Barcelona coach Xavi has labelled Manchester United considered one of Europe’s ‘top teams’ following a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou within the Europa League however believes both golf equipment are ‘coming back’ from lean years.
The stage of Thursday night time’s Europa League knockout playoff first leg was a far cry from the Champions League finals of 2009 and 2011 when Barça and United met in Rome and London respectively for the suitable to be topped Europe’s best.
But such has been the resurgent type of both groups this season after respective issues, this was nonetheless the choose of all of the UEFA fixtures being performed this week. What’s extra, the 2-2 draw that leaves the tie delicately poised forward of the second leg at Old Trafford didn’t disappoint.
“It was a really tough game, really difficult, with a lot of intensity, passion, rhythm,” Xavi advised BT Sport afterwards. “I think we have to be proud because we competed really well until the end. We could have won in the last two chances, but we played against a top team in Europe.
“I think both teams are more or less in the same moment, in the same position, that we are coming back. I said to [Erik] Ten Hag now, ‘congratulations’, because he’s doing very well and they are Manchester United.
“It can be a final, a semi-final, a quarter-final maybe in the future of the Champions League, but now we are in the Europa League and we are coming back. Today we showed our very best performance, a very good performance from both teams.”