Xavi Hernandez Is Talented
By: Ale | April 23rd, 2008
In an interview with Daily Press yesterday, Barcelona midfielder Xavi urged Ronaldo to ‘push himself further’ by leaving the Premiership and playing abroad where there is less space and more ‘Joga Bonito’. Preferably with him in Barcelona.
According to Xavi, the Spanish Primera is so overflowing with talent, it will make you a better player by merely being there. Which might explain why there are three English sides in the final four of the Champions League, as opposed to one from Spain.
Some excerpts…
Xavi on Ronnie and ball control:
‘He feels so superior to everybody, and rightly so, that he tries things that are unnecessary.
He could be a much better player if he was here, playing with us. I have a soft spot for him. I would love him to join us.
I feel that at the moment he doesn’t get as much pressure, as many demands, as he would get here. In England, if you do a couple of things right, people talk about you being a legend.
Here if you don’t control a ball properly or if you kick the ball into the stands, people hate you. So you have to become a better player.
Along with Lionel Messi, Ronaldo is the best player in the world. In fact he is in front of Leo in terms of influence in a game. The kid has everything. We are talking about physical and technical football.‘
When asked for examples:
‘Fernando Torres is a better player over in England, with all the space he finds in front of him; here defences place themselves in their own box.
Thierry is like a horse that needs space to turn and he doesn’t find it here. He has played better in away games, but in the Camp Nou he struggles.‘
Xavi on Joga Bonito:
‘It is true the pace of the game between Liverpool and Arsenal was amazing, but the ball was lost or robbed every 30 seconds - that is not beautiful football.
Football is played with the ball, it is about moving it from side to side to find spaces, to find yourself in superiority on the wing, to have little moments of magic.
We can all be physical but not everybody can be tactically adept. That needs training and faith in that style. This way of playing has got much more merit.‘
Well, seeing how Barca beautifully played themselves into third place with no trophies this year, I think it’d take a little more than Xavi’s man-crush respect to convince Ronnie to jump ship to Camp Nou.
Time to pick up some drinks for the game. More later.
Ciao.
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Comments
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Perhaps–PERHAPS–Xavi is slightly biased.
Posted from
United States
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Ah, bitter Premiership fans. Yes you have the best top 4 in the world, pat yourselves in the back for that, but it doesn’t change the fact that the rest of the teams in your league aren’t on par with those in Spain or Italy.
And yes, Barcelona has failed this season, in part thanks to Henry being unable to cut it. Don’t count your chickens yet, last year there was 3 premiership teams in the CL semi-finals too, and how did that one end?
Posted from
Canada -
Nolan’s hit it - there’s a big difference between having the best top four and the best league. Regardless of whether either league is better, Xavi does have a point that playing with different styles is definitely a way to improve, and everyone, no matter how talented, can improve.
Posted from
United States -
Well said, as much as I have an anti-EPL bias succeeding in England is an achievement that is seperate, not inferior or superior to succeeding in Spain or Italy.
Posted from
Canada -
You’re somewhat right Nolan… but for the record I am definitely not a ‘Premiership fan’, much less a bitter one. I actually follow the Primera league (Hala Madrid!) more than the EPL anyways. I was just saying that because teams in different leagues tend to play certain ways does not make one any better than the other, as Xavi basically claims.
Ian, different styles of play could potentially make a player better, or they could completely kill a career that more than likely was not over. (Henry, Shevchenko)
Posted from
United States -
Ale - there’s something to that, but there’s also age to consider. Henry and Shevchenko certainly weren’t done in their careers, but they may have been a bit old to learn a new system, and change their game to fit it. I don’t know … in any case, I don’t see Ronaldo moving for at least a few seasons. He has one of the best teams in the world and a great stage as it is, and he doesn’t strike me as someone who seeks out challenges quite as much as he seeks out fame and fortune … which he’s got in Manchester.
Posted from
United States -
Good point about age playing a role. And yes, if he does leave I can’t see it happening within the next 3-4 years… He has said he always wants to be furthering his game and challenging himself many, many times though. But you could be right, he does seem to be enjoying the ‘celebrity’ he’s found.
Hopefully he doesn’t let it overwhelm him like a certain other #7…
Posted from
United States -
Nolan - You do make an interesting point about the leagues having to better all the way down the leagues to be the better league - but I don’t its quite as clear-cut as you suggest, I’m not convinced that Spain or Italy has massive depth all the way down the leagues in the way you claim the Prem doesn’t.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
I don’t think the Prem has depth at all outside the top five or six clubs. It’s the most top heavy league in terms of talent, but when the big teams beat the small teams by huge margins on a regular basis, that speaks of a huge gulf in quality, something you don’t see as much in Italy and especially in Spain.
Posted from
United States -
If only that goal was a little bit wider, he could hit it from the spot. He probably should have had another shot, but that aside, you can’t miss a penalty in this sort of game, especially when its the only clear look at goal you’ll get all day. Bad day for your boy. Maybe they’ll realize he’s not fit to be the one man alone forward … that’s just not his game.
Posted from
United States -
100% agreed Ian. He should have been awarded another, but also should not have missed. I couldn’t believe it. I’m also not liking United’s new found reliance on him for all of their offensive needs.
Oh well. Always next Tuesday!
Posted from
United States
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