After progressing through Round Two qualification with an emphatic 8-0 aggregate win over Paris FC, we were placed into Group D with the Liga F champions, St Polen and Hammerby in Friday’s draw.
Barcelona enter this term’s competition as reigning champions having won each of the last two prestigious tournaments while also possessing one of the finest squads in world football – including current Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati.
It will also see City lock horns with Pere Romeu’s side for the first time since our quarter-final defeat to the Catalan’s in 2021 where we were edged out 4-2 on aggregate.
And Taylor says he’s looking forward to the test of Barcelona and the Champions League overall.
“I think it’s a good draw. I really do,” he declared.
“Once we were kind of through the qualification and I was really pleased with how the team performed in two games against a tough Paris team.
“Once the explanation of the draw, pots and where it was [was confirmed], up until that point we were focused on qualifying and probably weren’t looking at that too much.
“Once we realised and we knew we were having one of the teams who have already qualified being in there, it was a case of who else will we get from pot three and four.
“I have to say I’m really happy with it. I think it’s great to play Barcelona, it’s a really good challenge for us and one to be really excited about.
“They’ve been a shining light in Europe and domestically as well. We came up against them in my first season in the quarter-finals [in 2021].
“It’s a great game for us to test and challenge ourselves and ultimately see where we are.”
Watch Taylor’s full press conference in the video player above!
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