Xavi does not believe Barcelona are favourites to win the Europa League as they prepare to face Napoli in a play-off first leg on Thursday.
The Blaugrana's run of 17 successive years competing in the knockout rounds of the Champions League came to a halt when they finished third behind Bayern Munich and Benfica in Group E.
Barca will do battle with Serie A side Napoli for a place in the round of 16 in their first experience of playing in Europe's secondary club competition in its current guise.
Head coach Xavi spoke of his anger over the Catalan giants' eimination from the Champions League, but does not feel they ought to be expected to lift the Europa League.
He told reporters on Wednesday: "I wouldn't say we are favourites. We're going for the two titles, but we're up against a difficult opponent.
"Sevilla have much more experience than us in this competition. I see us as candidates, not favourites, but in the tie."
Napoli are third in Serie A after holding champions Inter to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Xavi knows Barca face a big challenge as they attempt to advance at the expense of Luciano Spalletti's side.
"We could perfectly see this tie in the Champions League. They are a very good team," he said.
"Napoli are a really compact team with a very experienced coach. They work well in moving the ball and pressing high up the pitch.
"They're going to make it difficult for us, they want the ball. They also defend well in low blocks and have top-class players."
Xavi has found it painful to see Champions League matches knowing Barca are out of the competition, but considers the Europa League as a chance to add a new trophy to the club's haul.
He added: "It's one more motivation to win a title that we don't have. It makes me very angry to listen to the music of the Champions League and not be there."
The Barca boss revealed he could give Sergio Busquets a rest and hinted he may be ready to unleash Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the start.
He said of the Gabon striker: "Now he is 100 per cent and we will see him play safely. He is a player capable of playing space, going down to receive and unload.
"I am very happy with him. He is very professional and very positive within the group."
Lionesses goalkeeper Earps set to miss Euro 2025 qualifier against France with hip injury
England Women's goalkeeper Mary Earps will miss the decisive clash with France Women on Tuesday after withdrawing from Sarina Wiegman's squad with a hip injury.
Earps left St. James' Park with crutches after sustaining an injury just eight minutes into Friday's 2-1 defeat against France.
That marred what should have been a memorable occasion for Manchester United goalkeeper Earps, who made her 50th appearance for the Lionesses.
England confirmed Earps will be unavailable for Tuesday's Euro 2025 qualifier away to France, with Birmingham City's Lucy Thomas joining Wiegman's 23-player squad for the trip to Saint-Etienne.
"Not the way the big 50 was meant to go, but grateful and hugely proud to have reached 50 caps for England," Earps posted to Instagram on Sunday.
"Thank you for your lovely messages, gutted that I've picked up a minor hip injury which will sideline me for a couple of weeks.
"Not something I'm used to but nothing a little bit of rest and relaxation won't fix – right behind the girls for Tuesday!"
England are third in Group A3 as Wiegman's side chase qualification for next year's European Championship in Switzerland.
The Lionesses have four points and are behind second-placed Sweden on goal difference, with France five clear at the top of the group after three games.
Wiegman's team then host Ireland on July 12 and play Sweden away four days later in their final group game.
Mourinho in 'negotiations' with Fenerbahce over head coach vacancy
Jose Mourinho has "started negotiations" with Fenerbahce over becoming their new head coach, the Turkish Super Lig side has confirmed.
The 61-year-old is reportedly nearing a return to management, five months after he was sacked by Roma.
Fenerbahce are searching for a new boss after parting company with Ismail Kartal on Friday, after he guided them to a second-place finish behind Galatasaray - amassing an impressive 99 points.
And the Yellow Canaries revealed on public disclosure platform KAP - as part of a legal process to alert investors - they are in talks with the decorated Portuguese coach.
"Our company has started negotiations with Jose Mario Dos Santos Mourinho Felix for the post of Football A team coach," the Fenerbahce post read.
Turkey would be the fifth different country in which Mourinho has managed, with the former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Inter coach winning eight domestic titles across four different nations.
He has also won five major European competitions during his managerial career - including two Champions League crowns with Porto and Inter - while guiding Roma to their maiden continental triumph in the inaugural Europa Conference League two years ago.
Al-Hilal 1-1 Al-Nassr (5-4 pens): Ronaldo and company lose chaotic King's Cup final
Al-Nassr lost a dramatic Kings' Cup final featuring three red cards against Al-Hilal on Friday, with the Saudi Pro League champions claiming the treble with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win.
Former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic peeled away to the back post to head home the opener after just seven minutes, before Cristiano Ronaldo was denied by Yassine Bounou.
Al-Nassr looked to be imploding when David Ospina was sent off for a wild lunge on Malcom outside his penalty area shortly after half-time, but it was 10 versus 10 when Ali Al Bulayhi received his second yellow card late on.
Aiman Yahya took advantage to equalise in stoppage time, before Al-Hilal lost a second centre-back to a red card, Kalidou Koulibaly receiving his marching orders when he clattered into substitute goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah.
Neither team could find an extra-time winner, though, and it was Bounou who came up with the goods in the shoot-out.
He pushed Meshari Al Nemer's tame kick onto the post after Ali Al Hassan and Saud Abdulhamid had traded misses, claiming the trophy for Al-Hilal.
Data Debrief: Domestic sweep for Al-Hilal
Having also won the Saudi Super Cup and the Saudi Pro League, going unbeaten throughout their league campaign, Al-Hilal capped a perfect domestic season with their 11th King's Cup. Only Al-Ahli (13) have won the competition more often.
Al-Nassr, meanwhile, have now gone four seasons without a domestic trophy, with August's Arab Club Champions Cup all they have to show for their efforts in 2023-24.
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