Barcelona news: Aubameyang reveals key reason to success is being happy

Striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has revealed that the key reason for his incredible Barcelona form is being happy. The 32-year-old scored the winner against Galatasaray in the 2-1 Europa League last-16 second leg fixture in Istanbul on Thursday. It was Aubameyang’s seventh goal in 10 games for the Catalan club since joining from Arsenal in the January transfer window. At NEF Stadyumu, Pedri canceled out Marcao’s opener before Aubameynag’s second half goal helped Barca to the quarter-finals of the competition. 

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Aubameyang’s goal-scoring run started with a hat-trick against Valencia in February and then he went on to  score in four of the next six games in all competitions.  In the previous game, Barca needed a win to go through to the next round since the first leg at Camp Nou had ended 0-0.

Although the hosts took the lead through Marcao, Xavi’s side came back to score twice and could have added more in the injury-time if not for the woodwork. Pedri scored a sublime solo goal as he dodged and shimmed his way through a minefield of Galatasaray defenders before slotting home past Inaki Pena into the back of the net.  

Moments after the interval, the visitors took the lead through Aubameyang. Pena made a brilliant double-save to deny Busquets and Pedri but the ball eventually fell to Aubameyang in front of goal, and the Gabon international made no mistake as he put the ball inside the net. 

After the win over Galatasaray, Aubameyang was asked about his form and the potential reason for it. “What can I tell you? I am working a lot and I think that the most important thing is that I am happy,” he said, as cited by Muno Deportivo.

“When you are happy, you have excitement for everything, to score goals, to help the team and to kill.”

The result helped Barca to extend their unbeaten run to 11 games in all competitions. Xavi’s side has now won four of their last five games.

The Catalan club’s resurgence under Xavi has been phenomenal. They had a disastrous start to the 2021-22 campaign that saw them part ways with head coach Ronald Koeman and then Xavi arrived in November.

The Spanish tactician has transformed the club’s fortunes as they are now placed third in the La Liga standings and are touted as one of the favourites to lift the Europa League.