Xavi, the coach of Barcelona, stated that his team demonstrated a winning mentality in the UEFA Champions League after returning to the knockout stages of the premier club competition in Europe for the first time in three seasons on Tuesday. Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix each scored a goal in each half to lead Barcelona to a 2-1 victory over Porto, raising the group leaders' tally to 12 points from five matches. A draw against Antwerp, who have already been eliminated from the competition, in the group's final match will be enough for Barcelona to secure first place.
Xavi commented, "We needed this after two years. Our reaction was good and we showed a winning mentality on several occasions. This was an important step in the right direction and means a lot to the club. It is our first goal achieved in the Champions League. It boosted our self-confidence, especially the players' confidence."
Tuesday's victory follows a disappointing 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, a result that saw Barcelona drop to fourth place, four points behind their eternal rivals Real Madrid. The Spanish coach said, "We feel happy after performing well. The team is making progress, and I can't contain my happiness. You can never solve all the problems at Barcelona, but it’s a day to congratulate the team and the club for the progress."
He added, "There are many things that need improvement, of course. We need to be humble. We did some things very well and others not so well." He expressed hope that the victory would be a turning point. Barcelona will host Atletico Madrid in the league next Sunday.
