Tag: Euro

CATALONIA CAN BE A WORLD CLASS TEAM – XAVI

Xavi Hernandez, FC Barcelona legend has said that he believes that if allowed to participate in competitions held by the FIFA, the current Catalonian International football team would be one of the top 10 teams in the world.


With Catalonia getting ready to hold a referendum in September 2017 regarding its independence, Xavi believes that there are a lot of exceptionally talented players in the team. He is also holds the view that with such players, they can go on to become a world-class team.

So far, Xavi has represented Catalonia 12 times throughout his playing career. However, the 36-year old did not rule out the possibility of managing the team in the nearest future.

“You never know. You can never close any door. It’s very early to start making predictions but it’s one of the ideas, coming home to coach in Barcelona, in Catalonia. It’s my home and I feel very comfortable there.

“I always feel happy when I return home and it’s a source of genuine pride to play for the national team.” Continue reading CATALONIA CAN BE A WORLD CLASS TEAM – XAVI

CITY THRASHES WEST HAM TO JOIN OTHERS AT THE TOP

Manchester City continued their brilliant form in the new campaign under Pep Guardiola as they defeated West Ham to get maximum points over the weekend.


The win ensures the have nine points, as with Manchester United and Chelsea. The victory sets up an interesting encounter with United in the Manchester derby after the international break.

From the start of game against West Ham, Man City showed their superiority, with nice one touch passes, and good ball control. Within the first twenty minutes, the top level of play yielded two goals, almost sealing the game off. An improved showing from Raheem sterling was a sight to behold, compared to his games last season and at the Euro 2016. He got a goal, and Fernandinho added the second for the Sky Blues.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic was confused at the dominance of City, but was helpless. The difference in the games of City since the appointment of Guardiola is obvious. He supervised the tiki-taka style of play in Barcelona, with veteran midfielder Xavi, Iniesta taking the play to another level. Expectations were high with the employment of Guardiola, and so far, the Spaniard has shown his quality.
Continue reading CITY THRASHES WEST HAM TO JOIN OTHERS AT THE TOP

Messi’s decision should be respected according to Xavi

Xavi has declared that people should respect Lionel Messi’s decision to retire from international football.

Indeed, the Barcelona striker has stated that he will not be playing for Argentina again after their recent defeat at the Copa America final against Chile. Since then, many football personalities and players have asked Lionel Messi to come back to his decision, but the Argentina forward has yet to make a declaration.

Xavi believes that we should respect his decision and not attempt to pressurize him to come back. Xavi said that Lionel Messi has been giving his best for his national team and instead has always been frustrated by the results. He said that the player has earned the right to make his own decision regarding his career and that people should leave him alone.

He said that people have no right to judge him. If he wants to play for Argentina again, that is his decision and that we should respect him. He believes that Lionel Messi is one of the best players in history and yet has experienced a lot of frustration with Argentina. He believes that the player has every right to be downhearted and to retire.
Continue reading Messi’s decision should be respected according to Xavi

Xavi Hernandez backs Messi

The former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez claims that superstar Lionel Messi is not the kind of player to involve in simulation or any other form of cheating.


Messi has come under fire recently after playing the role in the sending-off of Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis when the two teams met each other back in January. The defender claimed that Messi gets preferential treatment from the referees due to his stature in the game. Xavi dismissed those suggestions claiming that Messi is someone who is desperate to play in every game and does not get involved in playacting of such sorts.

Xavi was already a first-team regular when Messi was just coming through the ranks. However, he formed a bit devastating partnership with Messi over the last five years and it saw them lift numerous honours both at a club level and at international level. There have been extraordinary players have been accused of getting unfair advantage in the game. The likes of Diego Maradona, Pele, and Cristiano Ronaldo have all been not exceptions to the list. However, there is a feeling that Messi is one of the few who likes to stay on the pitch even when he is being harassed by opposition. Continue reading Xavi Hernandez backs Messi

XAVI HEAPS PRAISES ON ZIDANE, RONALDO AND MAHREZ

Former Barcelona star, Xavi Hernandez in an interview made some startling confessions. The Spanish star midfielder and Barcelona legend when interviewed said he played against the best in the World.

He named French and Real Madrid legend, Zinedine Zidane popularly called Zizou and Brazilian play maker, Ronaldo Delima as his best competitors. Xavi spent close to 17 years at the Camp Nou before exiting in the 2014/2015 campaign after a highly successful spell. In his final season, Barcelona achieved yet another treble.

The 36 years old mentioned several tough opponents when questioned on the choice of his best competitors. Xavi told the interviewer: “Lots of players but the ones I can’t forget are Ronaldo “the phenomenon,” Luis Figo, Raul, Fernando Hierro, Roberto Carlos, Zidane and in the later years Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil.”

He narrowed the list eventually to two when pressed further. He said: “The best out of all these I would say were Zidane and Ronaldo, the Brazilian.”

Upon sharing this much, the interviewer pressed for his best memory of his long span career whilst in acton for the Catalan giants.

“I have lots of great memories, but the two that stick out the most are the historical matches when we beat Madrid 5-0 and 6-2,” he claimed. As the interview progressed, the star revealed that some African stars had enough substance to feature in the Barcelona team. Quite notably is Leicester City’s forward, Riyad Mahrez. Continue reading XAVI HEAPS PRAISES ON ZIDANE, RONALDO AND MAHREZ

Pep Guardiola has always seen the English Premiership in very high regard

As per Xavi, Pep Guardiola has always seen the English Premiership in very high regard and it was his aspiration to be a part of the competition as manager one day

Guardiola has dropped hints that he would not stretch his tenure in Germany where he has been in charge of Bayern Munich for the last two and half years.

The Spaniard is likely to sign for one of the top clubs in England at the end of the ongoing season.

Very few would know Guardiola better than Xavi as the two spent a number of years working together.

Xavi played alongside as well under Guardiola at Barcelona.

Speaking about Guardiola’s desire to manage Premier League clubs, the veteran playmaker, who now plays his Football in Qatar, said, “While we were working alongside in Spain, he would so often speak of English Premiership and its standard of Football.” Continue reading Pep Guardiola has always seen the English Premiership in very high regard

Aaron Ramsey believes that Walcott can enter Arsenal’s 100 goals club

Aaron Ramsey is confident that his teammate Theo Walcott can reach the 100 goals mark and that he can accomplish this in the new season of the Premier League.

“He is a goal scorer. He has a load of goals for Arsenal and I think he can carry that on and maybe get into the 100 club this year. He’s a very strong character. He believes in his abilities and he definitely has a lot of qualities to offer.One of the hardest things to do in football is to put the ball in the back of the net and he’s done it on numerous occasions for Arsenal’’ Aaron Ramsey said as he praised Theo Walcott.

Walcott has scored 76 goals in 306 appearances for Arsenal which means that the English player will have to score at least 24 goals in the 2015-15 season of the Premier League which kicked off a few weeks ago.

Never in his career has Theo Walcott ever managed to score as much as 24 goals in a single season but Aaron Ramsey believes that his partner can do it however this will depend on a number of factors including how many appearances Walcott manages to make in this new season of the Premier League as well as in what position will Arsene Wenger place the English player. Continue reading Aaron Ramsey believes that Walcott can enter Arsenal’s 100 goals club