Coach Xavi: 'Man Utd are the best in many years'

* Man Utd - Barca: 3 am on Friday 24/2, Hanoi time.

"Man Utd are currently one of the best clubs in Europe, and they show it in every game," Xavi said on February 22 at a pre-match press conference at Old Trafford. "It can be said that Man Utd is back and is playing the best football in many years. This is also a good opportunity to show that Barca can also compete with the top clubs."

The Spanish coach also praised his colleague Erik ten Hag for helping Man Utd play with enthusiasm, passion, intensity and harmony. Therefore, Xavi emphasized that Barca needs to show the same spirit and personality, but at the same time must maintain its own identity and style of play.

Xavi assesses Marcus Rashford - the striker who has scored 24 goals since the beginning of the season - as a difference-maker for Man Utd and supports Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Islamic Bank of Qatar, taking over at Old Trafford. The Spanish coach has known Sheikh Jassim from his time playing and leading Qatar's Al Sadd club in the period 2015-2021. He said: "I have a good relationship with Sheikh. He is serious, responsible and I think he will do a good job. I think it will be a very good choice for Man Utd."

Barca is in high form with a series of 18 matches unbeaten in all competitions. This is the best achievement of Xavi's coaching career, breaking a record of 15 matches unbeaten when he led Qatar Al Sadd club from January to April 2022. The last time Barca failed was a 0-3 defeat to Bayern at Camp Nou in the penultimate round of the Champions League group stage in October 2022. Since then, Xavi's teachers and students have won 16 and only drawn two matches - a 1-1 draw with Espanyol in La Liga in December 2022 and a draw with Man Utd 2-2 in the first leg of the Europa League play-off.

Barca have only conceded seven goals and kept 17 clean sheets in 22 matches in La Liga, thereby setting two records in the tournament. They lead La Liga when they are five points ahead of Real, and beat their great rival 3-1 in the final of the Spanish Super Cup on January 15.

However, Xavi rejects the notion that Barca are back at the top, and wants the players to continue to prove by being in top form on the pitch. "We are in the Europa League and have to face the most difficult opponent," added the 43-year-old coach. "We wanted to compete and showed it in the first leg. The next match will show where Barca is now."

Xavi said Barca aim to eat four this season, and have completed winning the first title - the Spanish Super Cup. "We can't give up any titles. We don't choose titles, we want to win all four," he emphasized. "Thursday night we could be out and it would be a huge disappointment. Barca is far from reaching the final or semi-final, but being a guest of Man Utd is the important test."

Today, Barca is without Pedri and Ousmane Dembele due to injury, and Gavi is suspended. Xavi said: "We came here with the desire and passion to play. We want to show the best version despite the absent players. It will be difficult, but Barca has the ability to go through."