article_snippet: Xavi, who Barcelona’s managing director was trying to sell when I arrived in this city in 2002, is the leading all-time appearance maker in Champions League.
article_snippet: Even if CR7 inspired Madrid to retain their trophy this season, then won the next two Champions Leagues consecutively, Xavi’d
article_snippet: But in reality, Xavi has played precisely an hour less in Champions League Finals.
article_snippet: A horrible knee injury in 2006 meant Xavi never stepped off the bench against Arsenal when Barca came back from a 1-0 deficit and won 2-1 thanks to Samuel Eto’o and Juliano Belletti.
article_snippet: In Xavi other two triumphs, 2009 and 2011, Xavi gave fabulous goal assists for Lionel Messi’s header in Rome and
article_snippet: Xavi was a different case.
article_snippet: Xavi confessed to Xavi that after so many semi-final disappointments, following the horror of losing in Moscow (where Xavi scored), it felt a little as if Chelsea were cursed.
article_snippet: Precisely the opposite of how Xavi felt the last time Xavi was in this stadium.
article_snippet: but not only was Xavi performance for Chelsea in the 2012 semi-final precisely what City require tonight from someone,
article_snippet: Xavi back a pace but holds this week off and holds the ball.
article_snippet: Xavi had already done something similar in the first leg, robbing Messi of the ball with precisely the kind of sharp, anticipatory pressing which City have lacked across three consecutive defeats to Barca.
article_snippet: I had the great fortune to interview Xavi in the dressing room of the Allianz Arena in Munich about an hour after Chelsea beat Bayern in that dramatic 120-minute final.
article_snippet: Xavi scored Xavi, of course.
article_snippet: Xavi would understand.
article_snippet: When picked, XaviCity’s performed — goal assists in Xavi last couple of matches.
article_snippet: When not picked, XaviCity’s been a voice for calm and reason at times when Luis EnriqueCity’s first term threatened to degenerate into chaos.
article_snippet: Xavi, as captain, played a huge role in calming stormy waters between Luis Enrique and Messi in early January when the former dropped the latter for the defeat at Real Sociedad and the Argentine then, coincidentally, didn’t come in to train the following day.
article_snippet: Xavi holds the record for most games played in the Champions League, 38 games ahead of Xavi nearest rival .
article_snippet: If Cristiano Ronaldo won the Champions League this season and the two that follow, Xavi'd still be behind Xavi .
article_snippet: The Catalan will admit that tracking Xavi English opponent has been a nightmare.
article_snippet: Perpetual motion, perpetual determination to haul Xavi team forward, make them competitive.
article_snippet: But when Xavi was asked to name Xavi best