That's why Xavi is best player in the world

[TheKingNut]

His performance on Tuesday showed why he is the best player in the world.

Messi scored a great first goal and was fantastic it little fits and starts but Xavi controlled the game and dragged his team back into the tie.

When will this man win a world or european player of the year? It will be a travesty if he ends his career without one.

[jabarinho]

yeh xavi is great.....but to be fair Arsenal didn't put up much resisitance. Diaby and fabregas were sooo bad!! Also, playing in a great Barca team and a great Spain team helps Xavi a lot.
But, Xavi does have amazing individual qualities. I love how he does that pivot move to keep the ball away from opponents. And his pass vision is awesome.
Great player.....but not the best because messi and ronaldo are clearly top right now.
 

[samfs]

xavi is more of a team player, and I think he would easily match messi and ronaldo, if not beating them to being best player. he plays it simple but without him, barca wouldn't last against any team for long.

[TheKingNut]

Xavi plays it simple? Are you sure. He slides passes, strikes 50 yarders across the pitch, bounces one twos.....this is not keeping it simple.

He makes Barcelona tick.

[samfs]

I meant he plays it simple as in he doesn't dribble around much and passes, instead of taking the ball himself.

[AznMagic]

Xavi plays it simple? Are you sure. He slides passes, strikes 50 yarders across the pitch, bounces one twos.....this is not keeping it simple.

He makes Barcelona tick.

he does those things because it's what's directly required of him as a player and a central midfielder.  as opposed to cronaldo who doesn't keep it simple.  ironically enough the player that doesn't ever like to keep it simple scores all his goals when he does exactly that... keep it simple...

xavi is brilliant. so is messi. but as always, difficult to compare different positions. i still give the nod to messi as best player in the world tho.

[TheKingNut]

Xavi plays it simple? Are you sure. He slides passes, strikes 50 yarders across the pitch, bounces one twos.....this is not keeping it simple.

He makes Barcelona tick.

he does those things because it's what's directly required of him as a player and a central midfielder.  as opposed to cronaldo who doesn't keep it simple.  ironically enough the player that doesn't ever like to keep it simple scores all his goals when he does exactly that... keep it simple...

xavi is brilliant. so is messi. but as always, difficult to compare different positions. i still give the nod to messi as best player in the world tho.

Oi BORING BORING man stop making rubbish comments. Difficult to compare positions? All we are talking about is who is better player. You pick Messi and Ronaldo because they score goals and dribble...you are poor

[Adi]

Xavi is ballin as always.  I hope he wins it this year... coaches and players might give it to him since Messi has gotten it too many times now.

It's so hard to defend Xavi when he plays for Barca.  If you have a mid sit tight on him, you leave yourself too exposed in behind.  I think you have to do it though.  Someone needs to pressure him and mark him.  While Scholes is not half the player Xavi is, you can see how some teams press Scholes and leave a man on him.  Scholes ends up looking so average and is barely involved in the game.  I think Sunderland did this once this year with them and ended up with a tie or win.  When teams let him have room, he kills them and looks brilliant.  It's a tough decision for the coach but it's probably worth the gamble.  It's not like leaving him open is working.

[TheKingNut]

Teams do press Xavi but he has eyes in the back of his head so he just picks you off. I would love to see a player clean him out though...I'm yet to see how tough he is and to see if he can pick himself up after taking a hefty challenge.