WE HAVE RECOVERED- XAVI

Xavi Hernandez has remarked that Barcelona’s 7-0 win over Levante is evidence of the team having ‘recovered mechanisms’ to their play.


The Catalans were dominate in their Week 1 opener of 2013-14, with their vice-captain one of five players on the scoresheet on Sunday evening.

“I’m very happy with the way we’ve started,” reflected Xavi post-match.

“Last year we trained little on tactics when Tito was in New York. Now we have recovered the mechanisms we had lost then.

“We’ve recovered our high pressure, just like Tata Martino wanted. We’ve regained this aspect of our play and that’s what we were looking for, we trained hard throughout the whole preseason.

“Tata is a hard-working manager, he’s close to his players and he observant. He’s very respectful, he has a winning mentality and I think it’s going to go very well.

“Neymar’s debut? He is a good lad, he’s humble, he’s here to help and he’s capable of making a difference. His one-on-one ability can really help us.”

The veteran was asked of any particular focus Martino has given him in midfield.

“The boss doesn’t want the midfielders to drop and build the play up from the back, that’s what the full-backs do.

“He wants us to be in the influential zone of the pitch, he wants us to give the assists and to be closer to the area.”