Gerard Pique sees that Barcelona has now returned to its “origins” following a keen run of performances under manager Xavi Hernandez.

Barca is just coming off of a 4-2 win against Napoli in the second leg of their Europa League playoff tie. The Catalan side was quite creative in its attacking sequences over the course of the match. From counter-attacks to building up play from out wide, Napoli’s defensive unit found stout difficulties in containing Barca’s high-octane attack on the day.

Barca also picked up crucial wins over both Atletico Madrid and Valencia in La Liga play, and as Gerard Pique touched on in his post-match press conference, the recent run of quality results have helped to convince him that the Catalan side has shown notable improvements under the managerial reign of Xavi.

“We have not been competing in Europe at the level a club like Barca should be,” Pique said. “But now we have gone back to our origins, something we maybe had stopped doing recently. It's a message for everyone, for us and for people on the outside, that little by little we're on our way back. We're on the right path.”

Barca sure was near rock bottom following its 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the opening fixture of their UEFA Champions League group stage schedule. From the uncertainty over now-former Barca manager Ronald Koeman’s status with the club to the imbalance within the team’s attack, not much went Barca’s way in the opening months of the season.

Pique is now much pleased to see a more jubilant Barca, which he believes can be credited to the club’s activity over the recent winter transfer window.

“A lot has changed since then,” Pique said. “I would say we now have the fundamentals in place. There is a base from which the team feels confident and comfortable.

“We also strengthened well in January, adding firepower in attack. We know we can score and compete now. There's been a change on the bench as well with [Xavi coming in]. There have been a lot of changes and that's reflected in the team.”

Jordi Alba was a standout performer in Barca’s knockout stage win over Napoli, as he opened the scoring with a goal in the early stages of the first half.

As with Pique, Alba has seen the highs and lows for Barca as of late, and he is satisfied to see the club continue to turn it around.

“Barca is always Barca, in good times and bad,” Alba said after the match. “We have gone through complicated moments and we will surely continue to go through them. We have to stick together. People are enthusiastic.

“We all go through better and worse moments. I have been mentally and physically for several weeks. Let's keep going. As long as I can provide assists and goals, all the better, but if not, to help the team as I can.”

Barcelona will meet Galatasaray in the Europa League round of 16, and the opening leg of the tie will come next month. Overall, Galatasaray currently sits at 13th place in the Super Lig standings.

For now, Barcelona will return to La Liga play in the upcoming home match against Athletic Bilbao. The Catalan side sure will look to avenge its defeat to Athletic Bilbao from the Copa del Rey round of 16 earlier in the year.