FCBARCELONA.CAT

03.02.2009 14:00

Xavi passionate about Guardiola

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Xavi Hernández has revealed the passion that he has for FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola in an interview with EFE where he explained that “he has been my reference for everything”.

"Guardiola transmits his passion and is so enthusiastic. If he believes something is white and you think it is black, you will end up believing that it is white," the Catalan midfielder said. "He is a very intelligent person and I think that that is his secret. It is how he convinces and motivates you and treats the best players in the team.”

Attention to detail

“We have all felt part of things since pre-season,” he continued. "We now battle back in games. Like against Racing, for example, last season we would have lost that for sure. But now the team has great professionalism and commitment. The work that we do without the ball and the studying of the opposition is necessary because nowadays you cannot just wait and see, because otherwise you will be caught out. There is also a lot of injury prevention treatment and the coaching staff are very strict about the diet. We have a physiologist and things are better than ever."

Iniesta and Messi

Xavi then praised his team-mate Andrés Iniesta as he said: “He is the best Spanish player around. He and I both enjoy having the ball, but when he receives and moves away he has two or three metres that I had before. Andrés also has something extra and that means that he can play further forward or on the wings.”

Joining his other team-mates in their adulation of Lionel Messi, he added that “he is the best in the world and can make the difference in a game.” Xavi continued: “Anyone that does not see that is either blind or does not understand football.”