Xavi Hernandez has said ahead of the Clasico that Real Madrid are not the motivation for Barcelona to win trophies.
Los Blancos picked up the League title last year with a record points tally and a record number of goals scored, but ahead of the weekend meeting with them, veteran Xavi insists that Barca’s motivation to win back the title is not related to the capital club.
“The motivation is not Madrid in this case, the motivation is to keep winning, keep making history with this generation of players,” he told adidasfootballtv. “I’d like to win the League, win the Champions League again, the Copa del Rey, all that is at stake.
“We look forward and it is not Madrid that motivates us, but ourselves, knowing that if we do things right and are mentally prepared, we can achieve the great challenges this season.”
Before the weekend meeting with Real, Barcelona are in action at Benfica in the Champions League.
“Yes, on paper [Benfica are the toughest opponent in the group]. They are perhaps the most difficult to face away too.
“Then, we must also go to Moscow and to Glasgow, but on paper history says that Benfica are our strongest rival.
“We will try to continue our form though, we started well at home and we will now try for six points out of six, that would give us peace of mind to face the next matches in the group.”
Xavi was also asked if there were many difference between Pep Guardiola and his replacement Tito Vilanova on the bench.
“Yes, he has his style, but having been there for the four years previous with Pep, he has changed little. He has clear ideas, he knows how we play, his workouts are similar too.
“He is a person with great personality, who has fixed ideas and is clear and let’s us go out there.
“He is not trying to change the philosophy of play that has led us to achieve the goals of the past, he is a highly-trained technician who knows this house and very much knows football.”
