5.3 C
New York
Tuesday, February 25, 2025

‘It’s a new Barca’ – Xavi ‘proud’ of youngsters and fires ominous warning after win

Must read

Xavi Hernandez hailed the beginning of “a brand new Barca” after a pair of La Masia gamers starred because the Catalans got here from behind to beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 within the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.

Winger Lamine Yamal, 16, and centre-back Pau Cubarsi, 17, obtained the nod to begin on the Parc des Princes in a recreation of giant significance to each golf equipment and took their probability to impress.

Yamal’s devilish outswinging ball into the field paved the best way for Raphinha’s first purpose within the thirty seventh minute, whereas Cubarsi handled threats on the different finish of the pitch with aplomb on simply his second look in Europe’s best membership competitors.

With Fermin Lopez, 20, and Pedri, 21, coming off the bench, it’s little marvel Xavi, who will go away on the finish of the season, is so optimistic concerning the future.

“We have now to be proud,” Xavi advised TNT Sports activities. “With Cubarsi, 17, Lamine, 16, Fermin is a participant from La Masia additionally and so they have extra dedication with the staff, so I’m very completely satisfied as a result of it’s a brand new Barca and we’re in a great way I believe.”

Barcelona led at half-time due to Raphinha’s well-taken opener however have been shocked by two targets in three minutes shortly after the break.

- Advertisement -

However Barcelona’s substitutions wrestled momentum again of their favour.

Pedri marked his 61st-minute introduction with an beautiful help for Raphinha with one in all his first touches of the sport earlier than Andreas Christensen headed previous Gianluigi Donnarumma to offer Barcelona a slender benefit for subsequent week’s second leg on the Camp Nou.

“It’s an enormous win in fact, enjoying away within the Champions League,” Xavi added. “We did rather well in defence and assault however particularly in defence. All people labored for the staff and tactically we did rather well.

“The wingers helped us so much. Cubarsi jumped so properly, first in opposition to Kang-In Lee, generally to Asensio as a result of they modified loads of gamers.

“We defended so properly in opposition to [Kylian] Mbappe with Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo and we created many possibilities.

“I believe Robert [Lewandowski] made a distinction, Raphinha, after which the gamers that got here inside actually helped us so much, particularly Pedri.

- Advertisement -

“I’m very completely satisfied and really happy with the staff. It’s only a small benefit nevertheless it’s an enormous win.”

TNT Sports activities presents the premium reside sports activities rights beforehand carried by BT Sport together with the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Convention League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Problem Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming residence for TNT Sports activities within the UK is discovery+, the place followers can get pleasure from a subscription that features TNT Sports activities, Eurosport and leisure in a single vacation spot. You can even watch TNT Sports activities via BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

See also  Warriors’ rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis is finally starting to flourish for Golden State

Related News

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Latest News

- Advertisement -