Xavi Hernandez has reflected on the importance of Barcelona creating and maintaining a legacy by winning through playing a particular style.
La Blaugrana have won 14 major trophies in the last four seasons with a possession-based style of play and are in contention to pick up the League title again this term, whilst they are also in the Champions League semi-finals for a sixth consecutive year.
For their midfield veteran, the manner of how the team continue to achieve is equally as important as what they may win.
“It's about doing something extra, not just winning. It's about playing well and then if you manage to win, even better,” reflected Xavi to UEFA’s official website in an interview released today.
“Barca always try to direct the game, they don't wait for the opposition but go out and attack, so people identify with the club.
“Barca fans would never understand if the team were not controlling or dominating a match. That's the way it has to be.
“Football is played to win, but our satisfaction has to be double. Other teams win and are happy, but it's not the same.
“The identity is lacking. In football the result is an impostor. You can do things really, really well but not win. There's something greater than the result, more lasting – a legacy.”
That legacy was under threat in the Last 16 of the Champions League this term, when a 2-0 first leg defeat to Milan saw the Catalans risk elimination, before a 4-0 second leg win.
“We didn't perform well as a team in Milan, but the 2-0 defeat was not fair. At home we knew we had everything on our side – the fans, the pitch as we like it, the ball moving nicely, so we managed to turn it around.
“That was a significant moment. We had just lost the Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Madrid, a real setback.
“But the team recovered well and started to play more intensely again – maybe even managing one of our best performances in attack, with a lot of pressure, which is something we had been lacking.”
The competition final is to be staged at Wembley, where Barca have won two of their previous European Cups.
“Wembley brings us a lot of joy. We have been in two finals there and won both. Having the final at Wembley makes us dream of getting there again.
“It will be difficult, but we want to be there with all the good feelings we've had in London and at Wembley in particular.
“In 1992 we won with [Ronald] Koeman's goal. Two seasons ago against Manchester United we were the dominant side and did what we train for every day – took the lead and kept the ball.
“It was the same against United in the 2009 final in Rome, and in several games against Madrid – we've had four or five excellent years. This generation is still capable of doing great things.”
