Barcelona felt ‘robbed in their own home’ after Eintracht Frankfurt ticket fiasco, says Xavi

Xavi says Barcelona felt ‘ROBBED in their own home’ after 20,000 Eintracht Frankfurt fans were able to pack into the Nou Camp for their side’s Europa League victory, as he fumes his players were not ‘comfortable’

  • Barcelona were knocked out of the Europa League by Eintracht Frankfurt 
  • Around 20,000 fans of the German side were able to get into the Nou Camp 
  • However, this came despite them initially being allocated just 5,000 tickets 
  • Xavi has expressed anger at the fiasco, admitting his players felt ‘robbed’ 

Xavi believes Barcelona felt ‘robbed in their own home’ after chaos over the allocation of tickets for their clash against Eintracht Frankfurt overshadowed their surprise exit from the Europa League.

The LaLiga side were dumped out of the competition on aggregate after Filip Kostic scored twice in a 3-2 defeat which saw Frankfurt progress to the semi-finals 4-3 on aggregate, with a late rally from Xavi’s men not enough. 

However, the raucous atmosphere at the Nou Camp was helped by the presence of a larger than usual travelling contingent, with around 20,000 German fans able to get in. This came despite them initially being allocated just 5,00 seats.

Xavi says Barcelona felt ‘robbed in their own home’ after Eintracht Frankfurt’s ticket fiasco

Around 20,000 fans of the German side packed into the Nou Camp for the Europa League tie

Around 20,000 fans of the German side packed into the Nou Camp for the Europa League tie

Blaugrana president Joan Laporta has since labelled the fiasco a ‘disgrace’, and boss Xavi has been quick to point out the psychological effect of the situation.  

‘The players did not feel like they were playing at home,’ Xavi said.

‘It’s not an excuse, but the atmosphere conditioned us. We were not comfortable.

‘I had a bad feeling from the first moment when we got on the bus at the hotel and we did not feel at home. 

Their vocal support helped lift their players to a memorable victory, which knocked Barca out

Their vocal support helped lift their players to a memorable victory, which knocked Barca out

The Blaugrana have since been left red-faced by the manner by the allocation of their tickets

The Blaugrana have since been left red-faced by the manner by the allocation of their tickets

‘They were throwing everything at us, [the players] couldn’t even get down the tunnel. Then we gave a penalty away in the first minute. 

‘It was a fateful night in every sense, sporting and institutionally. It started badly and ended badly. You feel robbed in your own home.’

Xavi had urged Barcelona supporters to fill their famous ground before the game, and fans who were not going were urged to give up their seats to create a grandstand atmosphere for the crunch quarter-final tie. 

But these calls were not heeded, as shown by the frosty reception – a sea of jeers and boos – when the home side’s stars ran out to warm-up. 

Boss Xavi admitted his players were affected by the hostile atmosphere during the showdown

Boss Xavi admitted his players were affected by the hostile atmosphere during the showdown

Questioned on the atmosphere, a red-faced Laporta said: ‘It’s a disgrace what has happened. I feel embarrassed.’

Xavi has said he expects to know why there was such an imbalance in the crowd. 

‘The club will give an explanation at some point – or at least find solutions so it does not happen again,’ he added.

‘It was the club’s mistake, for sure. When the club finds out what errors led to Thursday’s events, they will explain it to us.’

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk