Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez stated on Monday that the club’s current Champions League struggles are a result of the high standard he helped set during his time as a player.
The Catalan giants suffered some humbling eliminations after winning four competitions between 2006 and 2015.
Barcelona has just been destroyed by Bayern Munich and let leads against Roma and Liverpool to slip. The past two seasons, they have also failed to advance past the group stage.
“There is huge demand on us, the bar is so high this is Barca,” Xavi told a news conference.
“This is a consequence of the Barca of the past few years, of our era, as a player. In 10 years, from 2006 to 2015, four Champions Leagues were won.”
The coach said the club’s objective was to make it through the group phase, ahead of their opener in the competition against Belgian champions Royal Antwerp on Tuesday.
“We like challenges, but the level of demand is so high, it’s brutal,” he continued.
“It’s a consequence of inheriting a brilliant era, the best in the history of this club.”
However Xavi said his players were coping well and excited to start their new European campaign.
“Looking in the faces of the players, the joy, I see hope,” added Xavi. “A lot of hope and desire.”
Barcelona made few purchases throughout the summer due to their ongoing financial struggles, but they were able to sign Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo on loan.
Oriol Romeu, a former member of the Barcelona junior team, was brought in to take the role of Sergio Busquets.
The midfielder, who left Barcelona in 2011 for Chelsea and later joined Southampton in 2015, said he never thought he’d be back at this level.
“I’d be lying to you if I said that when you go to Southampton you think you’ll be playing a key role at Barcelona (one day), it’s hard to imagine,” said Romeu.
“Football has many twists and turns. I’m happy, and hopeful of doing a good job.”
