Xavi Hernandez

[tammy2]

Xavi isn't single. He has a new girlfriend. Her name is yolanda.

[mooncake]

Do you have her pics? Yolanda.. isn't that Valdes and Reina Wags?

[Aga]

[Aga]

credit to Fabinho

[Aga]

[madristar]

Xavi is Barca's most crucial player"

Barcelona defender Eric Abidal says Xavi is integral to the club's fortunes and must be looked after properly.

Xavi did not play in Barca's 1-1 draw against Real Mallorca and is not in the squad for Spain's Euro 2012 qualifiers against Lithuania and Scotland.

Club coach Pep Guardiola had revealed on Monday that the midfielder was struggling with some minor injury issues and desperately needed some time off to recapture his best form.

Abidal backed his manager's words at a press conference on Monday, saying: "Xavi is our most important player. We hope that he can come back soon to help us win games. We must look after him."

The Frenchman expressed concerns about Barca's defending in recent games, saying some of the goals they have been conceded should not have gone in.

"The goals that we are conceding can be prevented. These must be avoided if we are to win games. Sometimes the ball does not go in despite the amount of chances you have.

"We need to work and continue to win games. We are angry, but we have to keep working."

Finally, Abidal played down his absence from the French squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Romania and Luxembourg.

"I am not hurt to be missing, because the most important thing is the team's victory," he said.

The French team is looking to rebuild under new coach Laurent Blanc after a catastrophic World Cup in South Africa.

[madristar]

Guardiola: Xavi desperate for rest

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola says midfielder Xavi needs a break from playing to be able to recapture his best form.

Xavi has been withdrawn from the Spanish squad that will play two European Championship qualifiers against Lithuania and Scotland over the next week or so.

Guardiola revealed the 30-year-old has some injury niggles that will be cured with rest.

In comments quoted by Marca, the Barca coach said:"Since the game against México, Xavi had problems and has been postponing this break for a while now. He made an effort to help us really.

"But when a player like him, who never gets injured, who is always stable and can handle pain, asks you to be replaced after only 20 minutes then you realize something is wrong."

"He needs time off and he needs to rest. I hope that in these ten days his pain will go away and that he will be able to regain his best shape."

According to Guardiola, Spain's national team coach Vicente del Bosque spoke to the player and determined he was in no condition to turn out for club or country right now.

"Del Bosque had a word with him and there is no doubt about it: Xavi could not play for Spain and neither for Barcelona," said Guardiola.

Xavi will not be in the Barca team that will play Real Mallorca in La Liga on Sunday.

[NYBella]

Yeah, I heard my Xavi was injured

[Aga]

[NYBella]

Poor Xavi. He looks so short. He's the shortest one in the group!

I love men in suits! Thanks!

[dziubalek88]

[Simao2008]

[madristar]

lord,,,,looks like a criminal...sorry...

[roharik]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg62ec_al...catalunya_sport

[madristar]

[Simao2008]

Maybe he's short but he's so BIG as a player.

[madristar]

Guardiola lavishes praise on Xavi

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola lavished praise on Xavi Hernandez for making his 549th appearance for the Catalan club against Levante.

The manager was proud of Xavi, who matched Catalan legend Migueli's record.

Speaking to as.com, Guardiola said: "This game belongs to Xavi. I reached 300 matches and that seemed an outrage.

"Migueli played 549 and retired at 38. But Xavi is 30 years of age and has played 549 games...Xavi will surpass Migueli, I would not be surprised if he managed to reach 700 games."

Guardiola also gave an insight to his squad's preparations against Levante, who they defeated 2-1: "We always treat the opponent with the utmost respect.

"We knew that Levante were going to be difficult to break down, because they would want to react to their 8-0 loss at the Bernabeu. They changed to a 4-5-1 formation, and played disciplined.

"It was a difficult game to come back to after the holidays. At 2-1 they tried to turn our win into a draw. We did not play badly, but it was a warning.

The manager also gave kudos to Pedro, who scored both goals in their victory.

"Pedro is very important. He is in the form of his life and does almost everything brilliantly, he is a very fine player. When he is near the area he is like Messi, in that he only sees the goal. But he works very hard for the team as well," continued the Blaugrana boss.

The 23-year-old has scored 20 goals in 59 appearances for Barcelona.

[madristar]

Xavi makes Barca record appearance

Xavi says he is honoured to have become Barcelona's joint all-time record appearance holder alongside former central defender Migueli.

He played his 549th official match for the Catalan club this evening as Barca beat Levante 2-1 at the Nou Camp.

That equals the total set by former Spain defender Migueli, who was present to greet Xavi before the match.

"It's an honour and I would like to thank everyone for the support I have always received," the midfielder told Canal Plus after the game.

Xavi, now 30, signed a new deal earlier this year to keep him at Barca until the age of 36.

And despite some injury problems this season, he hopes to stay at the club for the remainder of that agreement.

"I hope to go on for many years and, if possible, carry on winning titles with Barca," he said.

Xavi has won virtually all there is to win at both club and international level, including five Primera Division titles, two Champions Leagues and a World Club Cup with Barcelona, and both the World Cup and the European Championship with Spain.

The midfielder is also in line to win this year's Golden Ball, in which he is shortlisted for the prize alongside team-mates Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi.

"Whoever wins it, Barca will be the winner," he said.

"It's staying at home."

Barca coach Pep Guardiola says he wanted to win this evening's match for Xavi.

"We wanted to win for him. He's had operations on his cruciates (ligaments), he's 30 and he's played 549 games," he said after the match.

"I played 300 here and I thought that was a lot, but what he has done is incredible."

And Guardiola believes that, injuries permitting, Xavi could reach 700 games for Barca.

"If his tendons hold out, I think he could get to 700," he said.

With Messi, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique all missing, Barca ran out 2-1 winners thanks to a Pedro brace early in the second half and held on for the victory despite Christian Stuani's stunning late volley.

"I was very worried about this game," Guardiola said.

"Another 50 years will go by and it will still be difficult when teams 'park the bus' at the back."

Puyol missed out through injury, while Pique was suspended, but holding midfielder Sergio Busquets filled in impressively at the back.

"I knew he could do well there because he is very attentive, disciplined and good at bringing the ball out of defence," Guardiola said.

Barca are now provisionally five points ahead of fierce rivals Real Madrid, who visit Getafe.

Guardiola's side now switch their attentions to the Copa del Rey clash at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.

Having drawn the first leg of their last 16 tie 0-0 at the Nou Camp, Guardiola is expected to name a strong side for the trip to Bilbao.

Messi, who was given permission to miss the match against Levante and extend his holiday, is set to return to the side at San Mames.

[madristar]

Cruyff: Hand the award to Xavi

Former Barcelona player and manager Johan Cruyff admits he wants Xavi to claim the prestigious 2010 Ballon d’Or title this month.

Xavi, who equaled Barca's all-time appearance record in their 2-1 victory over Levante at the weekend, is in the running for the top prize alongside fellow club colleagues Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta.

However, Nou Camp legend Cruff has made his feelings clear over who the winner should be.

Commenting in his weekly column El Periodico de Catalunya, the Dutchman said: "All three finalists are from the same team, which makes clear the potential of the collective in which they play.

"For extreme individual quality, the award should go to Lionel Messi, for ball control and acceleration, it should be Iniesta, but for consistent performance, as the conductor, and to mark the times, it must be Xavi.

"To make this Barcelona team work, they need a conductor. So I opt for Xavi, for his ability to structure the side and to control the periods of play. Messi had a weak World Cup, and in the months of last season when Iniesta missed a lot of games, he kept performing."

Xavi made a staggering 549th appearance for Barca on Sunday, equaling that of club legend Migueli.

[Aga]