Barcelona manager Xavi has admitted the season has been 'difficult' after the Catalan giants lost Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain.Messi left his boyhood side for PSG on a free transfer last summer and, while the diminutive Argentinian superstar has endured a tough spell in France, his absence has been felt at Camp Nou, according to Xavi.
Barca's resurgence under Xavi came to a halt earlier this month when they were stunned by Eintracht Frankfurt in the semi-finals of the Europa League.
The 3-2 loss to the German side in the second leg was the first of two straight defeats as they then fell to a shock 1-0 loss to Cadiz in La Liga, before they returned to winning ways with victory at Real Sociedad last Thursday.
Xavi's side are 15 points behind arch-rivals Real Madrid - who they beat 4-0 in the Bernabeu in the standout moment of their often-troubled season - in the race for the league title.
'There have been moments of all types,' the Barca manager said.'Moments of science fiction, the 4-0 at the Bernabeu, title situations that we haven't achieved and of terror too, with absences for Covid and when we were ninth.
'It's the post-Messi era which is difficult in itself, he won matches on his own, but we have to be patient in spite of the fact I was eager to win titles, it wasn't to be. We need to reinforce but we have to be realistic and think that this is a difficult situation.
'It isn't easy but the this team has faith, character and a great attitude. We have to keep believing and next year fight to win titles.'
Messi is set to remain with PSG next season - following rumours he may make an immediate return to Spain - despite his own troubles.
But he has reportedly 'given up on winning the Champions League' with the French club after the Ligue 1 side crashed out of the competition again in March.
The 34-year-old is second to team-mate Kylian Mbappe on the Ligue 1 assists rankings but has scored only eight goals in all competitions.