After learning that Barcelona will meet Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League Round of 32, Barcelona manager Xavi gave his immediate reaction to the draw.
Manchester United finished second in their group behind Real Sociedad, and Barcelona finished third in their UEFA Champions League group, which meant that they were demoted to the Europa League Play-Offs. Due to the outcomes of United and Barcelona, it meant that it was a remote possibility that two heavyweight giants of European football could be paired against each other, which is exactly what occurred at Monday’s draw in Nyon.
Ironically, it was Barcelona and Man United who were the first two balls to come out of the draw and got fans off the edge of their seats.
As the draw was unfolding, Xavi, the Barcelona manager, was holding his customary pre-match press conference for his side’s La Liga clash away at Osasuna tonight and he was asked about the mouthwatering draw.
🎙 Xavi's first words about Barça being paired with Manchester United in the Europa League pic.twitter.com/Ljme43LwnS
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 7, 2022
“It’s a massive challenge for us,” said the former Barcelona and Spain midfielder.
“Manchester United are a historic club and they also need to win.
“Our players will probably be more motivated against a strong team and we will have to compete, going to Manchester against a top rival and a historic side that has improved a lot with the arrival of [Erik] ten Hag, with great individual players.
“We are two big teams and it’s going to be a massive tie.”
This is sure to be a fascinating match-up with both sides making positive signs of progress in their respective leagues and Xavi was quick to acknowledge that United have made solid improvements under their Dutch manager.
“Ten Hag is doing a fantastic job in Manchester,” said Xavi.
“They have a great group of players. We will have time to analyse it but they are a strong side in defence and in attack.”
Xavi will know how much of a challenge it will be to go up against United, given that he did it so many times as a player, where he was part of the Barcelona side that defeated United in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League final.
However, Xavi does not always have happy memories of competing against United, as the creative midfielder was part of the Barcelona team who lost 1-0 to a Paul Scholes thunderbolt in the 2008 Champions League semi-final second leg.