Xavi, Joao Felix believe Barcelona are still in LaLiga title race

Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez and Joao Felix | Imago

Xavi, Joao Felix believe Barcelona are still in LaLiga title race

Ayoola Kelechi 01:57 - 25.02.2024

The Barcelona duo believe that the Blaugrana could still cause an upset and win the 2023/24 LaLiga title

After a commanding 4-0 win over Getafe, Barcelona has reignited their hopes in the LaLiga title race, with both manager Xavi Hernandez and star player Joao Felix expressing confidence in their chances.

Convincing victory over Getafe sparks Barcelona’s title hopes

The comprehensive win over Getafe not only showcased Barcelona's quality but also served as a morale booster, propelling them to second in the league standings. Xavi, reflecting on the performance, noted, “It was a very complete game... We have surprised them. I’m satisfied with the team’s performance. The victory gives us calm,” as per Diario AS. 

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

This victory narrows the gap to league leaders Real Madrid, igniting hopes of a late title challenge.

Xavi's rallying cry

Despite trailing Real Madrid by five points, Xavi remains optimistic about Barcelona's title chances. He emphasized the team's focus on securing three points every weekend, stating, “I’ve already said that we didn’t throw in the towel... Let’s see what Girona and Real Madrid do this weekend.” 

His commitment to the title race underscores a determined Barcelona side ready to capitalize on any slip-ups by their rivals.

Joao Felix's confidence

Joao Felix, who scored in the win against Getafe, echoed his manager's sentiments. Highlighting the importance of maintaining pressure on the league leaders, Felix remarked, “We put pressure on those at the top... It’s not the same, playing without pressure if we don’t win,” as quoted by Marca. 

His comments reflect a confident Barcelona squad aware of the psychological impact their performances can have on their title race adversaries.

The road ahead for Barcelona

As Barcelona gears up for their next fixtures, the unity and belief within the squad are palpable. With Xavi's tactical acumen and the players' quality, including Felix's attacking prowess, Barcelona is poised to push Real Madrid all the way in the title race. 

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

The blend of optimism from the coach and confidence from the players like Felix sets the stage for an exciting end to the LaLiga season, with Barcelona firmly in the hunt for glory.

Related content