Xavi: Real players are not gracious

Xavi Hernandez has reopened the storm between Barcelona and Real Madrid just days before Euro 2012 by claiming that Real have not been as sporting as Barca in defeat.

 

 

The midfielder had been caught on camera earlier in the season saying that Real did not know how to lose after Barca had eliminated their great rivals from the Copa del Rey and he has backed those comments up in an interview with Canal+.
The World Cup winner is one of seven Barcelona players in the Spanish squad that heads to Poland this week with five Real players also involved.
He said: "We have congratulated them when they won, that is sport at the end of the say. We have been very respectful with them, however, I have noted that it wasn't the same in reverse."
Xavi also expressed his surprise at the departure of Pep Guardiola and appointment of his assistant Tito Vilanova as manager so soon after the later recovered from a serious illness.
"I was very surprised by Pep leaving, but when he explained it all to us, you understand.
"The naming of Tito also surprised me, more than anything because what had happened with his illness, but looking at the decision, I think it was treated in the best way possible.
"This team has to continue for a few more years winning titles and we don't have to change the form of coaching."
Ahead of the Euros the 32-year-old is delighted the national team now has the full confidence of the public after so many years of disappointment and also lauded the continuity between Luis Aragones' reign as Spain boss and that of current manager Vicente Del Bosque.
"The national team now lives in a peaceful environment. Before, the people didn't believe in us. I heard that these players can't pass the quarter-final, I saw front pages saying they didn't believe in us and this hurt.
"Luis cleared the path for the national team with a style that continues not just because it brought success but because the fans liked it, identified it and could be proud of the way Spain played.
"Del Bosque and the trainers that came had to understand that this philosophy couldn't be lost."