Xavi Hernandez took over as Barcelona manager in November and has reached 100 days in charge of the La Liga club. AFP
Xavi Hernandez took over as Barcelona manager in November and has reached 100 days in charge of the La Liga club. AFP
Xavi Hernandez took over as Barcelona manager in November and has reached 100 days in charge of the La Liga club. AFP
Xavi Hernandez took over as Barcelona manager in November and has reached 100 days in charge of the La Liga club. AFP

Sport

Football

Barcelona manager Xavi: Hearing the Champions League music made me angry

Spanish are playing in the Europa League for the first time since 2004 and take on Napoli at Camp Nou on Thursday

The National

February 16, 2022

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Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández admitted that the pain of being knocked out of the Champions League is still very raw.

The Spanish giants face Napoli in the Europa League round-of-32 first leg at Camp Nou on Thursday, taking part in the second-tier competition for the first time since 2004.

Their Champions league dream was brutally ended in the knockout stage when they finished third in their group behind Bayern Munich and Benfica, scoring just two goals in six matches.

“The [Europa League] is an opportunity for us,” Xavi said on Wednesday. “Our main aim is to get back in the Champions League next season and there are two ways to do that: Finish in the top four in La Liga or win the Europa League.

“Of course we would like to be in the Champions League. It hurts that we're not there. Hearing the Champions League music on television [on Tuesday] made me angry.

“But we're in another competition. It is still a European competition. We're not talking about the third division. It is a chance to keep growing and everyone is motivated to win a trophy that the club has never won before.”

Xavi took over as manager in November, replacing the sacked Ronald Koeman, and has had to deal with huge financial restraints with the club stating recently that €159 million ($179m) has been cut from their wage bill due to the crisis caused by the previous board's reckless spending.

Barcelona player ratings in 2-2 draw with Espanyol

Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 6. A Quiet first half until Darder’s outstanding equaliser flew past him. Could do little about the second in an intense derby with nine yellow cards, two of them red. Reuters
Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 6. A Quiet first half until Darder’s outstanding equaliser flew past him. Could do little about the second in an intense derby with nine yellow cards, two of them red. Reuters
Jordi Alba – 7. Crossed for Pedri after a minute and the Canarian did the rest. Got two more crosses to his teammates in the first half from the left side. Made a key clearance. AFP
Jordi Alba – 7. Crossed for Pedri after a minute and the Canarian did the rest. Got two more crosses to his teammates in the first half from the left side. Made a key clearance. AFP
Gerard Pique – 6. Jeered by home fans whenever he touched the ball. Got a yellow card for a foul on Puado – who got one himself a few minutes later for a clash with Pique. Then Pique saw red, and a red card after multiple clashes with Nico Melamed, who was also sent off. Reuters
Gerard Pique – 6. Jeered by home fans whenever he touched the ball. Got a yellow card for a foul on Puado – who got one himself a few minutes later for a clash with Pique. Then Pique saw red, and a red card after multiple clashes with Nico Melamed, who was also sent off. Reuters
Ronald Araujo – 6. Stormed into challenges in an aggressive first half. He didn’t see the second, which was even more intense with 25,000 fans sounding a lot louder than their numbers. EPA
Ronald Araujo – 6. Stormed into challenges in an aggressive first half. He didn’t see the second, which was even more intense with 25,000 fans sounding a lot louder than their numbers. EPA
Sergino Dest – 7. Played the full 90 and needed to shift from a four-man defence to a three, which he did fine in an entertaining game. Reuters
Sergino Dest – 7. Played the full 90 and needed to shift from a four-man defence to a three, which he did fine in an entertaining game. Reuters
Frenkie de Jong – 5. A poor first half when he was dispossessed several times. He was offside to rule out what Barça thought was their second goal from Gavi. AP Photo
Frenkie de Jong – 5. A poor first half when he was dispossessed several times. He was offside to rule out what Barça thought was their second goal from Gavi. AP Photo
Sergio Busquets – 6. Won the ball back which led to the early goal. Had to be up for the physical side of the game as Espanyol set about him. Brought off after an hour, yet still saw more of the ball than any other. Caught ball watching for Espanyol’s second though. Reuters
Sergio Busquets – 6. Won the ball back which led to the early goal. Had to be up for the physical side of the game as Espanyol set about him. Brought off after an hour, yet still saw more of the ball than any other. Caught ball watching for Espanyol’s second though. Reuters
Pedri – 7. Put his side ahead after one minute, getting around the back of the defenders to side foot in an Alba cross. Tried to get his foot across to stop Darder’s equaliser, but that foot touched the ball and helped it beat Ter Stegen. Lovely flicks. Reuters
Pedri – 7. Put his side ahead after one minute, getting around the back of the defenders to side foot in an Alba cross. Tried to get his foot across to stop Darder’s equaliser, but that foot touched the ball and helped it beat Ter Stegen. Lovely flicks. Reuters
Ferran Torres – 6. Angered Espanyol players by kicking the ball away early on. Had two headers close to the goal at the end of the first half. AP
Ferran Torres – 6. Angered Espanyol players by kicking the ball away early on. Had two headers close to the goal at the end of the first half. AP
Adama Traore – 8. Barca tried to use his speed to get behind Espanyol’s defenders. Booked for throwing the excellent De Tomas to the ground on 76 minutes. Barça’s main threat, but his crosses often went too high – fortunately Luuk de Jong was big enough to head the 96th minute equaliser. Getty Images
Adama Traore – 8. Barca tried to use his speed to get behind Espanyol’s defenders. Booked for throwing the excellent De Tomas to the ground on 76 minutes. Barça’s main threat, but his crosses often went too high – fortunately Luuk de Jong was big enough to head the 96th minute equaliser. Getty Images
Gavi – 8. Up for the battle against former Barça player Aleix Vidal. Thought he’d made it 2-1 after 55 minutes, winning the ball ahead of Vidal before kissing the badge in front of the furious Espanyol fans. Getty Images
Gavi – 8. Up for the battle against former Barça player Aleix Vidal. Thought he’d made it 2-1 after 55 minutes, winning the ball ahead of Vidal before kissing the badge in front of the furious Espanyol fans. Getty Images
SUB: Eric Garcia – 4 (on for Araujo at half time). Didn’t seem to realise that Raul de Tomas was waiting behind him, ready to take the ball and score Espanyol’s second. Booked on 76 minutes as several Barcelona players struggled to keep their cool. AP
SUB: Eric Garcia – 4 (on for Araujo at half time). Didn’t seem to realise that Raul de Tomas was waiting behind him, ready to take the ball and score Espanyol’s second. Booked on 76 minutes as several Barcelona players struggled to keep their cool. AP
SUB: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 5 (on for De Jong after 62’). Managed only five touches and no shots. AP
SUB: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 5 (on for De Jong after 62’). Managed only five touches and no shots. AP
SUB: Nico – 6 (on for Gavi after 71’). Carried a piece of paper for his teammates to read in a tactical shift. That meant Barça shifting to three defenders, but it didn’t work. One of three visiting players to be booked in the last 15 minutes. Reuters
SUB: Nico – 6 (on for Gavi after 71’). Carried a piece of paper for his teammates to read in a tactical shift. That meant Barça shifting to three defenders, but it didn’t work. One of three visiting players to be booked in the last 15 minutes. Reuters
SUB: Ousmane Dembele - 5 (on for Alba on 71’). Barcelona went for an equaliser. At least he couldn’t be booed by his own fans like last week, since there are no Barcelona fans allowed to attend games at Espanyol. Hit crosses to Espanyol’s central defenders. Getty Images
SUB: Ousmane Dembele - 5 (on for Alba on 71’). Barcelona went for an equaliser. At least he couldn’t be booed by his own fans like last week, since there are no Barcelona fans allowed to attend games at Espanyol. Hit crosses to Espanyol’s central defenders. Getty Images
SUB: Luuk de Jong - 8 (on for Pedri on 81’). Mthree shots. Superb header in the 96th minute to make it 2-2 and quell Espanyol fans who thought they were about to win a first derby since 2009 and a first ever at Espanyol’s new stadium. Reuters
SUB: Luuk de Jong - 8 (on for Pedri on 81’). Mthree shots. Superb header in the 96th minute to make it 2-2 and quell Espanyol fans who thought they were about to win a first derby since 2009 and a first ever at Espanyol’s new stadium. Reuters

Barca have climbed from ninth to fourth in La Liga since Xavi's arrival, which has just reached the 100 day mark. “100 days? Sometimes it feels like 100 years because we’ve been through unexpected situations,” he admitted.

“We’ve managed them and what I want is for Barca to be where they should be again. We have to push forward, even if it’s not the best moment in the club’s history.

“It looks like 100 years with the injuries and conditions that have befallen us. But we have improved, we are competing, as shown in the league. Things have to be improved but the league is the one that tells you if you are on the right track and I think we are growing and we are positive.”

Barca last took on Napoli in the last-16 of the Champions League two years ago with the Catalans progressing 4-2 on aggregate when the now departed Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were among the scorers in a 3-1 win at Camp Nou in the second leg.

Xavi, whose team drew 2-2 with Espanyol in La Liga at the weekend, said the fact they now face the Serie A title-chasers in the Europa League shows the strength of the competition.

“We were unlucky with the draw,” he said. “Napoli are a Champions League-level side. It is going to be a difficult tie. I would not say we're favourites.

“It is an open draw. Napoli are one of the toughest teams in the competition and we have to play the second leg away from home next week. There are other teams, like Sevilla, in this competition with a lot of experience. We're candidates, but I would not say favourites.”

From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases

A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.

One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait,  Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.

In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.

The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.

And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.

 

Company%20Profile
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While you're here
UAE squad

Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

MATCH INFO

Newcastle United 2 (Willems 25', Shelvey 88')

Manchester City 2 (Sterling 22', De Bruyne 82')

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E77kWh%202%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E178bhp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E410Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E402km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh%2C150%2C000%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETBC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
On Women's Day
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
Towering concerns
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Points Classification

1. Marcel Kittel (Germany / Quick-Step) 63

2. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) 38

3. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) 25

4. Sonny Colbrelli (Italy / Bahrain) 24

5. Mark Cavendish (Britain / Dimension Data) 22

6. Taylor Phinney (U.S. / Cannondale) 21

7. Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky) 20

8. Thomas Boudat (France / Direct Energie) 20

9. Stefan Kueng (Switzerland / BMC Racing) 17

10. Michael Matthews (Australia / Sunweb) 17

If you go

The flights 

Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.

The trip

The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore  offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.

The hotel

There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.

 

 

Match info

Uefa Champions League Group F

Manchester City v Hoffenheim, midnight (Wednesday, UAE)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Normcore explained

Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.

While you're here
Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Tips from the expert

Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.

  1. Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
  2. It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
  3. Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
  4. Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Updated: February 16, 2022, 5:57 PM`
BarcelonaNapoliLa LigaSerie A