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goal网有人撰文说，忘记梅西，有哈维去对付抢手哩~姥姥的
本帖最后由 diego1990 于 2010-4-6 22:26 编辑
Champions League Comment: Forget Lionel Messi, It’s Xavi Who Is Key For Barcelona Against Arsenal
Goal.com’s KS Leong believes that Barca’s silent assassin will be the man who will take down the Gunners...
By KS Leong
Apr 5, 2010 1:20:00 PM
Some football clubs have one great talisman in their team. Others may have two or three superstars to rely on. But at Barcelona, there just seems to be a rotating carousel of outrageous talent who can turn games around and win matches on their own.
Lionel Messi was in imperious form several weeks ago, scoring some delightful goals and putting on the most majestic performances you are likely to see from any one footballer this season.
That seemed to have inspired Zlatan Ibrahimovic back into form. The big Swede was the hero for Barcelona last week at the Emirates when he scored two well taken goals against the north Londoners. But he is unlikely to play in the return leg after tearing a calf muscle at the weekend while warming up for the Athletic Bilbao clash.
His substitute on the night, Bojan filled in admirably – and certainly didn’t look as cumbersome – by netting two quality goals. Andres Iniesta broke London hearts last year with a last minute stunner against Chelsea in the semi-finals, and he could do so again this term, although he first has to regain full fitness and make it to the match squad. Even Pedro, who has already scored in six different club competitions in 2009 , has struck countless important goals for the Blaugrana.
But if there’s one man who can put Arsene Wenger’s young guns to the sword, as resilient and spirited as they are, it is Xavi.
Barca’s midfield maestro has already well established himself as the best midfielder in the world. As much as Arsenal fans are charmed by Cesc Fabregas, as much as Chelsea fans cherish Frank Lampard, Liverpool fans worship Steven Gerrard and Real Madrid fans believing Kaka will return to his best again one day, none can compare to Xavi.
The 30-year-olds’ qualities are world renowned and the things that he’s doing on the pitch will one day be written into every textbook and distributed to every footballing academy: his extra-terrestrial vision, his ability to weight a pass as light as a feather or as sharp as a dagger, his close control of the ball, the way he swivels past opponents to shield the ball... all of which will one day become the stuff of legend.
Xavi, Barcelona's Weapon X
Xavi’s other main role is to bring calm, establish control, give confidence to his team-mates and dictate the game. He may not be a combative midfield general but thanks to his uncanny knack of holding on to the ball, he is the man who can deprive Arsenal of their rapid-fire attacking onslaughts and slow the pace down to Barca’s own rhythm.
This was demonstrated to perfection on Saturday against Athletic. The Basque outfit, trailing 2-0 at the break, came out firing on all cylinders in the second half as they applied relentless pressure in the Barca half.
Guardiola quickly realised the danger and just seven minutes in, he introduced his midfield talisman into the contest. Suffice to say, the Blaugrana immediately wrestled back control of proceedings and added another two goals, both of which were initiated, although not set-up directly, by Xavi.
It’s easier to mark out Messi than it is to keep Xavi quiet. And Arsenal showed last Wednesday in the first leg that if done correctly, it is not impossible contain ‘El Mesias’.
The Argentine fired an early warning to the Gunners when he burst through a crowd of defenders and forced a fine kick-save out of Manuel Almunia. But from then on, Little Lionel never looked as threatening again as the Arsenal rearguard put a barrier around him and did not afford him the space and time to work his magic.
But Xavi plays such a deep role that to eradicate him from the game completely, Arsenal would have to drag two maybe three men out of position just to surround him deep inside his own half. That would leave Arsene Wenger’s midfield compromised as his players would be out of position and they would leave too many gaps for the other Blaugrana dangermen to exploit.
Stuttgart coach, Christian Gross theorised that the best way to stop Messi is to make sure the ball doesn’t get to his feet. It didn’t work for the Germans in the round of 16. But to stop Xavi, you would have to get the ball off his feet. That will not be an easy task, and you can only wish Wenger’s men the best of luck.
Barcelona will go into the clash at the Camp Nou as favourites to beat Arsenal and advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League. And many a football fan would put their money on Messi to emerge as the hero. But just keep your eyes on Xavi and watch how he will quietly win the game for Barca.
原文链接http://goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2010/04/05/1864446/champions-league-comment-forget-lionel-messi-its-xavi-who-is-key- |
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狗仔卡
发表于 2010-4-6 15:35:50
发表于 2010-4-6 15:48:10
Valdés
Daniel Alves
Gabriel Alejandro Milito
Rafa Márquez
Éric Abidal
Xavi
Busquets
Seydou Keita
Lionel Messi 
Bojan Krkic
Pedro
Maxwell
Andreu Fontàs
Pinto
Jeffrén Suárez
Yaya Touré 
Iniesta
Thierry Henry
Manuel Almunia
Bakari Sagna
Thomas Vermaelen
Mickael Silvestre
Gael Clichy
Denilson
Vassiriki Diaby
Tomas Rosicky
Theo Walcott
Samir Nasri
Nicklas Bendtner