Tuesday, 7th June, 2011
Barcelona midfielder Xavi has laid into Real Madrid for the way they set out to play in their meetings with the Catalans last season – especially the Champions League.
The Camp Nou stalwart believes that in their approach, Jose Mourinho’s side tried to "destroy football."
The two Spanish giants met twice in La Liga, twice in the Champions League semi-final and also once in the Copa del Rey, to contest the final. While the November meeting saw a 5-0 Barcelona win at the Camp Nou, the other affairs in April were bad-tempered and tense, with Los Blancos trying to stop the Barcelona machine.
And Xavi did not like their approach.
"Real Madrid is the team that made us try the hardest", said Xavi.
"We did not play so well, but that was because they wanted to destroy football.
"Those games would have been much nicer if Real had also tried to play football."
The Spanish midfielder had words of praise for one of Real Madrid’s group though, as he lauded the season enjoyed by Mesut Ozil.
"Ozil is a great player.
"He has bad luck that Real now really do not want to play football."
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