Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has admitted that tonight’s Champions League last 16 tie against Napoli at the Stadio Maradona could be tricky with the Italians now under new management even as he picked Nigeria’s international striker Victor Osimhen as one of the players his side must pay attention to.

Napoli sacked Walter Mazzarri and brought in Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona on Monday, 48 hours before they host Barcelona.

“Napoli changed their coach in a surprising way, they have their reasons, but it’s not an easy match to prepare for, as we don’t know what to expect,” Xavi told the eve-of-match press conference.

He added: “The new manager knows the team well. I have no idea what tactical system he’s going to use.

“What’s important is to focus on our style of play and what we want to do, on our ambitions which are to reach the quarter-finals.

“What is certain is that we will have to defend well up against their very strong attacking trio.

”(Victor) Osimhen, (Khvicha) Kvaratskhelia and (Matteo) Politano can turn a game,” he added.

Incidentally, Calzona only took charge of his first training session yesterday with Osimhen and his Partenopei teammates available at their Castel Volturno.

January signing Cyril Ngonge was the only player reportedly unable to take part in full training with the rest of the first team squad.

According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Ngonge trained individually on precautionary grounds, as he had been on the receiving end of a tough tackle during Monday’s session.

Yet irrespective of situation of things at Napoli, Xavi denied his side were favourites going into the tie.

“It’s 50-50, we’ll see tomorrow who is favourite at the end of the game,” added Xavi who has announced he is stepping down as Barca boss at the end of the season.

“It doesn’t change anything for me nor for my team. I’m motivated, and want to pass that motivation onto the team.

“When you are a player or manager at Barcelona the pressure is always the same and it’s very strong.”

Barcelona, five time title-holders, failed to make it out of the group stage of the Champions League in the past two seasons, and were knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 in 2021. (The Nation)

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