Barcelona midfielder Xavi has insisted that his team-mates are ready to give their all for incoming coach Tito Vilanova.
The 32-year-old vice-captain spoke highly of Pep Guardiola, and while he was quoted as saying that the club was not prepared for the departure of the most successful coach in their history, he remained adamant that the Blaugrana are ready to succeed under Vilanova.
"It is true that I said [I was not prepared], but at the time I did not know that the replacement would be Tito. That continuity is good because it will give us the same [methods] as with Pep," Xavi told Sport. "He [Tito] knows a lot about football, and he has done very well. Now it's up to him to be the leader. I see him very prepared."
Xavi also spoke of his disappointment at being eliminated from the Champions League semifinals by Chelsea this season. When asked if that defeat hurt more than the exit to Jose Mourinho's Inter in 2010, the midfielder replied: "Chelsea, no doubt."
"It was unfair," he continued. "It was the accumulation of nonsense, missing a penalty, failing with only the goalkeeper ahead of you. They went 2-0 down, a man down, conceded a penalty ... it can happen. Against Chelsea we had it all in our hands. But in any case, it was a very big disappointment."
Xavi is currently training with the Spain squad ahead of Euro 2012. La Roja will encounter Italy in its Group C opener on June 10.
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