Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has made winning LaLiga this season a priority in a bid to “bring stability” back to the Catalan club, accepting he is under pressure to deliver success after a summer of spending.
Barca have won just one trophy in the last three seasons — the Copa del Rey under Ronald Koeman in 2021 — and have been knocked out of the Champions League in the group stages in each of the past two years.
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The club have also been fighting financial problems, with LaLiga’s financial fair play rules leading to the departure of Lionel Messi 18 months ago, but results domestically have improved under Xavi after eight new signings arrived for more than €150million ahead of the current campaign.
With the league due to restart later this month following a break for the World Cup, Barca sit top of the table, two points clear of reigning champions Real Madrid, after winning 12 of their 14 matches and losing just once.
“LaLiga tops our priorities,” Xavi told Barca TV on Tuesday. “We have the [Spanish] Supercopa in January and the Copa del Rey and the Europa League coming up too, but the league marks the season.
“If we win LaLiga, for example, it will be a good season. If we only win the Supercopa, we have come up short. We want to win everything, but LaLiga will give the club and the project stability.”
Barca have been forced to focus on the league following their Champions League exit, but Xavi said they will take the Europa League seriously after being drawn against Manchester United in the playoff round.
“It makes me angry not to hear the Champions League music, but the Europa League is a trophy, one this club has not won, and if we go far the fans will be up for it,” Xavi added.
