finely balanced after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Italy.
“Compete and not make a mistake”
The blaugranes had the better of the game in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona just under three weeks ago. Coach Xavi is looking for a repeat at home in the second leg: “We were the better side over there and on Tuesday we have to be the better side here.”
To do so, the Catalan coach said the key was to “compete”. Furthermore, Xavi revealed that he wanted to his team to “not be afraid of making mistakes and control their emotions to they don’t rebound against us.”
Nevertheless, the former Barça player was well aware of the task facing his side in the second leg. “I expect a valiant side who will play from the back and try to control possession. I don’t think they will sit back with the tie as it is,” said the coach of Serie A champions Napoli.
“The fans have to be the 12th man”
Aside from sporting matters and how things go on the field, Xavi is clear that the fans will also be an important positive factor. “The Culers should a ten for a magical night. The most important things is for Barça to be united,” he continued.
Despite the game not being at Spotify Camp Nou, the coach is convinced that the Estadui Olímpic can be an intimidating venue as well. “We need the fans to keep getting behind us as we will give absolutely everything,” Xavi concluded.
