Xavi told Revista that Barcelona are still in good shape, despite a shock end to their winning run.
Xavi says team understand what went wrong against Sporting
Barcelona midfielder Xavi says it's hard to accept that the club's winning run is over, but he insists they are still on course to win trophies this season.
The La Liga champions' record-breaking 16-game winning streak was surprisingly ended by a stubborn Sporting Gijon on Sunday evening, as David Villa's late goal rescued a 1-1 draw for the Catalan club.
The result meant Pep Guardiola's side failed to win away in the top flight for the first time this season and Xavi says the team were made to pay for a lack of aggression in the opening 45 minutes.
Barca's lead over title rivals Real Madrid was slashed to just five points, but he insists the disappointment will not derail their challenge.
"It's hard to take because we're so used to winning," Xavi told Revista de La Liga.
"We're in a very good position, on a spectacular run. It's the best run in the history of La Liga, so it's not easy to swallow, but watching the first half we didn't play well, we were a little out of sorts and needed to show more aggression,
"We were our normal selves in the second half and could have won the game, but we could have lost as well.
"It's one of those difficult grounds to go to, away at the bottom clubs; they're really up for it. We'll try to live with it but the point means that the gap is now down to five points.
"However, we're in good shape at the moment and we've got to keep on going down that path."
Coverage
The shock scoreline prompted some critical coverage in the Spanish press ahead of the Champions League showdown against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
However, Xavi says any talk of problems in the Barcelona dressing room is wide of the mark and the reaction has been a little bit over the top.
"I try to judge our performance by my own criteria and read few others," he continued.
"I judge myself, speak to my team mates, the coach, friends, family, people from within the team mainly.
"You know how it is, you're exposed to so many different views, but that's normal and you just have to live with it.
"Barcelona have just drawn, there's a huge reaction and people make out that all is not well. But no, that's not the story here.
"The story is that we're in good shape, our football is good. We're enjoying it and it doesn't mean anything is wrong because we've drawn a match."
Properly
Xavi also explained a few secrets of Barcelona's success, insisting that attention to tactical details has set the club apart from many of their rivals.
And he says that Guardiola's insistence on understanding - as well as talent - has made the team a force to be reckoned with.
He explained: "It's doing things properly and with a real attention to the fundamental little details that can make all the difference and knowing why we do things a certain way.
"For example, knowing why we're going to play with a line of three and the full backs pushed on - because it will give the opposition problems that way. Why are we taking a corner this way? Because that's where the space is. Everything for a reason.
"Pep has drilled that into us; others may not understand why we're doing things in a certain way, but Pep explains the reasoning behind everything and demands we know why we're doing it.
"On top of that there's the talent and the great people here at Barcelona."
