Barcelona ready to do 'everything' to win Europa League, says Frenkie de Jong

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has said the club are determined to win the Europa League to make up for a disappointing start to the season.

Barca host Galatasaray on Thursday in the last-16 first leg of the second-tier European competition, and although the Europa League represents a step down from Barcelona's usual standards, it offers a chance to finish the season on a positive note.

Despite an uptick in domestic form to move into third place in La Liga, Barca are well off the pace in the title race and trail leaders Real Madrid by 15 points, albeit with a game in hand.

"We're excited, we want to win titles and now we're in the Europa League. So we're going to do everything to win it," Dutchman De Jong said.

"We are in a good place right now. Enjoying our momentum and playing with confidence. We won games in which we dominated and it gives you a lot of confidence, so we want to keep the momentum going."

With Real Madrid leading the La Liga standings comfortably, and their Copa del Rey campaign ended by Athletic Bilbao, the Europa League looks like the only way to win a trophy this season for Xavi Hernandez's side.

And, after eliminating Serie A contenders Napoli in the previous round, they are favourites to triumph in the final at Seville's Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in May.

"We are pumped. We are in a competition that gives us hope," Xavi said.

"We had very good feelings against Napoli. We are in a very good dynamic and we want to keep going. We have to continue winning but we also want to win playing well. We have to keep insisting on our game model because it is what will give us consistency looking forward."

Barca are unbeaten since January 20, when they lost 3-2 after extra time to Bilbao in the Copa del Rey.