Xavi plays downs Barcelona Champions League semi-final hopes: ‘PSG are still favourites’

The latest comments laid out by Barcelona head coach Xavi have piqued widespread attentions across the club’s fanbase.

This comes after the Spanish tactician moved to play down his side’s hopes of advancing to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Barcelona, of course, are fresh off securing a crucial advantage in the first leg of their continental quarter-final showdown with French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

After making the trip to the Parc des Princes, a Raphinha double, followed by Andreas Christensen’s late header, proved enough to guide the visitors to the right side of a 3-2 result.

With the tie’s return set to play out back on home soil in Catalunya, the general consensus is that Barcelona have therefore secured for themselves the tag of favourites to march on to the final four of the Champions League.

One individual of a different opinion, or so he claims, though, is the aforementioned Xavi.

Speaking to the media post-match on Tuesday night, Barcelona’s headmaster was drawn on the balance of the tie after his side’s triumph in Paris.

And Xavi went on to explain that:

“PSG are still the favorites. It will be very difficult to win in Barcelona.”

Conor Laird | GSFN