In this season’s Premier League, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United are all competing for the title. Xavi, the manager of Barcelona, has commented on the title fight....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Arsenal is currently in first place, two points ahead of Manchester City, which is in second.
Man United has won seven of its previous ten Premier League contests, putting them in the running for the league crown. They are three points behind Man City in the standings.
Xavi thinks the race will go all the way down to the wire: “Arsenal, City, and United are going to have a very exciting finale.”
“They are playing very well.” They are strong, but the league is very demanding. I would not dare pick a winner. “I have maximum respect for all three teams.”
Speaking to Spanish football expert Graham Hunter for his book “Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World,” Xavi explained (via ESPN): “There was a long time when I genuinely thought about accepting United’s offer.” I needed a change of scenery, and things were not going well for me in Barcelona.
I have always felt a real attachment to English football, and Manchester United would be “my club” there.
“For a long chunk of my career, when it looked to people like I was Pep Guardiola’s successor in midfield, I was made to feel like an outsider, like a bad guy, for taking over from the legendary captain.”
“I thought about moving to the United States, but I dug my heels in.” I said to myself, “I need to prove myself here!”
Man United knew they needed to win at Old Trafford in order to advance after a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Camp Nou.
The second leg of Barcelona and Erik ten Hag’s play-off match will take place in the Europa League on Thursday.
When he was a player, Xavi steered Barça to two Champions League titles over United. Even though Thursday’s match is taking place at a different venue, if the first leg is any indication, it should be an exciting contest.
