Pascual was speaking on Monday about the team’s impressive win against Ciudad Real in the final (27-24). “Winning the Champions League, against the team we faced and the way we did it, all adds to the value of the achievement.

“We have done some very nice things to get here, like winning against Kiel the way we did and winning on Saturday at the Rhein-Neckar, where there were 18,000 people against us.” Winning in Germany has always been a problem for Barcelona, but this season they have dealt with that concern brilliantly.

Images to remember

Looking back at pictures from Cologne, Pascual said “when you have just won, seeing that corner decked out in FCB colours, with everybody enjoying the win is amazing. We could offer them what we couldn’t last year. You can’t buy these feelings with money” he said.

An all-round season

Xavi Pascual does not think the season was just about good form at the end. “It is impossible not to be playing well if you haven’t lost a game by November, that’s not normal. People came to the Palau to enjoy themselves, and this feeling gave much strength to the team.” ‘Pasqui’ added that rather than relax after winning the domestic title, “the league made us hungrier.”

Motivation from last year

Pascual remembers the disappointment of losing to Kiel last year. “That inspired us to win the Liga and the Champions League. To realise what we are capable of. It has been a very strong team, very strong mentally. The team has grown and grown” he said.