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The guard of the Catalan club Xavi is pleased with the performance of his team-mates in the pre-season preparation cycle and believes that now it is very important for the team to start successfully in the Spanish national championships.
"We looked really good in the friendly matches. Considering that those players who played in the Confederations Cup trained together for only a couple of weeks, I evaluate the preparation for the season positively. We are gaining optimal physical form and I think we will be ready for the start of the championship. A successful start will be extremely important for all players. We must prepare properly for the match with 'Levante,' as it is like a foundation," the Catalan pondered.
According to the footballer, the new team coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino also provides additional motivation for the team's players.
"He is an excellent specialist. Immediately you can feel that the coach is an authority. He brought a huge baggage of knowledge to 'Barça,' so you can immediately see that 'Tata' is an experienced specialist who knows his job well," Xavi affirmed.
As one of the main players of "Barcelona" claims, he and many of the team's veterans were pleasantly surprised by Neymar: "That guy just exudes joy playing football. I was personally struck by his desire to compete, simplicity, and skills on the field. It seems that he is not at all burdened by the pressure typical of newcomers."
"Barcelona" will start its battles in the Spanish championship this weekend. In the first round of the Primera league, their opponent will be the Valencia "Levante" team. The match will take place at Camp Nou stadium at 20:00 Lithuanian time.
