Xavi expects Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi to be fit for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League semi-final, first leg at Bayern Munich, despite the Argentinian labouring with a hamstring injury.
Messi has missed the last fortnight, including Saturday's defeat of Levante, since coming on to help inspire Barça in their 1-1 quarter-final, second-leg draw with Paris Saint-Germain. The Catalans went through on away goals, after a 2-2 draw in Paris, but looked in real trouble until the 26-year-old's introduction gave them a lift.
Xavi said: "He's very important for our attack and you could see we missed him in our last few games. I am sure he will be at his best so we can again see what an awesome player he is. It's important to have him in our ranks and it will have an influence on Bayern Munich if he plays."
With Barcelona
coach Tito Vilanova still recovering from cancer surgery, assistant
coach Jordi Roura spoke to the press and said the backroom staff are
working hard to get Messi fit.
"He has a good feeling, he's improving medically," Roura said. "Of course, when you have a player like Messi in your team it makes a huge difference, he can dictate the game and lift the side.
"We know he is the sort of player who can get us through a round on his own. We have won games without him, but it's always important to have him on the pitch, there is no denying that."
Barcelona are competing in a record sixth successive Champions League semi-final and are looking to lift the trophy for the third time in five seasons, after their triumphs in 2009 and 2011.
Bayern won the team's only previous semi-final meeting, 4-3 on aggregate back in 1998/99, but few Munich fans will need reminding how Barcelona hammered them 4-0 in the 2009 quarter-final, first leg before winning 5-1 on aggregate.
With the return leg to come at Camp Nou on 1 May, Xavi insisted the visitors will not play for a draw: "No, we'll attack. We don't know how to play any other way and we need away goals.
"They are strong opponents, but I think we are coming to Munich at the right time. Ball possession will be crucial, we know we are at our strongest when we keep the ball.
"It's a 50-50 match. They are the German champions, are in their cup final, and have reached the [Champions League] semi-finals without problems, which can't be said for us. We will try and dominate the game so we can take a lead back to Barcelona."
Milan performance the blueprint for Barça
Having failed to impress in the quarter-final against PSG, Xavi believes the players will draw confidence from their last-16 tie against AC Milan, when the Italians enjoyed a 2-0 home win only to suffer a 4-0 defeat in Barcelona.
"The Milan game was the reference for us," he said. "We held the ball very well, moved it around, and we had a lot of pressure from the back. We were playing completely on the attack. The Milan match was the most important for us, more than the PSG game."
Messi has missed the last fortnight, including Saturday's defeat of Levante, since coming on to help inspire Barça in their 1-1 quarter-final, second-leg draw with Paris Saint-Germain. The Catalans went through on away goals, after a 2-2 draw in Paris, but looked in real trouble until the 26-year-old's introduction gave them a lift.
Xavi said: "He's very important for our attack and you could see we missed him in our last few games. I am sure he will be at his best so we can again see what an awesome player he is. It's important to have him in our ranks and it will have an influence on Bayern Munich if he plays."
It's
a 50-50 match. They are the German champions, are in their cup final,
and have reached the [Champions League] semi-finals without problems,
which can't be said for us.
Xavi
"He has a good feeling, he's improving medically," Roura said. "Of course, when you have a player like Messi in your team it makes a huge difference, he can dictate the game and lift the side.
"We know he is the sort of player who can get us through a round on his own. We have won games without him, but it's always important to have him on the pitch, there is no denying that."
Barcelona are competing in a record sixth successive Champions League semi-final and are looking to lift the trophy for the third time in five seasons, after their triumphs in 2009 and 2011.
Bayern won the team's only previous semi-final meeting, 4-3 on aggregate back in 1998/99, but few Munich fans will need reminding how Barcelona hammered them 4-0 in the 2009 quarter-final, first leg before winning 5-1 on aggregate.
With the return leg to come at Camp Nou on 1 May, Xavi insisted the visitors will not play for a draw: "No, we'll attack. We don't know how to play any other way and we need away goals.
"They are strong opponents, but I think we are coming to Munich at the right time. Ball possession will be crucial, we know we are at our strongest when we keep the ball.
"It's a 50-50 match. They are the German champions, are in their cup final, and have reached the [Champions League] semi-finals without problems, which can't be said for us. We will try and dominate the game so we can take a lead back to Barcelona."
Milan performance the blueprint for Barça
Having failed to impress in the quarter-final against PSG, Xavi believes the players will draw confidence from their last-16 tie against AC Milan, when the Italians enjoyed a 2-0 home win only to suffer a 4-0 defeat in Barcelona.
"The Milan game was the reference for us," he said. "We held the ball very well, moved it around, and we had a lot of pressure from the back. We were playing completely on the attack. The Milan match was the most important for us, more than the PSG game."
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