‘Very professional’ – Barcelona 2006 UCL-winning forward talks Xavi, Luis Enrique, final vs Arsenal

Barcelona have surprised everyone over the course of the last two months and turned their season around for the better since Xavi announce his summer exit from the club.

They have now gone 11 games unbeaten across La Liga and the Champions League, and have overcome Napoli confidently, winning 4-2 against them on aggregate, including a superb 3-1 win at home.

This win has catapulted them to the quarter-finals, where they will face off against PSG. And should they qualify, one of Atletico Madrid or Borussia Dortmund will await them in the semi-finals, which is an easier draw on paper than the other side of the bracket.

A win in the Champions League this season would be right up there with the 2006 win, when Frank Rijkaard unexpectedly guided the side to their second ever UCL win.

One of the starters in that final, against Arsenal, was Ludovic Giuly, playing on the right-wing.

The Frenchman, having played for both PSG and Barcelona, spoke to the club in an interview recently, touching on topics such as the 2006 win, Xavi’s importance, and much more.

On the 2006 win

Giuly was an integral part of the 2006 Barcelona side, most notably scoring the winning-goal against the mighty AC Milan side as the Catalans cruised to the final 1-0 on aggregate.

Giuly – Barcelona’s unsung UCL hero. (Photo by PACO SERINELLI/AFP via Getty Images)

He started the final against Arsenal, too, and played the entire 90 for the Catalans, while Xavi stayed on the bench.

“It was a dream for Barça, but also for me because we played at the Stade de France, which I know very well, and it was a special night. The Champions League is very complicated to win and I remember seeing so many people happy in that final,” he concluded.

On Luis Enrique and Xavi

“Luis Enrique has changed everything in Paris,” Giuly said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

They have competition in all positions. He hasn’t used the same lineup in three games in a row, really. There are no 11 players, there are 20 and they can all play. The group management is phenomenal, but then we need to see how they perform in two games so demanding in a row.”

As far as Xavi is concerned, Giuly waxed lyrical about the Spaniard and how he important he is to Barcelona as an institution.

“I see him as a very organized, very professional coach. Xavi as a player was incredible and knows how to work and deal with other players. Talent has to be worked on, and he is a coach who wants more every moment,” he started off by saying.

“He loves football, he loves Barça. He has always had a lot of affection for me and is a great person.”