Xavi reveals FC Barcelona's great objective for this UEFA Champions League

FC Barcelona has been fortunate to emerge from the group draw with pairings accessible to the club, after two seasons where it has not been able to qualify from the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Now, the Spanish team has a unique opportunity to qualify, even as first place in its group. Xavi Hernandez, culé coach, is already talking about this situation and what he really wants and sees as the great objective of this season.

FC Barcelona has positioned itself as one of the favorites to qualify in a group that includes Royal Antwerp, Porto and Shakhtar. "It is an illusion to be in this competition again, it is time to take a step forward in the European competition and believe in it. We arrived at a good moment, it is the competition that will give us this step forward to be competitive," said Xavi Hernandez.

In a press conference prior to the club's debut against Antwerp, the coach spoke about FC Barcelona's great objective for this season. "Go to the playoffs and then we'll talk. Being in the round of 16 is the goal, we haven't achieved it for two years. We have to go step by step and try to get through as first in the group," he added. It is worth remembering that the culé team has already gone two consecutive seasons without managing to qualify from the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

What does Antwerp say about facing FC Barcelona?

Royal Antwerp coach Mark van Bommel, in a press conference after the Barcelona match, admitted that the task would be difficult but not impossible. He stated that his team had been 'studying Barcelona and had a strategy prepared. Despite the general concern, remembering the good campaign they have been having in the local league where they have accumulated four consecutive games without defeats and are coming off a 0-3 away victory against Westerlo last Friday.