Xavi blasts 'unfair criticism' as Barca books last-eight spot

BARCELONA — Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said beating Napoli to reach the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday was one of his finest moments in the job.

The Spanish champion won 3-1 at the Olympic Stadium to seal a 4-2 aggregate win against last year's Serie A winner, returning to the last eight for the first time since 2020.

"There has been a lot of unfair criticism, (that we were) the joke of the Champions League, we had to play with that pressure," Xavi told a news conference.