Barcelona president talks Xavi, fans, title chances: “We are not throwing in the towel”

Barcelona have found themselves in a difficult position, especially after a 1-1 draw with Napoli in their UCL Round of 16 first-leg encounter.

The result essentially means that Barcelona must secure a win when they welcome Napoli at Estadi Montjuic in the second leg.

Other than the Champions League, Barça have little chance of winning silverware this season. They are behind Girona and Real Madrid in La Liga, whereas the club were knocked out of the Copa Del Rey early on in the campaign.

Laporta on Barcelona’s prospects this season

However, in a recent interview, Barcelona president Joan Laporta spoke about the club’s prospects during the remainder of the campaign and assured fans that the team will fight until the very end.

“We are not throwing in the towel, we will fight for the league and the Champions League. Anything is possible,” Laporta said (h/t Mundo Deportivo).

Barcelona are currently third in the league table, eight points behind table toppers Real Madrid, with 13 matches left to be played.

Barcelona’s President Joan Laporta urged fans to support the team through tough times (Photo by LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images)

Laporta urged fans to keep supporting the team, as they look to compete in La Liga and UCL until the very end.

“We have to be closer than ever to our teams, our coaches and players. If the players see that you never give up, neither will they. Here we have to fight to the end, it is part of our competitive essence. We have to stand by our players and our coach,” he said.

The Barcelona president added that he will always ensure Barcelona’s identity and ownership model remains intact, even in the face of major crises.

“Barça has no one but us Barcelona fans. Our strength comes from our identity, our history, our ownership model, which will always be defended by the board that I have the honor of presiding over,” he said.

“We will ensure that the club is always in the hands of the socios,” the Spaniard added.

Finally, Laporta heaped praise on Xavi Hernandez, who will be leaving as head coach at the end of the season. The Barça president highlighted the Spaniard’s never-to-die attitude and his close affection with the club.

“Xavi is a stone-cold Culé who will fight to the end. I give him my full support,” said Laporta, whose comments come just before Barcelona’s upcoming game against Getafe, where earning all three points could be crucial if the team is to remain in the title race.