The newspaper MARCA spoke with Xavi Hernández in an interview in which the former FC Barcelona midfielder talked about football and reviewed several interesting topics for the Barca fan. Terrassa, for example, spoke of the start of the Catalans in the Champions League against Borussia. The former Spanish international believes that, despite the bad game in Dortmund, Barça is still a candidate to win it and that it is best not to become obsessed with the 'Orejona'.
"I saw Barça, even though it was very late here [10 pm] and I had to get up soon. It was not a great game, but Barça is still a favorite. Not the only one, but among the candidates no doubt, because of how he signed, for the players that already had ... I don't think that Barça should take it as an obsession, it must simply be a challenge, an illusion, an objective, but nothing to obsess because no, it's counterproductive, "he explained.
"Barça does not have to become obsessed with the Champions League. It must be a challenge, but obsessing is counterproductive."
Xavi also referred to Ansu Fati, the new prodigy child of the Blaugrana quarry and Spanish football. The former midfielder is delighted with everything he has seen about him these weeks. "It's an incredible surprise. With 16 years, mark those differences with the personality that makes it, see how he makes decisions on the grass ... Uff, they are big words," he said.
Another of the players who spoke was Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman has arrived this year to lead the culé midfield, something that Catalan knows well. Xavi is in love with the former Ajax and put him through the clouds. "He has it all. How he gets off the hook, the strength he has when starting, how he goes two and takes the last pass ... Besides, he works for the team, he's aggressive in the brand ... He doesn't lose his position or ball. This guy is going to mark a time, not forgetting Arthur and Rakitic. Barça has an extraordinary midfield to dominate the games well, "he said.
"De Jong has it all. He picks up, has last pass, works, does not lose balls ... He will mark an era"
Precisely, one of the victims of the arrival of De Jong is Rakitic, who has become the fifth midfielder for Valverde. It seems that even Sergi Roberto could be ahead of him. Xavi believes it will remain important and that's why he defended him. "From the outside it is difficult to know. I am missing information. I do not know if he has been able to leave or not. For me, Ivan will continue to be important. He has not started starting, but it will be important, as in past years. There are matches for everyone." , said.
Xavi would have bet on Neymar
In addition, Terrassa again made it clear that he had opted for Neymar Jr, which continues to sound like reinforcement for the next season. "It would have been readjusted. Sure. And it would have marked differences, because it is a crack, like few in the world. It would have added, that sure," he said, after the frustrated signing of the Brazilian in this summer market.
Finally, Xavi joked about the football he sees, since he likes it so much that he tries to see as much as possible. "I see the League, the Premier, the Champions ... I see everything that the family leaves me. And then I follow the friends I have out there. If I have a friend in Second B, I follow Andorra, for example. Or other Catalans out there. That will be like this for a lifetime, "he concluded.