Barça coach Xavi on tough Rayo Vallecano test and winning LaLiga
Xavi says it will be f*****g great if Barça get over the line this season
Xavi Hernández appeared in a press conference to analyse the match between Rayo Vallecano and Barcelona in Vallecas on Wednesday. The Blaugrana coach is not underestimating the challenge.
"It's the most complicated match, playing on a smaller pitch than normal against the most intense opponent in the division -- in the good sense of the word," Xavi said.
"They are a very solid team who don't give a ball away, they are a very uncomfortable opponent. We have warned the players that they will be a very intense opponent, they don't let you progress, the distances are shorter, there will be a lot of rebounds, second balls.
"It will be a really difficult game, it won't be easy to pñay our game, we'll have to be more practical than usual."
Barça's 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday means they travel to Rayo with an 11 point lead at the top of LaLiga with just eight games left. However, Xavi remains cautious.
"We haven't won LaLiga yet, there are still games to win, nothing has been won," he said. "If we win this league, it won't be a great thing, but a f*****g great thing. Every win gives us more peace of mind, there are 24 points to play for and we're 11 points clear, it's significant, but not definitive. Now every victory is a blow on the table."
Furthermore, he is not interested in figures, statistics and records: "We're not here for that, not 100 points or anything, we're already qualified for the Champions League with eight games to go. Remember where we were last year, not when we were winning trebles, these are the comparisons you have to make."
On when to win LaLiga, "given the choice, I'd rather win it at home than away, but I'm not thinking about it, the objective is to win it. If we get nine points in the next three games, it would almost be definitive, but we have to get them. And tomorrow will be complicated, it's a very difficult game."
