Barcelona boss Xavi defends Real Madrid ahead of El Clásico | OneFootball

The latest comments laid out by Barcelona head coach Xavi on Saturday have turned heads across Spain.

As much comes after the tactician moved to issue a defence of his side’s arch rivals, Real Madrid.

Barca and Real are of course primed to lock horns on Sunday night, in the latest edition of El Clásico.

The matchup could prove itself to be a decisive one when it comes to the La Liga title race, with the visitors to the Santiago Bernabéu in the knowledge that nothing but a three-point haul will suffice in keeping their feint hopes of maintaining champion status alive.

Speaking during a press conference in anticipation of his side’s trip to Madrid, a whole host of topics, in turn, were this afternoon put to the aforementioned Xavi.

It is one specific answer on the part of the former midfielder which, as alluded to above, though, has piqued widespread attentions.

This comes after Xavi was drawn on suggestions that Real Madrid have been ‘lucky’ this season, fresh off booking a spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League despite being largely dominated by Manchester City.

Barca’s headmaster, however, is of no such belief, having been adamant that:

“Luck? I don’t believe so much in luck. I believe in the defensive work, in the work of solidarity that they showed. Everyone worked.

“It is no coincidence that Madrid in the last three years has twice eliminated the best team in the world, Manchester City.”

Conor Laird | GSFN