Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has credited Xavi Hernandez as the prime architect of the club’s style of play.
Rosell was speaking after Xavi was presented with a fair play award by the Barcelona Players Group, and Sport reports him as pointing to the midfielder as the inspiration behind the club’s short passing game.
“I’ve always said that Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi – helped by Sergio Busquets – are the inventors of tiki-taka.
“Tiki-taka is not a philosophy the club has had since its foundation. It was invented by these three and Busquets.
“It wouldn’t work without Xavi. Tiki-taka is his trademark.”
