Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Xavi - Pressure on Real

Xavi - Pressure on Real
Barcelona midfielder Xavi claims he would not swap places with Real Madrid in the final weeks of the season.

The Spain international thinks that the onus is on Real to not slip up in the concluding 10 games as they have six points to make up on Barca at the top of the Primera Liga.

Barca are also in the final of the Copa del Rey and are preparing for a UEFA Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich and Xavi hopes for a memorable Treble.

"There is always pressure at Barca. But I think that there is more pressure on Real because they cannot slip as they are behind us," he told El Mundo Deportivo .

"They are six points below us and this is their only competition, so that is more pressure. I would certainly not swap places with them.

Desire

"We have nearly two months of the season remaining and it will be difficult. But things are going well and we expect it to continue like this.

"The team has a great desire to win things and we are having a great season, but now is the moment of truth. There are three trophies available to us and I want them all."

If Barca eliminate Bayern they could meet Liverpool in the semi-finals, but Xavi does not view his side as favourites in either case.

"Against Sporting (in the last 16), I think that Bayern showed huge potential and they also have the fact that they play the second game at home going in their favour," he continued.

"Everyone enjoys talking about how Barcelona are playing, but at this stage of the Champions League nothing is easy. I do not think we are favourites because that would not help us.

Difficult

"I do not think that Liverpool want to play us. But they are a great team and they would be very difficult because they are also playing very well.

Meanwhile, Florentino Perez is reported to be preparing to make a bid to reclaim the presidency at Real and he has indicated a desire to return to the days of the big-money Galacticos, but Xavi is not impressed.

"There is a lot of talk about Florentino and the big signings he could make. We will see what happens, but in football it is not all about the chequebook. It is about a team and money cannot buy you victories," he said.

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