Xavi Llorens: The team is growing on every level

With the FC Barcelona Women set to take on Twente in the Champions League round of 16 this Wednesday at the Miniestadi (6.30pm CET), manager Xavi Llorens spoke to the press as part of an open media day ahead of the game.

Barça and Twente squared up last year as well, which Llorens said would be “useful because you know the city, the stadium, the fans, where to go, and about half of the opposition’s team.”

Twente have made six changes to their squad “in some very important positions,” according to Llorens, who went on to say that “they are a physically strong team.”

Llorens, however, did not ignore his side's own qualities.

“We have a very competitive team,” he said. “We are competing and growing on every level.”

“The girls will fight and leave everything on the field because it is an honour to wear this shirt, and more so at the Miniestadi,” Llorens said.

Jennifer Hermoso, who has had a fine start to the season with ten goals already to her name, said the team is going into the game “with a lot of enthusiasm and desire” against a “very physical team.”

Bárbara Latorre, who scored a famous solo goal last week, said it was “important for women’s football to witness these types of goals to show that we are capable of producing wonderful moments.”

“The Champions League is a competition that inspires the players,” she said.