Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez has heeded the advice from Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller in where the Catalan club needed to improve.
Barca’s three-goal defeat in Munich in their Champions League group stage game in December sealed their fate in the competition, as Benfica finished ahead of them in the group.
Blaugrana coach Xavi gave an angry post-match interview to that match in which he blasted his side’s performance and called their Europa League placing their new ‘reality’.
It was Barca’s second three-goal defeat against Bayern in the group, having been humiliated to them in an 8-2 defeat at the quarter final stage of the competition in 2020.
Bayern forward Muller gave an interview after the group stage in which he claimed that Barca were at the same technical and skill level as his side, but were missing one key ingredient.
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While Xavi was in charge of that defeat in Munich, he had been appointed less than a month prior and only subsequently has he managed to implement a clear style of play.
The German international had highlighted the one element which his side were able to keep exploiting against Barca.
Muller said after the Champions League group stages games: "I think Barça can't cope with the intensity.
"Technically, they have it all, they are great players tactically and technically.
"But they can't cope with the intensity in top football."
This is something that has been notably added to Barca’s game under Xavi, who insists that players must get closer to the ball across the pitch and play on the front foot.
This was outlined after Sunday’s win at Elche, which Barca came from a goal behind at the break to win, by goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
The shot-stopper said after the game: "Xavi told us at the break to improve the intensity. They were man marking us and that did not help our game."
Xavi said after the victory: "At the break I had the feeling that we didn't deserve to be behind. I was angry. I had the feeling that by attacking better, we would win.
"We made a tactical change in that sense.
"I don't know if winning La Liga is going to be too much for us. The feeling is very good.
"We've had several wins in a row and it's a sign that we're doing well.
"You get the players to believe in what you are doing."
The triumph at Elche moved Barca up to third in the standings and above Real Betis but remain 15 points off league leaders Real Madrid.
Xavi’s side do have a game in hand over Los Blancos, but it appears that their hopes of a title challenge for this campaign are overly optimistic.
