FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.05.2007 14:24

Xavi: “We have to use our five senses”

Miriam Nadal

Xavi Hernández stressed at Monday’s press conference that the team has to remain fully focussed over the last five league matches and admitted there is no room for error.

One of the leading lights in the squad, Xavi Hernández, insisted on Monday that the players have it in their own hands to win the league title. As Rijkaard said in the pre-match press conference before the Real Sociedad game, Sevilla and Real Madrid would like to be in Barça's shoes: “It’s in our own hands and we have the bull by the horns. If Madrid could choose, they’d like to be in our situation. They and any other team. We’re leading and we have to withstand the pressure until the end of the season and win the league”.

Real Madrid the most dangerous

Xavi believes that Real Madrid are now the main threat after their 3-2 win over Sevilla in the Santiago Bernabéu: “Yes, they’re our rivals. They’re second, two points behind. Also they’ve got the goal average in their favour and there’s no room for error. A draw or a defeat would put them above us in the table”. To stop this happening, Xavi has a solution: “We have to use our five senses in these five matches; in these five Cup finals”.

Praise for Sevilla

Although Xavi believes Real Madrid are the main threat, he is not ruling out a late challenge from Sevilla: “They’re almost in the Cup final and they’ve qualified for the UEFA Cup final. That says a lot about their season. Being in three competitions isn’t a mere coincidence and I’m not dismissing them. Although yesterday they lost a lot”.

The win in the Anoeta

Xavi was also asked about the exuberant celebrations following Barça’s two goals against Real Sociedad: “It was an important victory. The teams chasing us thought we would lose in San Sebastian. For us it meant breaking a bad run away from home and that’s good for our confidence in the upcoming matches”