Insightful words from Xavi as the Blaugrana prepare to meet high expecations.


Xavi Hernandez spoke on issues surounding his team, Barcelona as the Blaugrana prepare for the eagerly awaited next season, where the Catalan giants will be the object of both national and international attention after four spectacular summer signings of Thierry Henry from Arsenal FC, Toure Yaya from AS Monaco, Eric Abidal from Olympique Lyonnaise and Gabriel Milito from Real Zaragoza, who will join the likes of Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho, Cameroonian lion Samuel Eto'o, Argentine wonder magician Lionel Messi and upcoming players like youthful Iniesta, who will receive effective backing from the likes of Puyol and Thuram. Of the FC Barcelona super squad, Xavi says:

This is the best time in terms of player assemblage at Barcelona, as far as I have witnessed. There has never been so much talent assembled at the same time in the history of Barça. It is the best set of players I have seen in my ten years at the club. As a Barça fan I can say that the new signings are ten out of ten. There are no better players available. We have brought in four natural winners; players that have the capacity to drive the club to achieve very high goals next season and beyond.

Xavi gave his own analysis of the four new players at FC Barcelona :

Thierry Henry is one of the best players in the world right now. He's a player with unique qualities that define him and blessed with outstanding skills. He is absolutely amazing. He is a player that can make a real difference, a true superstar. For Gabriel Milito, I had always felt he would play for Barca right from his days at Independiente, I even told Puyol about this impression before this time. Somehow, I just knew it will come to pass. Gabi and I used to talk and joke about things and I didn't even really know him. He is a great player with a great personality. I played against Abidal in the World Cup last year when France beat us and he was very physical, very strong and powerful. Touré is the one that I know the least about though, but it is evident that he has been signed to give us extra strength in midfield. I know Toure is a fantastic player from all the things said about him.

Xavi meditates on how the super squad's coach, Frank Rijkaard will maximise the use of the abundant talents in the current Barcelona team.
Our coach has a huge task on his hands to design a winning formula with all the players we now have. I do not know whether Rijkaard should change the tactics to fit them all in. But what is clear that none of them will be able to rest on their laurels. All those players are champions, the best in the world and are all capable of making a difference in any game and winning matches single-handedly. We have to be cautious and cannot say that we are going to win everything, because nobody has done that in the past 50 years. But everyone knows that this team has to win one trophy at least. I do not think that we lost our way completely last season, although it is true that the level did drop. It is in our hands to recover that. Last season, we were somewhat over confident and this cost us greatly. We thought we were the best and could achieve success easily. That will not happen again next season.

Xavi went on to speak on the new team spirit in Barcelona and also spoke further on Rijkaard:

I think that the delicate situations were solved well and if the club hand me the task of implementing the internal code, then I will do it. Rijkaard considers us to be professional and adults. That is the basis for the way he deals with things in the dressing room. If there are people that do not live up to those two expectations, then that is not the coach's fault. I sincerely believe that Rijkaard is the best coach for Barcelona. This season everyone has to think only about team. But all the players have to think about the team first and themselves second. In that way, we can be surer of success and victory over all opposition.