MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 01:25:34| >> :120:5169:5169:

Xavi: 'Real Madrid do not want to play attractive football'

Xavi:
© Offside
Xavi insists that Real Madrid are unable to play 'beautiful football' in the same way as Barcelona as they too often go for a more direct approach.

Barcelona legend Xavi has criticised Real Madrid's style of play by insisting that they have not evolved down the years.

Long-serving midfielder Xavi was part of the famed Barca side that won countless honours between 2008 and 2011, coinciding with Jose Mourinho's arrival at the Bernabeu.

The former Spain international claims that Real simply do not want to play 'beautiful football', accusing Los Blancos of often taking a more direct approach to the opponents' net.

"Barcelona is the final exam for a player," he told El Pais. "It is the most difficult club and the most demanding in the world. Madrid do not play so beautifully. At the Bernabeu, if a defender hoofs the ball into the stand it is fine. That is the culture. The fans applaud.

"At the Camp Nou you knock the ball into the stand and the grumbles are so loud it is negative. Since [Johan] Cruyff's time. Mourinho's Madrid hit the ball direct over the top. Mourinho told his players never to stop the ball, to play quickly and then [Angel] Di Maria, Cristiano [Ronaldo] or [Karim] Benzema would break.

"Now they do it with [Gareth] Bale. Real don't want to play football. Madrid break apart, seven players attack and Casemiro stays back on his own to cover the centre. [Sergio] Busquets cannot do that as even I am faster than he is. Casemiro is super fast, but he has trouble with everything else as he has not worked on it.

"He has other characteristics, is more defensive, makes more tackles, covers more ground, but he does not dominate space-time. If you had started with Casemiro aged 12, 13, 15, then he would have that."

Xavi now plies his trade for Qatari side Al Sadd, having brought his Barcelona career to an end in 2015.

ID:315951: cacheID:315951:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2785:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi celebrates scoring during his side's Champions League group game against Juventus at the Camp Nou on September 12, 2017
Read Next:
Xavi: 'Ronaldo doesn't compare to Messi'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
3Real Madrid1283125111427
4Villarreal127322319424
5GironaGirona146352018221
6Mallorca146351312121
7Osasuna136341720-321
8Athletic Bilbao135531913620
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad135351110118
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!