Joan Laporta: 'La Liga is Barcelona's priority this season'

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said that the team's "priority" this season is to win La Liga.

The Catalan outfit have already secured silverware this term, lifting the Spanish Super Cup last month, while they are in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.

Barcelona are also chasing silverware in the Europa League, with the team preparing to take on Manchester United in a two-legged knockout round playoff this month.

However, Laporta has said that reclaiming the La Liga title is the club's priority, having failed to win the trophy since 2019, with Real Madrid (twice) and Atletico Madrid triumphing in the last three seasons.

"Our priority is to win La Liga. We are firm candidates but we need to work hard until the end. There is great enthusiasm within the team. We're growing defensively, conceding only seven goals all season," Laporta told reporters during a press conference.

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Barcelona are currently on a 10-game winning run in all competitions, which has included five straight victories in the league.

Xavi's team are top of the table, eight points clear of second-placed Real Madrid on the same number of matches (20), and they will be back in league action this weekend against Villarreal.

Laporta also praised Xavi for his work since arriving as head coach, with the legendary former midfielder steering the club in the right direction despite the disappointment of failing to qualify for the knockout round of the Champions League.

"I want to thank Xavi for the great job he has done. He knows Barça fully, he is a positive person who always looks for solutions. From the board, we are very grateful to him," Laporta added.

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Laporta also touched on Ousmane Dembele's future, with the Frenchman entering the final 18 months of his contract at Camp Nou.

The president said that the club are keen for the attacker "to continue at Barca", with the 25-year-old potentially being offered a new contract in the near future.

"Dembele is happy and so are we. He is an important player for the club and for Xavi. We want him to continue at Barca," Laporta added.

The Frenchman is currently on the sidelines with the hamstring problem that he picked up against Girona at the end of January, and he will allegedly not be back for Barcelona until the middle of next month.