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| Xavi Hernandez Barcelona Midfielder |
Gracias, and goodbye. Until next week, at least. Xavi Hernandez will
surely have one final run out at the Nou Camp in the Copa del Rey final on May
30, but this was an occasion for 90,000 fans to say thank you to the man who
has been the heartbeat of their side during the best era in their history.
The cup final will be a different occasion – much more pressure, with a
trophy on the line – and half the stadium filled with Basques roaring on their
Athletic Bilbao. By contrast, this was a party, a breather, a chance to
celebrate. To celebrate Barcelona's 23rd league triumph, and the career of one
of their greatest sons.
Lionel Messi may be Barcelona's best ever player, and he opened the
scoring against Deportivo de la Coruna here, but Xavi is the man best
associated with the pass, pass, pass and move style that helped Barcelona win
the treble in 2009. Another treble is on the line in the next fortnight, but
Barcelona are playing in a different way.
That is why Xavi thinks it might be time to go, although he still has a
lot to offer this side. But quitting when you're ahead is a skill. Different
from the types of skills that Xavi has exhibited over the past 17 seasons at
the Nou Camp, but a skill nonetheless.
The images snapped here of Xavi leaving with the title held aloft will
be permanently ingrained in the retinas of every Barcelona supporter's mind's
eye. Along with the other seven he's raised.
The way with one twist of his body he can open up the pitch, unlocking
several passing options that nobody else had seen before – that's still there.
The same precision with each and every ball, precision which still sees him
ranked as La Liga's most accurate passer this year – that's still there too.
Nobody is pretending that Xavi is as influential now as he was in his
heyday, but he's still been a vital presence for Barcelona this season. Both on
the pitch and off it. This is the first season that Xavi's captained the side -
it was Carles Puyol before him - and it's an accolade he deserves.
It was Xavi who turned to give substitute Douglas a high-five as he
entered the fray in the second half, a little confidence boost for a player who
has been widely mocked since signing for Barcelona. This was only the second La
Liga appearance of the season for the full-back.
Speaking of Brazilian full-backs, this might also have been a good
opportunity to say goodbye to Dani Alves, who seems to be heading for the exit.
He hasn’t put pen to paper on a new deal and his contract expires this summer.
The combination of Xavi, Alves and Messi down Barcelona’s right side has led to
dozens of goals for the club.
Alves wasn’t included in the squad and was one of a number of changes
made by Luis Enrique to the “Gala” XI that we expect to see in both the Copa
and Champions League final. Gerard Pique, Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets were
given a break here, while Luis Suarez was excluded as a precaution after his
hamstring injury.
That meant there were starts for squad players Jordi Masip, Sergi
Roberto and Marc Bartra, though most interesting was the presence of Thomas
Vermaelen at centre-back. The Belgian has spent the entire season injured since
signing from Arsenal, so his debut was better late than never. He didn’t put a
foot wrong.
The carnival atmosphere outside the stadium, featuring a photo-call
where fans could take pictures with a big image of Xavi, face-painting and
music, was transported inside. A huge banner rolled down over the ‘lateral’
stand, saying thanks to the maestro for 17 seasons in Spain’s top flight.
Neymar and Rafinha brought their best party-tricks out in the first
half, the former with an audacious chip to himself and then a header, while the
latter was completing backheel flicks like it was the only way he knew how to
pass.
Barcelona took the lead early on, when Rafinha whipped a ball in from
the right and Messi headed past Deportivo goalkeeper Fabricio. It was his 42nd
goal of the season, to which he added another in the second half.
Pedro fed Neymar, who unselfishly rolled the ball across to Messi to tap
home, which seemingly ended the game. Barcelona relaxed, but Deportivo didn’t.
Their place in La Liga was on the line.
Lucas Perez, their star player this season, found the top corner with a
wonderful drive from the edge of the box, which left Masip with no chance. And
before long it was two, with Salomao blasting home after Medunjanin had two
shots blocked.
The point was enough to keep Victor Sanchez’s side in La Liga and at
full time they celebrated harder than the champions themselves. After all, this
was a day of both celebration and sadness for Barcelona. Xavi’s La Liga bow
came after 86 minutes, when he was replaced by the man he created so much with,
Andres Iniesta.
Xavi turned to applaud each side of the stadium, and they rose in unison
to give him a standing ovation. There were tears in the midfielder’s eyes, and
in the eyes of those that saluted him. Gracies, Xavi, but not goodbye. Not quite
yet.
Source:dailymailsport
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