Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez is targetting Spanish Supercopa success in Saudi Arabia this week to kickstart a new era at the club.
Xavi took over Barca when they were ninth in LaLiga 14 months ago and led them to a second-placed finish, while they currently sit top of the league, three points clear of Real Madrid, after 16 games this season.
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However, Barca have won just one trophy in the last three seasons — the Copa del Rey under Ronald Koeman in 2021 — and Xavi knows he must turn performances into titles to appease supporters.
“This competition is very important for us,” Xavi told a news conference ahead of Thursday’s Supercopa semifinal against Real Betis (streaming LIVE, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN+), with the winners facing Real Madrid or Valencia in Sunday’s final.
“We have still not won the Supercopa in this format. I don’t think it will change too much if we win it or not, but we want to be in the final on Sunday. It would be a disappointment if we didn’t win it. If we win it, it will strengthen us a lot.
“I really want to win a trophy. I have had that desire from the first day. I am here to win trophies and if I win none this season, you’re [the media] going to kill me. It’s been a while since we won a trophy, so it’s time.”
