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Xavi remained tight-lipped when journalists asked him about the relationships between the team's players. After Lionel Messi was named the best footballer in the world for the second time in a row, reports appeared in Madrid newspapers suggesting that this could affect the relationship between the leaders of the Catalan club. It was reported that Xavi and Andres Iniesta were allegedly very disappointed, which could have an impact on the team's performance. However, Barcelona immediately denied such rumors in the first quarter-final match of the Copa del Rey tournament against Sevilla's Betis. In this match, Messi scored the first three goals for the team, with assists from Xavi and Iniesta. After the match, when asked about the players’ relationships, Xavi was categorical: "The atmosphere in the team is simply fantastic. We are united by a common goal and we enjoy it. Those who try to sow dissent among us can save their effort."
