Barcelona head coach Xavi made his excited feelings pretty clear when describing how he feels about facing rivals Real Madrid away from home.
La Blaugrana have been drawn against their most bitter foes in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, with the first leg coming at the Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday evening.
Speaking ahead of that trip to the Spanish capital – Barça’s second trip to the Bernabeu already this season – Xavi spoke about how much he relishes this fixture.
“Going to Santiago Bernabeu always turns me on,” he said.
“I’d like to play, I’d love to. It’s a great feeling and that’s why I tell my players that they have to be brave.
“We are in a good situation. We have the opportunity to win a title. It is an opportunity to react. We will go out to win and show our personality.”
Xavi was also asked about his favourite memories of his trips to the Bernabeu, picking out one victory back in 2009.
“Most of them are very good, I remember the 2-6, at the Bernabeu in situations that we have won and come back from but it was a different era,” he added.
“They are cycles and now we are trying to match Madrid who have been winning titles in Europe for many years, that’s why I think they are favourites. I have very good memories but this is another story.”
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