06.01.2011 14:26
“The Ballon D’Or will be a Barça party”
Vanessa Forns
Xavi, Iniesta or Messi. Any of the trio could be named the player of the year, but what matters to Xavi is that whoever wins, it’ll be a Barcelona player, and one that grew up threw the club ranks.
All will be revealed in Zurich on Monday, and asked how he feels, Xavi said “Just that the
three players are former youth players at Barça is a cause for pride. It will be a Barça
party.” He would of course be honoured to win “the biggest individual prize. It
especially excites me, it would make me proud” but also added that he isn’t losing any
sleep over the matter”.
Barça is everything
Against Athletic Bilbao, he made hiss 550th appearance, a new record for
the club. Xavi considers it “a privilege. I am very proud to have been able to defend the
Barça colours, it means everything to me. I feel privileged, and to have won titles, which what
this club aims to do. Defending these colours is the best, it is an honour to be here”.
Fons memories
If he had to pick out a special game from the many he has played, he said
“after 13 years here it’s not easy to choose just one. Perhaps then 6-2 at the
Bernabéu, or the recent 5-0, for the way we played, but also the Champions League final in Rome, in
the end it’s the games where you win titles”.
Keenness the key
He said he would love to retire at Barça and doesn’t envisage himself ever
playing for another team. He put his success here down to keenness to do well, but also felt the
coaches’ trust has mattered, and also the way he has been reasonably lucky with injuries.
“If I could, I’d play football all my life, but it depends on the circumstances. I can
carry on for some time. But I just want to enjoy the moment. I don’t make targets for
myself”.
The game at San Mamés
On the game in Bilbao, at which Abidal played a
“spectacular” match, Xavi admitted that “it was not one of those excellent games
that you expect from Barça”. But the players were just happy to qualify the quarter finals.
“Every game is different and you have to swallow up the minutes. It was hard to get forward
yesterday, but we didn’t have too many problems either. We dominated the play and did have
chances to go ahead in the game”.
Importance of the cup
After explaining that his no longer feeling any tendon pain, Xavi explained that
the Copa del Rey is a tournament that particularly awakens their interest. “We had a really
nice final two years ago, and we’d like to get there again. We consider the cup to be an
important competition”.