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”