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Xavi Barça – the beginning
For me it was a hard beginning because when you are 17 or 18 years old you don’t have much confidence,
you don’t know if everything will turn out well...The first year everybody compared me to Guardiola,
they said this many times. The team didn’t do so well, it seemed we were useless for Barcelona,
but I am very obstinate, I always believe in myself and I like Barcelona very much, I am very “culer” (FCB supporter)
and I wanted to succeed here. Fortunately, things changed, we started to win titles and my stature started to increase
and I grew in stature and I am now very happy. Nowadays I enjoy world recognition and for me, this is fanstastic
Are Barça demanding?
Yes, they are but I enjoy it, I know I can’t stop because now the expectations are very high at Barcelona and throughout the whole world.
Everybody wants to come and play at Barça, every year the team gets better and you have to be at the top of your game,
everything has to be perfect and for these reasons I still plan on being here for many years.
FC Barcelona philosophy on young players
We look for young players and normally the people who have grown up with Barça have a bigger affinity
than people who come later (in their career). You have extra commitment since you are a child and are involved.
Which is the secret to being the best midfielder of the world?
I like football very much, it is my passion, I like playing, I like training, I enjoy training and playing football.
I love Barcelona so much, it is a feeling that I have had since I was a child and I feel I am privileged.
I don’t have to support anything, just let myself go.
Do you imagine Cesc Fabregas in Barcelona?
I would like it and I have told him many times because he is player with Barcelona in his DNA.
I have always seen the people who can come to Barcelona and triumph and with Cesc, I don’t have any doubt.
There are many matches and here everybody is important. There are not eleven, there are twenty one players to play and everybody will play.
Messi or Christiano?
For me, Messi is the best and I have said it many times, but Christiano Ronaldo is a fantastic player, who can make the difference,
but nowadays Leo is better than everyone, he is the number one for me.
Mourinho in Real Madrid is a threat for Barcelona?
Madrid is always a threat for Barça, and Barça is a threat for Real Madrid, but I wish him the best, I have a lot of respect for him,
I know his character and he is a great person. I have a lot of affection for him and I hope he comes, of course.
Florentino’s Real Madrid
Madrid is very good now, Christiano is a good fit, and he is making the difference a lot. Real Madrid is a good team but
they play different football to us. Their football is more direct; they don’t combine with each other as much as we do
Kaka signing for Real Madrid
He has had many physical problems with his hip bone, and it is a problem where you can’t play at 100%.
If you are not comfortable with your body it is difficult to make the difference in games for Real Madrid.
Do you like the Premier League?
Yes, I have liked it since I was a child. At Liverpool I remember John Barnes and Le Tissier
[Journalist]: That Liverpool side played as Barça do now
[Xavi]: Yes, they played well, but it was different because before there was less pressure, less of a defensive system.
[Journalist]: And physic strength
[Xavi]: Exactly. The people are more prepared now. Everything has improved...Before you could think; now there is no time to think.
[Journalist]: Molby or Schuster too
[Xavi]: Yes, Molby almost signed for Barça
Who are Xavi idols?
I haven’t seen a complete match of Le Tissier, but I see moves and extraordinary goals and a player with abnormal talent.
He could dribble past seven or eight players, but all without speed. Sensational for me. There was a TV programme here where they showed the best English goals
and I noticed him. Le Tissier was like the programme star. In Spanish football, the first player I noticed was Schuster,
because he seemed different with his blonde hair and his game was fantastic. Here we hadn’t seen this before and moreover he scored goal,
he was also a leader...Maradona too, like everybody. And then, Pep (Guardiola). When I started in the Barcelona team, the first player I noticed was Pep.
Xavi off the pitch
I go to the theatre, to the cinema, meet with my friends, I am a normal person! But I am always watching football, I love football so much.