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Sidas Lowe, writing for "The Guardian", "Soccer magazine" and "Four Four Two", is perhaps the best-known journalist among the English, bringing modern Spanish football to life. However, S. Lowe is respected even in Spain itself, and his articles receive enormous attention.
The interview is published on the portal [link="http://www.fcbarcelona.lt"]fcbarcelona.lt[/link].
Many believe that "Barca's" victory in November against "Real" was the best in the history of the clubs. Wayne Rooney admitted that he watched the match at home and would jump up in place to applaud "Barca".
- Really? (Xavi's face lights up) Wayne Rooney? Then we can be proud. Unbelievable - Wayne Rooney! He's amazing. He could play for "Barca"! Hey, until you write the headline "Xavi recommends W. Rooney to join Barca", even though I would gladly welcome him. I just want to say that he is simply our style player and would fit in at Barca. And that match against "Real" was truly amazing. The feeling of superiority was unbelievable. They could hardly even touch the ball. Damn, what a match! We were applauding ourselves in the locker room after that.
- You mentioned "Barcelona's" ball control advantage. And I want to say that I've never seen a team with such a clear style. The main feature of "Barca's" game is constant ball control. That is your "calling card".
- It's great that in the world of football, the game played by "Barcelona" and "Furia Roja" (Spanish national team) has become an example. Not because it's us playing, but because of the style of play. It's attacking football. It's a football where opportunities are created, not waited for. Many teams don't want or don't know how to play by passing the ball. Then why play at all? What's the point? That's not football. Football is when it's constantly created, combined, when the ball moves between players, when passes are made, when playing, not destroying. At least that's how I understand football. There are coaches, I don't know - like Fabio Capello or Javier Clemente, who promote a different understanding of football. But I'm especially pleased that the game promoted and demonstrated by Barcelona becomes an example for others. It's not their demolition and defensive play that is praised, but that our game, where the processes of creation are constantly taking place and attacking is happening.
- There are people who claim that the Spanish national team played boringly in the World Cup. After all, you barely won 1-0...
- Everything is actually the opposite. We weren't boring, our opponents were. What did the Dutch national team try to achieve against us? They were waiting for penalties and a shootout. Or Arjen Robben's breakthrough. And that went on the whole 90 minutes. Of course, we were boring - the opponents forced us to play like that. For example, Paraguay. What were they doing? They set up a strong defensive line and waited for chances. When they got the ball, they immediately tried a long pass. We intercepted the pass and started creating again. They get the ball - and again a high pass. We play on... It's not easy for people to understand that it's quite difficult to play like that, when a two-meter giant is constantly hanging over your shoulder on the field.
- And how do you free yourself from him?
- I think quickly, look for open spaces. That's my main job. All day, every game, I do the same thing - look for spaces and send the pass there. From dawn till dusk, I look for someone to pass the ball to (laughs and shakes his head as if looking around the field). There? No. Towards that direction? No. People who haven't played football can't imagine how difficult it is. I look. I see a free teammate. But there's a defender in front of him. And there's no defender there, but no one from our side either. But I pass the ball into that open space, hoping that my teammate will sprint and catch the ball. If he succeeds, there will be a free corridor in front of him. That's how we play...
- You have described the essence of Barcelona's game in a few words, haven't you? When you crushed Real Madrid, there were 8 club youth products in the Barcelona lineup. Among them - three contenders to win the "Golden Ball".
- In many football academies, the goal for youth is to win. Barcelona's academy goal is to teach how to play football. Our football. You see a kid who, when he gets the ball, doesn't look down, but looks around the field. You see that he feels the ball without looking at it, you see that he can control it with just one touch. The thought comes immediately: "He's one of us. He could play for us." Then you grab that kid and never let go. He trains with other kids like him. Our canteros model is taken from "Ajax". The essence of our training is the "keep away" game. Every nice day. Every day just "keep away". It's the best practice in the world and it requires good ball control. By playing "keep away" from a young age, we learn to control the ball and value it. If you lose the ball, go to the center of the circle. Tap-tap-tap, the ball is constantly moving, all with one touch. It's embarrassing to go to the center of the circle, everyone laughs and mocks. That's how we learn to protect the ball, to pass it quickly.
- Dani Alves said that you don't pass the ball to sprinting players. You pass the ball in a way that forces them to sprint. He said that Xavi creates the future himself.
- Thanks to them, everything is so simple. When I pass the ball to open space, I am sure that Dani Alves, Andres Iniesta, David Villa, Pedro or Lionel Messi will move towards it. When there are constantly moving players next to each other, I have many options. Sometimes too many. I have the ball, I see several free teammates. One position may be better, but I've already passed to him three times, and to the other one - none. It's better to give the ball to Dani Alves, because he has already sprinted three times on his flank, and the ball still hasn't arrived? He gets angry when he runs empty and doesn't receive the ball, or, having run with the ball to the penalty area, has no one to pass it to. According to Dani Alves, when he runs, the whole half of the team should do the same (laughs). So I pass the ball to Dani - he knows what to do with it and will make others move, too.
- You argue that the style of play is more important than the goal. However, some change their style in pursuit of titles. Others preserve their style but win nothing. "Arsenal" plays wonderful football, Arsene Wenger is a great coach, but has won nothing for many years. Yet he still leads the team. What if it were the same with Barcelona?
- I can't imagine... If we didn't win anything for two seasons in a row, something would have to change. But I don't think that even in that case Barca would change its playing philosophy. Players and coaches would be changed rather than the game philosophy. You can't change your philosophy and your signature style. Our fans would boo a team that wallows in their own half and only counters. Thankfully, the results justify our playing style. I'm pleased that six years ago, when I was almost considered an ancient relic, I proved that there is a place for my type of players. Players like me were already written off in the Red Book. There was a prevailing tendency for two-meter giants to play in midfield. Everyone was tall, physically strong athletes. They could even control the ball with just two touches, as it would bounce off them too far. Now it's great to see how "Arsenal" or "Villarreal" play. These teams strive to compete in a similar style to us. It is said that Xavi's people discovered it during the 2008 European Championship, but I and others like me had been playing that type of football already. It was only after our victory, when we proved that we have the right to exist and that our playing style is needed, that people started paying attention to me and players like me, evaluating our game.
- Do you consider yourself the ideologue of this style of play?
- There was a question - whether to stay and prove your worth or... die out. We managed to prove that talent and technique on the field are more important than physical fitness, height, and a bunch of muscles. I'm happy that now priority is given to technical and thinking players. Yes, you can win with well physically prepared players, but technical players are a game-changer and determine the style of play. Who directs the game in the "Juventus" team? - Alessandro Del Piero. "Liverpool"? - S. Gerrard and formerly - Fernando Torres. They are talents. Like Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Ryan Giggs. Although their styles vary a bit, I used to really like the duo of Roy Keane and Paul Ince. During their time, Manchester United was a great team. If I had the opportunity, I would dream of playing for the Manchester United of those times.
- So, do we overvalue physically powerful players in England? You mentioned J. Carragher, J. Terry... as negative examples?
- Hey, stop right there! Accents need to be properly placed. The mentioned players are the backbone of the teams. Players like them are necessary in a team. In our team, Carles Puyol is that player. These players may not be the best technically, but look at how they defend... God forbid everyone could do the same. J. Carragher and J. Terry are essential for the teams. They are masters, but they need to adapt to the technical football. Football must be created not by them, but with their help. They need to learn to control the ball in a way that allows them to play with A. Iniesta, L. Messi, or W. Rooney, rather than the latter having to grow muscles to look like giants. Players need to improve technically, not grow muscles in the gym. Many footballers still find it difficult to lift their eyes from the ball, but they will be forced to do so. The current trend is that a footballer, without looking at the ball at his feet, must look at the field and see his teammates changing positions. If you look at the ground, you won't see what's happening on the field.
- But when a player is scouted, the first question usually asked is, "How tall is he"?
- Have you seen Santi Cazorla? Do you think I'm small? Well, here, Santi is up to here (Xavi points to his chest). But his height doesn't stop him from playing brilliantly. L. Messi is also not tall, but he's the best player in the world. Maybe it's related to football culture, I don't know. In England, soldiers come out onto the football field. Look, for example, at the "Liverpool" matches. J. Carragher takes the ball and without looking anywhere, sends it to the stands. The stadium applauds him. The actions of such players are well respected in England, where the game is more honest, with less cheating and dirty tricks on the field. Whatever the Spaniards who have played in England say, each of them returns having received good football lessons and matured. If given the choice, I would want to go to England.
- "Arsenal" and "Barcelona" duels usually provoke discussions about C. Fabregas' future...
- If I were to ever leave another club, I would always dream of joining "Barcelona" - after all, the connection remains. I think he feels the same way. However, there is a problem: Cesc is a very expensive player, but I think sooner or later he will play where he wants... Someday he will play with us.
- "Arsenal" fans will once again be dissatisfied and blame the Barcelona players for unsettling. They did so last year after your words.
- Seriously? I only said a few words... But I imagine that's enough. (Xavi briefly pauses, then almost ashamedly continues). You know, many footballers don't think about what they say, because we are selfish. Yes, I'm thinking about Cesc. I think he wants to play with us. I judge by myself that playing for Barca is everyone's dream. On the other hand, Cesc is the captain of "Arsenal". He plays for the club where his favorite football style is played. Arsene Wenger gets along well with him, and Cesc respects the coach, gets along with his teammates... He grew up as a player in London, he developed there. "Arsenal" has something to offer him. Leaving that for someone like "Blackburn Rovers" would be easier. I just want him to come to us, and I am not objective. I look from my standpoint - Cesc is a player who would fit perfectly at Barca. He wouldn't even need to adapt; he would start playing perfectly right away.
- But wouldn't C. Fabregas compete with you on the field?
- I never see players as competitors. I never tell newcomers, "This is my spot." I say, "Hey, come here, let's play." The more talents in the midfield, the better. Five years ago, it was said that A. Iniesta and I were players of the same style and couldn't play together on the field. Did we hinder each other? Look how everything turned out...
- Spanish players who return from English clubs usually complain about the football style there. But would you like to play there?
- English football is lightning-fast. England is the homeland of football. Heart and football spirit. If "Barcelona" had fans like "Liverpool," "Manchester United" or "Arsenal," we would have been champions for twenty years in a row (excited). Ok, I might be exaggerating. But with the kind of support on the stands as in England, I have never seen it anywhere else. Once we beat "Liverpool" 3:1. And their fans applauded us! In England, players are more respected, the game is more fair, there is less cheating and small tricks on the field. No matter what the Spaniards who have played in England say, each of them returns having received good football lessons, matured into a man. If I had to choose a championship, I would want to go to England.
- Last year the Champions League final was held in Madrid. It would have been symbolic if Barcelona had played in it. But it didn't work out. But this year the final will be played at Wembley Stadium. Johan Cruyff's "Barca" already won the Champions League trophy there...
- In 1992, I was 12 years old. My brothers went to watch those matches, but my parents didn't let me go... I remember crying bitterly out of sadness. I would like to play at the legendary Wembley. It didn't work out last year... All the attention was focused on the Barca-Real duel. But neither we nor they made it to the final... This year will be different - Wembley... Nostalgia... Classic. I'm a romantic.
Xavi Career Moments:"
