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Xavi does not want the pressure of being favourites to distract his Barcelona team
Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez is insisting on not getting away with the team’s current success and has suggested that Real Madrid are still the favourites for the LaLiga title, despite his team being ahead of Los Blancos by eight points.
Real Madrid lost to Mallorca in game week 20 of LaLiga, dropping points for the third time in five league games, putting them at risk of completely losing touch with Barcelona a the top of the table, but Xavi believes that they could still catch up and they should still be seen as favourites for the title.
Real Madrid still favourites according to Xavi
Speaking after Barcelona’s emphatic 3-0 win over Sevilla, Xavi said, “They [Real Madrid] are still the favourites because they are the reigning La Liga and Champions League champions. I don’t see us as favourites, I see us as candidates. I know and we know that Real Madrid will continue to compete until the end.
“There have been historic comebacks, we mustn’t get carried away but we know we are in a privileged position.”
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Xavi’s Barcelona have gone 16 matches without defeat in LaLiga and have dropped points in only three of their 20 matches this season in LaLiga.
Their 3-0 win over Sevilla was their 10th consecutive victory in all competitions, and his side are running away with the league title, after already winning the Super Copa de Espana and reaching the semifinals of the Copa del Rey.
We have to keep working with humility
While Xavi wants his team to enjoy their current success, he also wants them to keep their heads and not get distracted by what could be a first LaLiga title since 2019 but instead focus on the next match against Villareal
He said, “Although nothing is definitive, we like being leaders and have played very well in the last two matches. We have to enjoy it and prepare for Sunday, when we have an important game at La Cerámica against Villarreal.
“I don’t know if we are the most reliable team but we are in great form. La Liga is a long-distance race, we have to keep working with humility. I’m particularly happy but I’m already thinking about Villarreal.”
Barcelona take on Villarreal on the 12th of February, hoping to extend their lead over Real Madrid even further.
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