Xavi has warned Barcelona that they can’t consider the league title won even if they beat Girona on Monday and are 15 points clear of Real Madrid.
Barcelona lost 4-0 to Madrid in the second leg of the semi-final of the Copa del Rey midweek, meaning the Blue Garnets only have to play for the La Liga title.
They were already 12 points clear at the summit before this weekend, and Real Madrid’s surprise 3-2 home defeat to Villarreal on Saturday gives Barca an opportunity to widen the gap.
No team has yet overcome such a deficit at this stage of the La Liga season, so Barca’s position looks very secure.
But Xavi has been keen to emphasize the importance of not taking their lead for granted, with the former midfielder admitting that his young team lacks a certain degree of maturity.
“(Title) will not be considered won, there are still 10 (games) left,” Xavi bluntly said at the pre-match press conference.
“When the championship is won, we will celebrate it. We must win. Tomorrow’s game will be a very good test for us after relegation in the Cup.
Xavi: “If we win La Liga, it will be a very good season.” pic.twitter.com/RPBWz10zI7
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 9, 2023
“We depend on ourselves. Fifteen points is an impressive difference. Not everything will be done, but it will be a big difference and winning the league will be extraordinary.”
Despite Barça’s huge lead in La Liga, their performance in other competitions leaves a lot to be desired.
Although they won the Spanish Super Cup, Barça were eliminated from the Champions League in the group stage and entered the Europa League – Manchester United deservedly knocked them out of this tournament, and Madrid kicked them out of the Cup on an even bigger scale.
But Xavi capitalized on comments from former Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane who suggested La Liga’s success reflected stability.
Asked what incentives Barça players have, Xavi replied: “Winning La Liga. Winning La Liga is in the spotlight.
“We have won five Champions Leagues and it is required of us to win the Champions League, but winning La Liga gives us stability.
“We are 12 points ahead which means we are doing well. We appreciate what we do. It’s amazing and brings us closer to winning La Liga, which would be extraordinary for us.”
As for other competitions, Xavi reminded critics that they are still in the early stages of a new era.
“We need time. We won the Super Bowl, we are on the right track in La Liga. In Europe, we competed poorly.
“We have signed players, there are young people (in the line-up) … when we play together for two or three years, we will not form.
“We have won the title and we are on our way to another.”