Pep calms Xavi worries

Barca manager says playing midfielder will not harm his chances

Last updated: 3rd May 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Pep calms Xavi worries

Xavi: Injury talk

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Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has dismissed claims that playing Xavi will risk the midfielder missing out on the World Cup.

The 30-year-old is currently carrying a muscle injury to his leg but he played through the pain in Barca's weekend win at Villarreal.

Rumours have suggested that Xavi's injury could rule him out of this summer's World Cup in South Africa, but Guardiola has moved to calm such talk.

"I don't want him to get injured, but Xavi knows his body well and reckoned he was all right to turn out," he said.

"Make no mistake, we both want him to be fit for the World Cup."

Barca are currently locked in a race with arch-rivals Real Madrid for the Primera Division title.

The Catalans currently lead Los Merengues by one point, with just three games remaining.

Guardiola's side tale on Tenerife on Tuesday in another crunch clash.