SPAIN - FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Barcelona midfielder Xavi remains hopeful fellow international David Villa can return to fitness in time to help Spain at the European Championship.

Record ID: 847761

  • Title: SPAIN - FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Barcelona midfielder Xavi remains hopeful fellow international David Villa can return to fitness in time to help Spain at the European Championship.
  • Date: 19th May 2012
  • Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (MAY 18, 2012) (REUTERS) BARCELONA MIDFIELDER XAVI HERNANDEZ ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHERS SURROUNDING XAVI AT NEWS CONFERENCE XAVI SEATED PHOTOGRAPHER XAVI NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCA MIDFIELDER XAVI HERNANDEZ, TALKING ABOUT DAVID VILLA'S RETURN, SAYING: "He is a football player who has given us a lot in final stages and in qualifiers too. He is a player who usually is there when we need a goal. I would like him to be there but it depends on his feeling, how his leg is doing. The truth is that he is giving his heart and soul to reach the tournament. He is working during the day, during the evening with Emili Ricard and hopefully he will be there. But it depends on him, his feeling and how he sees it. I hope he can be there. I would like that a lot. We need him." JOURNALIST TYPING ON LAPTOP HANDS TYPING (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) BARCA MIDFIELDER XAVI HERNANDEZ SAYING: "I imagine few things will change. I don't know. Talking about how it will be with Tito (Vilanova) here is a hypothesis. We can't control and we cannot know. We are still training, this season isn't over, we are competing, we fight for a title on next week. It is the less drastic change, it means continuity. I think it is the best possible change for all of us." JOURNALIST AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) BARCELONA MIDFIELDER XAVI HERNANDEZ SAYING: "They are two very strong and powerful teams. Bayern plays more in the way we do and Chelsea seems to be more defensive. It can be a good show, evidently. I hope to watch a good soccer match. It is annoying to not be there, but this year we will watch it on TV." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS JOURNALIST TAKING PICTURE XAVI NEWS CONFERENCE ENDING
  • Embargoed: 3rd June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • City:
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAB2C8BVUND9E1SSL9CTBFSCFLF
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said on Friday (May 18) that his teammate David Villa is giving everything he can to be fit and that Spain "needs him" at the European Championship, which starts on June 8.
    The country's record goal scorer could return in time for Euro 2012 after breaking his left leg in Barcelona's 4-0 Club World Cup semi-final victory over Al Sadd of Qatar in December, and Xavi said the striker was giving his "heart and soul" to join his team mates.
    "He is a football player who has given us a lot in final stages and in qualifiers too. He is a player who usually is there when we need a goal," Xavi told reporters.
    "I would like him to be there, but it depends on his feeling, how his leg is doing. He is working during the day, during the evening with Emili Ricard and hopefully he will be there.
    "But it depends on him, his feeling and how he sees it. I hope he can be there. I would like that a lot. We need him."
    When asked about Barca's new coach Tito Vilanova, who is to step up from assistant to take the reins at the Nou Camp next season after Pep Guardiola announced he was leaving, Xavi said it was the best possible solution.
    "I imagine few things will change. I don't know. Talking about how it will be with Tito (Vilanova) here is a hypothesis. We can't control and we cannot know," he said.
    After surrendering the La Liga title to Real Madrid, Barcelona still have a chance of a winning some silverware this season when they face Athletic Bilbao in the King's Cup final on May 25.
    "We are still training, this season isn't over, we are competing, we fight for a title on next week. It is the less drastic change, it means continuity. I think it is the best possible change for all of us," Xavi said.
    Xavi will watch the Champions League decider on television after Barcelona's elimination by Chelsea in the semi-finals.
    The midfielder expects to see good soccer when the London club meet Bayern at their Allianz Arena stadium in Munich on Saturday (May 19) but he admitted he felt a bit sad for not playing himself.
    "They are two very strong and powerful teams," he said.
    "Bayern plays more in the way we do and Chelsea seems to be more defensive. It can be a good show, evidently.
    "I hope to watch a good soccer match. It is annoying to not be there, but this year we will watch it on TV."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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