Real Madrid and Villarreal reaching the Champions League semi finals this week showed the strength of LaLiga, Barcelona manager Xavi said on Wednesday as he eyes a return to Europe's elite competition next season.
Real knocked out holders Chelsea while Villarreal stunned German champions Bayern Munich to reach the last four of the competition on Tuesday.
Xavi could only watch on as his side are in action on Thursday in the second tier Europa League, hosting Eintracht Frankfurt in the second leg of their quarter-final.
However, Xavi praised his Spanish rivals for their progress and said it showed the quality of the league.
'What happened on Tuesday shows that LaLiga is not far behind the Premier League,' Xavi told a news conference.
'No matter what, LaLiga will always be LaLiga and it's very competitive. I saw both games. I am a soccer fan. And in the end our main goal is to be back in the Champions League.
'By the way, Villarreal are a big club now, aren't they? You all should put them on your big clubs list.'
Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League earlier this season after failing to progress from Group E, winning just two of their group stage games.
But they qualified for the Europa League and now face Eintracht Frankfurt in the second leg of their quarter final tie on Thursday after a 1-1 draw in the first.
The Europa League represents Barca's only realistic chance of lifting a trophy this season as Real have a 12 point advantage at the top of the LaLiga standings. Barca are second, level on 30 points with third-placed Sevilla.
However, Xavi denied there was pressure on his side to win silverware due to Real's form.
'It is the history of Barca that demands of us, not Madrid,' the Spanish coach said. 'We do not look at Real Madrid to mirror ourselves. Our history is our biggest pressure and responsibility.
'Since (former player and coach) Johan Cruyff came, he set a bar for himself. Win by playing well. This is how we Catalans are. This is how we live it. I don't know how it is in Madrid. Madrid has a spectacular competitive gene, but Barca is another story.'
vishwas11
298
A third placed Chelsea in Epl gave such a hard time time to First placed Madrid in La Liga imagine what will happen when they face Man city n Liverpool...EPL is still far better at the moment
♥️MADRlDSTA♥️
228
The EPL is clearly over la Liga. I'm a MADRID fan but I can admit it. La Liga will never reach the quality of the EPL again. The closest la Liga got to the EPL was when Madrid went on and won multiple UCL's in quick succession. Honestly, we struggled against Chelsea, and scored some lucky counter-attacking goals. We can't replicate a performance like that against City or Liverpool.
saomoryz
195
Can't wait to see our Barca trashing Bayern 😭🌈⚡
White_Lotus99
113
With this guy around, La Liga truly can't be far behind
rapeilosuy
105
The fact remains, Lá Liga has got more Ballon D'or than any other leagues in the world 💯 the last 15+ Ballon D'or belong to La Liga, now which one is the best league? 🤔 I'd say EPL is the most competitive but La Liga is the best league 💯
ankitttttttttrtr
48
A third placed Chelsea in Epl gave such a hard time time to First placed Madrid in La Liga imagine what will happen when they face Man city n Liverpool...EPL is still far better at the moment
Lol it doesn’t go like that - then Villareal knocked out Bayern and dont act Bayern is an average team now😂
Morry256
37
Interms of technical ability of players, La Liga may be Superior to the EPL But interms of marketing and media, EPL is light-years ahead...EPL teams always come up withthese labels for teams like big six...wtf Spurs and United haven't won trophies in over five years yet they're big six teams😂 But Villarreal are defending champions of UEL but aren't even labelled a big team in Spain, the likes of Sevilla, ATM, Villarreal are just UCL going teams In EPL Arsenal will finish Seventh or eigth and still be a top six team...EPL has media gurus
SaadAkhtarKhan
37
A third placed Chelsea in Epl gave such a hard time time to First placed Madrid in La Liga imagine what will happen when they face Man city n Liverpool...EPL is still far better at the moment
what kind of logic is this? Villarreal beat United (who finished 2nd last season) so does this mean villareal are better than the other 18 pl teams?
Bobbycentury
36
A third placed Chelsea in Epl gave such a hard time time to First placed Madrid in La Liga imagine what will happen when they face Man city n Liverpool...EPL is still far better at the moment
And probably bayern a 8th place right 🤣 overrated league
Bobbycentury
36
A third placed Chelsea in Epl gave such a hard time time to First placed Madrid in La Liga imagine what will happen when they face Man city n Liverpool...EPL is still far better at the moment
Ok now chelsea is just a 3rd place chelsea? 😂 wow
Olamideey7
28
A third placed Chelsea in Epl gave such a hard time time to First placed Madrid in La Liga imagine what will happen when they face Man city n Liverpool...EPL is still far better at the moment
That third place chelsea also gave serious problems to both liverpool and man city, So what you on about? Besides, real madrid beat liverpool last season with a injury hit team.
Cesabeknoy
16
The EPL is clearly over la Liga. I'm a MADRID fan but I can admit it. La Liga will never reach the quality of the EPL again. The closest la Liga got to the EPL was when Madrid went on and won multiple UCL's in quick succession. Honestly, we struggled against Chelsea, and scored some lucky counter-attacking goals. We can't replicate a performance like that against City or Liverpool.
U ain’t serious look at you REAL MARDRID ALONE HAS WON CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 13 and All the premier league teams had won 13 show me the difference 😀😀😀😀😀
hadabciop
14
A third placed Chelsea in Epl gave such a hard time time to First placed Madrid in La Liga imagine what will happen when they face Man city n Liverpool...EPL is still far better at the moment
Really? But a 6th placed Villarreal won a 2nd placed ManU in Europa League final. Get a life man!!!
Olamideey7
11
exactly and Madrid got extremely lucky to get by Chelsea, there's no way they'll get passed city
Extremely lucky? Scoring you five goals over two ties is extremely lucky?. 🤡
midestivah
8
The EPL is clearly over la Liga. I'm a MADRID fan but I can admit it. La Liga will never reach the quality of the EPL again. The closest la Liga got to the EPL was when Madrid went on and won multiple UCL's in quick succession. Honestly, we struggled against Chelsea, and scored some lucky counter-attacking goals. We can't replicate a performance like that against City or Liverpool.
you're being realistic but you can't play down the quality of Madrid's team, that's what matters most, but the only thing is that city or Liverpool won't makes those kind of mistakes Chelsea made and got punished for it by the deadliest striker in the 🌐planet 🌏earth, meanwhile those quality at madrid is what you need to conquer Europe, congratulations to you guys for a deserved win, you deserved it
Rkalpesh009
8
A third placed Chelsea in Epl gave such a hard time time to First placed Madrid in La Liga imagine what will happen when they face Man city n Liverpool...EPL is still far better at the moment
then also la liga team have higher UFC trophy then English legue 🤣🤣🤣