Farewell before March, after 25 years such an experience of Barca

 

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez. After last night's exit from the Europa League | Picture: AFP

Barcelona president Juan Laporta certainly didn't think so when he pulled all the 'economic levers' last year. Barca president registered new players by selling assets with high hopes. Laporta's dream of getting the Catalan club back on track was dealt a major blow last night as they were kicked out of the European competition last night despite top of the La Liga points table.

Barca failed to progress to the last sixteen after losing 2-1 to Manchester United in the Europa League knockout round play-offs at Old Trafford last night. The experience of leaving the European stage before the month of March is the first time for the team after many years. Barca has gone through such an experience in the last 1998-99 season.

The Catalan club was confirmed to be eliminated from the group stage in December. If you count from that time in 1998, after 25 years such an experience, Barcelona could not even reach the last sixteen of Europe's second top competition!

Lewandowski scores but Barca can't win: AFP

But Barca coach Xavi Hernandez is optimistic about the next season if not this time. The former footballer thinks that his team will come back better in the next season, "I hope there will be something better in the next season." Last year we couldn't compete in Europe. This year we played against Bayern Munich and Inter Milan (in the Champions League) and Manchester United (in the Europa League). We need to do better. I hope to be able to turn around better next season.

Barca were crushed 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2020. The club gradually fell into decline in European competition. The following year saw a return to the last sixteen in a 4–1 home defeat to PSG. And in the last two years, the five-time champions in this tournament could not pass the group stage of the Champions League. However, until 2021, Barca has played at least in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for 14 consecutive seasons.

Xavi's team lost for the first time since October this season. This ended an 18-match unbeaten run. Xavi sees the absence of Gavi and Pedri as one of the reasons for United's defeat in the field. The coach of the team thinks that Barca could not play well in the midfield without these two youngsters. Gavi missed the match due to suspension and Pedri due to injury. Xavi said, "They are important players. They can bring the result of the match in their favor by keeping possession of the ball. If they played, we would not have so much problem.