Xavi Had Premier Dreams

Xavi has admitted he would have liked to have played in the Premier League, adding that he would probably have chosen Manchester United over Liverpool if the opportunity had ever arisen.

The four-time Champions League winner left Barcelona in the summer to join Al-Sadd in Qatar having spent his whole career at Camp Nou. Now 35, that is likely to be his last club but Xavi admitted he would have loved to have experienced life in the Premier League, adding that his choice of side would have been one “with a great history”.

“To be honest, the Premier League is a big attraction for any player. It’s brilliant - the stadiums, the pitches, the fans and how they live football over there – it’s all incredible over there,” he told Eurosport.

“There are many great sides like Chelsea, Manchester United,Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool. If I had to select one, it would have to be a club with a great history; maybe Manchester United or Liverpool.

“I know that there are clubs who have emerged quite recently, like Manchester City for example, but United is my favourite historically-speaking,” he added.

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Xavi Urges History for Spain

Photo: Getty Images

Xavi says Spain have a "great opportunity to make history" as the reigning European and world champions aim for a third tournament triumph.

The Barcelona midfielder is desperate to write his name into the history books, but knows Spain face a difficult task against Italy in Kiev.

"We have achieved great things with the national team," said Xavi.

"We're in a great generation of players and we have a great opportunity to make history. This is our chance."

Having defeated Germany four years ago,Spain, who overcame the Netherlands to win the World Cup in 2010, will become the first team to retain the European Championship if they beat Italy on Sunday.

Even more important, victory over the Azzurri would make them the first country to win three major international tournaments in a row - and Xavi says Spain are determined to show they are still the team to beat.

"We really want to do well and show people that this team is still hungry to win and that our football is good," he added.

Xavi admitted he was a fan of the approach introduced by coach Italy coach Cesare Prandelli and singled out the Azzurri's Andrea Pirlo for praise.

"A few years ago, football was showing tendencies of becoming more physical and the games more condensed," he said.

"We were very lucky that, although (Spain's) footballers were slightly weaker physically, they were more talented technically.

"That's what we want to do against Italy - play a spectacular game.

"Players like Pirlo are playing in a similar way, so I'm very happy that the tendency in football now is to try to play and try to attack."

Meanwhile, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque says his side will have to play to their maximum if they are to have any chance of making history in the final.

"We cannot look back, we cannot think history influences anything," he said.

"Italy are four-time world champions. We were in the same group, have similar star players and both had to come through penalties."

Del Bosque, a former Real Madrid player and manager, was in charge of the Spain team that won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, succeeding Luis Aragones, who coached the team to Euro 2008 success.

Spain's starting XI on Sunday is likely to include at least five players schooled at Barcelona - Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

And Del Bosque added that the national team had learnt to translate their success at club level to the international game.

"Our success is not a coincidence and has its foundations in many things - in the structure of our football, in the academies, and in better coaches," Del Bosque told the Spanish football federation website.

"The Spanish clubs are devoting themselves to training youngsters.

"Before we would travel abroad to look at the academies in France, Russia, Germany. Now many of these countries come to see what we are doing in Spain.

"We have put a certain complex regarding Europe behind us and right now we are at the same level as any country in our vicinity."

Featured Autograph - Xavier Hernandez Creus

Xavier Hernandez Creus has spent all his footballing life at the Nou Camp, having joined Barcelona when he was only 11 years old. The progress he made was always very quick and in season 97-98 he moved up from youth team to Barca B.

In Barça B, he became the brains of Jordi Gonzalvo's team which won promotion to the second division.

Xavi's dream of making his official debut with the first team squad became true when he played in the Spanish Super Cup against Majorca in the summer of 1998. He was in the starting line up and scored: a better debut he could not have asked for. Xavi also played an important role in the league-winning season of 1998-99 with Van Gaal as manager, most notably with an important goal in the Nuevo Zorrilla, which turned round the team's fortunes.

Season 1999-2000 was a good one for Xavi as due to the injury to Guardiola he was the first choice number 4 for a large part of the season. After the legendry captain left for Italian football he became the playmaker of the team and has continued to demonstrate the full range of his talents in this position.

With Van Gaal, Rexach, Antic, Rijkaard and Guardiola in charge of the team, Xavi has always been a key member of the team - a fact made clear by the 300 official games he completed whilst still only 25 years old.

With Rijkaard, Xavi has shown that he can not only play at the heart of midfield, but is also more than able to cover any position in the center of the team, an ability reflected in the fact that he was the most used player in the League winning 2004-05 season, playing 36 games in all.

Xavi will never forget 2 December 2005. While training at La Masía, the midfielder tore the ligaments in his left knee. His recovery was swifter than expected and within five months he was playing again. On 29 April 2006 against Cadiz, Xavi once again “felt like a footballer ". He was back in time to celebrate the League and Champions League titles with his team-mates. 

In the last two seasons with Frank Rijkaard in the dugout, Xavi was one of the players most used by the Dutch manager. Plus in the 2007-08 season he set a personal best of 7 League goals, almost doubling his previous highest of four in the 2001-02 and 2003-04 seasons. 

In Guardiola’s first year, Xavi Hernández extended his goalscoring record. He beat his personal best, getting 10 in 54 games. Along with Iniesta, he formed part of the central playmaking duo that contributed so much to the treble winning season. Xavi led the side that won the 2009-10 league title with an historic 99 points. 

During the 2010/11 season, the midfielder recorded a new record which he continues to stretch as the Club’s leading appearance maker. On January 2nd 2011, Xavi equalled Migueli’s record of 549 appearances when he played in the 2-1 win over Llevant at the Stadium. On winning the league in 2010/11, Xavi equalled the record of six league titles for Barça previously shared by Ramallets and Guardiola. 

In addition Xavi Hernández has also been a fixture in Spain’s national side. He played in the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups and in the 2004 and 2008 European Championships, and in the latter was chosen as best player as Spain picked up the title. 

His World Cup winner’s medal in 2010 completes a truly astounding list of honours. Xavi was the undisputed playmaker par excellence and the best passer of the competition. 

PROFILE

Xavi is the playmaker of the team in every game and shows no nerves whatsoever as he guides the team with an extraordinarily cool head. Since taking on the mantle of playmaker at Barca he has shown incredible vision on the pitch. He is another example of the good work being carried out in the youth teams of Barcelona, especially in the position referred to as number 4 and as he has matured he has shown an increasing ability to adapt himself to different positions in the midfield when his manager has called on him.

His passing to the forwards and his ability to take the pressure off and protect the ball better than almost any other player around, have turned him into one of the focal points on the pitch. He also stands out for his defensive capabilities and his capacity as a ball winner.

In addition he has shown himself more than able at dead ball situations, where his potent shot has brought a number of important goals.

Xavi will always remember December 2, 2005. During training in front of La Masia,the Terrassa-born midfielder suffered a bad injury to his left knee as he ruptured his ligaments. Within five months he was back in action. On April 29, 2006 he returned to play against Cádiz and stated "I feel like a football player again". He was able to celebrate winning the title and the Champions League with the rest of the squad. The midfielder from Terrassa was one of the final candidates for the FIFA WORLD PLAYER AWARD 2008, finally finishing in fifth place.

The Barça playmaker was a regular in Luis Aragonés' Spain team during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where the team progressed to the second round before being beaten by France.

HONOURS

FC Barcelona 

2010/11 Champions League 

2010/11 Liga 

2010/11 Spanish Super Cup 

2009/10 Liga 

2009/10 World Club Cup 

2009/10 European Super Cup 

2009/10 Spanish Super Cup 

2008/09 Champions League 

2008/09 Liga 

2008/09 Copa del Rey 

2006/07 Spanish Super Cup 

2005/06 Champions League 

2005/06 Liga 

2005/06 Spanish Super Cup 

2004/05 Liga 

1998/99 Liga 

Spanish National Team 

2010 World Cup 

2008 European Championship 

2000 Silver medal. Sydney Olympic Games 

1999 Under 20 World Champion 

Individual Awards 

2009 3th FIFA World Player 

2008 Player of the Tournament: Euro 2008 

Factfile Position: midfielder
Place of birth: Terrassa (Barcelona)
Date: 25-01-1980
Height: 170 cm
Weight: 68 kg
Debut:
RCD Mallorca-FC Barcelona (2-1, Spanish Super Cup), 18/08/1998

First published June 2011

Ssshhh! Don't Tell Jose about Xavi....

Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez does not believe Jose Mourinho will earn his place in football history.

Mourinho is one of only three coaches, along with Ernst Happel and Ottmar Hitzfeld, to have won the Champions League with two different clubs and could stand out on his own if he leads Real Madrid to their tenth European crown.

Xavi, though, believes Mourinho's pragmatic approach to management means he will not be ranked in the same category as Pep Guardiola for future generations.

"Mourinho will not go down in football history," he told Reserved Area on Canal+. "For me, Guardiola is the best and has been the best during the four years he spent in charge.

"He has revolutionised football. Chelsea won the Champions League this year and yet Barca remain the benchmark for world football."

Xavi also said that Lionel Messi would be the only deserving recipient of this year's FIFA Ballon d'Or.

There have been suggestions that Cristiano Ronaldo, having helped Madrid to La Liga, could take the crown if he excels at Euro 2012 but Xavi said of Messi: "He's the best player I've seen in my life.

"It would be an injustice if any other player won the Ballon d'Or, because no other player is at his level. Messi has helped me to become a better player."

Xavi Issues Chelsea Warning

Xavi has warned Chelsea that Barcelona have worked hard to reach their current level and are not prepared to stop now.

Barca have enjoyed phenomenal success under Pep Guardiola in recent years, establishing themselves as the top side in Spain and Europe.

They have been described as one of the greatest teams in history after also lifting the FIFA Club World Cup in 2009 and 2011, and Xavi believes the praise they are receiving is fully deserved.

But the midfielder is now looking to press on and claim more silverware, ahead of Barcelona's UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

"We're enjoying the title of best team in the world, which is not a label we put on ourselves but it is a level we have reached on the pitch," said Xavi.

"Every Barcelona fan knows what it took for us to get here.

"Years without titles, with great efforts but without reward."

Barcelona are attempting to make history this season by becoming the first team to retain the Champions League, having beaten Manchester United at Wembley in last season's final.

Xavi continued: "We can't stop. We don't want to stop, neither the players nor the people that support us.

"We are enjoying a golden era with exquisite football and spectacular victories, achieving feats that had never been reached, like winning two Club World Cups."

Writing in a special introduction to the book Barca Emociones, the 32-year-old added: "Behind all this there is a united dressing room, made up of people who grew up in this club and feel it is their home.

"We feel the colours of this club more than anyone and we live the dream of our lives, with a group of enthusiastic coaches preparing us so that we always give the best of ourselves.

"There's talent, strength, commitment, dedication, enthusiasm and pride."

Cesc and Xavi Goals Good for Barca

A goal in each half from Cesc Fabregas and Xavi ensured Barcelona progressed to the Copa del Rey final at the expense of ten-man Valencia this evening. 

There was all to play for with the tie finely balanced at 1-1 heading into tonight's second leg at the Nou Camp, and the hosts needed only 16 minutes to take the lead through a neat finish from Fabregas. Sofiane Feghouli was sent off for the visitors in the 76th minute for a second bookable offence and soon after Xavi eased any Barça nerves by grabbing his side's second goal.

Barça will now face Athletic Bilbao in the final after the Basque club completed an 8-3 aggregate win over Mirandes last night.

Valencia had a couple of early sights of goal this evening, but they were unable to work Jose Pinto in the Barça goal. Victor Ruiz failed to connect in the six-yard box in the third minute and then Feghouli lashed in a left-footed shot which whistled narrowly past the top-left corner.

The hosts went ahead on the quarter-hour mark, Fabregas dinking over Diego Alves with the outside of his right boot following a fine pass from Lionel Messi. Barça were beginning to gain a foothold as the game wore on, although Los Che remained a threat on the counter-attack.

Alves prevented Barça from going two up in the 18th minute, producing a brilliant save to keep out Messi after the Argentina forward had burst through on goal. Alexis Sanchez had another blast deflected wide in the 27th minute and Fabregas saw another drive stopped by Alves three minutes later as Pep Guardiola's side continued to push forward.

A last-gasp tackle from Gerard Pique denied Jonas a shooting opportunity nine minutes before the break when the Valencia forward looked to have found space. Valencia were almost back on level terms in the opening moments of the second half too, but Pinto got out well to block with his legs from Jordi Alba's angled shot.

The ever-lively Messi went within a whisker of extending his side's lead at the other end in the 54th minute after latching onto Isaac Cuenca's slick pass, the Ballon d'Or winner's effort deflected over the bar by Ruiz.

The visitors had a sniff of an equaliser soon after, when with Pinto in no-man's land, Aritz Aduriz sent over a cross. Javier Mascherano cleared the danger.

The action soon returned to the other end, where Messi capitalised on sloppy defending to go close again, but his only reward was a corner. Pinto had to be alert in the 73rd minute to tip a fierce attempt from Jonas over the bar for a corner.

Valencia's cause was not helped by the dismissal of Feghouli 14 minutes from time, the midfielder shown a second yellow card for a stray arm in the face of Carles Puyol.

Barça did not take long to capitalise on their numerical advantage. Messi's superb pass found Sanchez and he laid the ball off for Fabregas to tee up Xavi, who lashed a stunning shot into the roof of the net to put the result beyond doubt.

Messi could have added further gloss to the scoreline when he unleashed a brilliant free-kick in the 85th minute. Alves produced a magnificent right-handed save, but Barça were home and dry.

Featured Autograph - Xavi

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