Leaving Barca tough for Xavi

BERLIN: Record-breaker Xavi Hernandez says it will be tough to leave Barcelona after lifting the Champions League trophy on his final appearance in the famous strip.

The 35-year-old came on in the 78th minute to set a new record of 151 Champions League appearances in Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Juventus in the final in Berlin which was the fourth time he had won European club football’s most prestigious trophy.

Having started at the Catalan giants as an 11-year-old, Xavi will join Qatari side Al Sadd next season. He admitted that leaving Barcelona will hit him hard having won his 25th title with the club.

The final took a dramatic turn when an early goal by Barca’s Ivan Rakitic was cancelled out by Juventus’ ex-Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata with the equaliser on 55 minutes.

But Xavi says Barcelona’s superstar Lionel Messi made the difference as his brilliant run led to Luis Suarez making it 2-1 to the Spaniards in the secondhalf before Neymar scored their third at the death.

“To leave this way is amazing, but I have a bit of nostalgia thinking I’m never going to play for this side again and I really wanted to lift the cup,” said Xavi, who lost his place in the starting side to Rakitic this season.

“We suffered a lot, because Juve put pressure on us, but Leo (Messi) popped up again.

“The side is sensational and Messi is outrageous.”

Xavi said the best thing for Barcelona now is for Luis Enrique to stay on with the head coach having left his future open, despite winning the treble of European, cup and league titles in his debut season.

“Luis Enrique deserves this because he’s had a lot of criticism, but he’s been a great leader for the side. The best thing for next year is for Luis Enrique to stay,” said Xavi.

Defender Gerard Pique said that Xavi was part of a “unique generation” at Barcelona. “Xavi deserves everything,” he said. “He is leaving us with an important legacy: how to play football and take on victory and defeat. He will always be with us.”